Two Things

• Pray for our interview with the Apartment Life Area Director on Tuesday at 10 AM. It's suppose to be a two hour interview. Its been a long time since either of us have done the interview thing but I'm looking forward to it.
• We are changing the date of our Commissioning Service because we were not able to secure a place to meet on the 8th. We are tentatively scheduling it for the 22nd.
  

Flying to Denver

We have been getting ready to fly out early in the morning for Denver. Our flight is at 7:45. We will be returning on Saturday around 9:00 pm. Neither the elementary school or high school routes were happy about me being gone all week. The last time I was out for just a day and one of my High Schoolers got suspended from the bus. I hope after 5 days I still have someone to pick up when I get back.
I found some interesting facts about Denver. Here are a few of them:

• Demographics: The City & County of Denver has a diverse ethnic population including 11.1% African American; 31.7% Hispanic; 2.8% Asian and 1.3% Native American. Metro Denver has an ethnic population of 5% Black; 18% Hispanic; 3% Asian; 1% Native American and 3% multi-racial.
• Highest Educated City: Denver is the most educated city in the U.S. Denver has the greatest percentage of high school and college graduates of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.; 92.1% of the population in the metro area have high school diplomas and 35% have at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Census. The national average is 81.7% for high school diplomas and 23% with a college degree.
• Baby Boomer Capital: Denver also is the nation’s baby boomer capital, with the highest percentage of boomers of any major city, according to the 1998 U.S. Census. One third of the city is between age 35 and 54. Including small cities, only two had a higher percentage than Denver -- Santa Fe and Anchorage. Among major cities, percentage of boomers is: Denver 32.8%; Seattle 31.5%; Atlanta 31.4%; Washington 31.4%; Portland OR 31.4%; San Francisco 30.8%.
• Healthy City: Denver is also the “thinnest” city in America, and Colorado is tied as the “thinnest” state with Hawaii. A federal report in late 1996 declared that half of American adults have a weight problem, but Colorado is the exception with less than 20% of Colorado adults being overweight. The active lifestyle in Denver, the great weather, the abundance of recreational opportunities and the high education level are credited for this fact.
• Denver really is a mile high. There's a spot on the west steps of the State Capitol building that is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level.
  

Coincidence?

Often when you are following the Lord, things happen that some would call chance or fate but we know that it is much more purposeful and intentional than that. I received an e-mail from the Area Director of Apartment Life in Denver with whom we will be interviewing on Oct.28. She expressed that our situation was unique and that hey had never "taken steps like this before." She means that no one has ever moved from one city to the next in order to become a CARES Team in that city. And no one has ever used Apartment Life as a starting point of a church plant. I love being unique!

But she also said this: "My husband and I are also church planters. We have planted three churches in Colorado and he is the State Director of Missions for the SBC here. It is wonderful to hear that you have a heartbeat for starting something even in the apartment community. I already know of some people that would jump in and help you in the ministry of the Overlook if that is where God wants you to be!!" How cool is that! Another church planter and someone who is charge of church planting for the state of Colorado. Now this may not be a big deal or it may be a vital connection. We'll have to wait and see. But to see God move unknown people in our path with similar heart and calling is encouraging and exciting.

Sunday Recap

• The Pointe was great this morning. The band is always good. The worship is genuine, the worship leader, Alex, is talented, humble, seems sensitive to the Spirit, and they have all the pieces. They're a complete package.
• They showed a 30 minute movie called Oversold. It's a modern day version of the story of Hosea. Hosea was an Old Testament prophet whom the Lord commanded to marry a prostitute who proved to be unfaithful and eventually needed to be bought out of the sex trafficking industry. This movie is a good parallel and stars a former porn star who was redeemed out of that industry and born into the family of God. It was very moving, music was great, acting was a little amateur but powerful message.
• Bought tickets for Pattie and I to fly to Denver next week (Oct 27-Nov 1). We have an interview scheduled with the Denver area director of Apartment Life on that Tuesday. This is a necessary step in moving to Denver. It would be awesome if a property came open while we were there and that we could go ahead and do a placement interview. The placement interview is the final step and is held with the actual apartment complex. The rest of the week will be spent walking the streets of Denver praying and allowing God to speak to us, direct us and either to confirm or change the vision that I feel He is birthing in me. I can't wait!
• My grandsons are spending the week with us. Jenny and Brian are going to Vegas for a getaway and we get the boys. It will be fun.
• Camille is in Disney World with her Mom and Papa this week. She had a special lunch today with Pooh and Tigger. I would have loved to seen that.
• God is good. I love living this life!
  

Picture Day!

It was a beautiful day for picture taking and we did a lot of it. Joe Stag met with us to get a picture for a prayer card we are doing for our Commissioning Service on Nov. 8. Here are a few of my favorites.

Pirates we be!

Today I handed out pirate eye patches to the kids on my elementary run. I had my eye patch on as they boarded the ship and in my best pirate voice I declared, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Welcome to the Black Pearl. Pirates we be today!" Everyone joined the crew and together we practiced saying "Arghh" and "Pirates we be." The other kids boarding the bus next to mine only wish they rode the cool bus. It was a lot of fun. I always said if I wasn't in ministry I would either be a short-order cook at Waffle House or a pirate. Today I lived the dream!

Made My Day!

I was at McDonald's yesterday when an attractive, young lady (late 2o's early 30's) approached me. She said, "Please don't take this the wrong way but has anyone ever told you that you are a very handsome man?" I said, "My wife has but it is very nice of you to say so too. You just made my day!" Sorry there were no other witnesses but it really did happen.