December 12 – “Return of The Beast”

We were able to have a spur-of-the-moment celebration Sunday.  Because we had so much soup prepared for the Bethlehem Market, we had a lot of soup left over.  And what better way to avoid wasting perfectly good soup than to have a Soup Sunday?  After worship we all went upstairs to the retreat center kitchen and shared in an impromptu Soup Sunday lunch.  You just can’t beat the fellowship when the Seaside Family gets together.

During the meal we were able to discuss tow things related to church business.  One was the metal handrails leading up to the retreat center.  It is rusting badly and has even rusted through in several spots.  A contractor has told us it would cost over $8,000 to completely replace the rails.  Several of our guys checked it out, and before we commit to that much money, they think with a workday we could get the job done ourselves.  Go for it, guys.

We also discussed the pastor health assistance program.  Health insurance for Chris and I is going over $2,500 per month starting in January, so we have been looking into viable alternatives.  We settled on a medical share program called Samaritan Ministries.  The church will also provide enough each month for us to open a Health Savings Account for prescriptions and other uncovered costs.  They were pleased to help in any way possible.  I think that more than a few of them have experienced the health insurance woes themselves.  Now we have to get all the paperwork done before January 1^st.  Put it on the list.

After almost everyone had packed up and gone home, we were doing the last-minute walk-through to make sure nothing had been forgotten.  As Chris passed in front of the refrigerators, she stopped dead in her tracks and blurted out, “Oh, no.”  Not what I like to hear on the best of days.  I asked what happened and she said, simply, “It’s wet over here.”  I knew right away what that meant.  Sure enough when I pulled the refrigerators out, there was a leak – another leak – right at the t-connector of the water line.  I turned off the water under the sink and called out … The Beast.  Yep.  Once again it was time for that Massive Mound of Renown to do its thing.  For those of you who don’t remember, The Beast is what we affectionately call the church’s very large wet/dry vacuum cleaner.  It has suctioning power like nothing I have ever seen.  Fortunately the leak hadn’t had time to spread very far, so it didn’t take all that long to slowly drag The Beast’s head across the affected area.  We had it done in about an hour or so, and with the fans going, the floor was as good as … well, as good as the last time we did this.  One of our handymen has agreed to come take a look at it and try to stop this thing for good.

About an hour or so after we finally made it home Chris received a call.  No, it wasn’t from Christina telling her the baby was on his way.  This one was from Lauren.  She was excited and had to share a story.  Seems that she posted the availability of some of our jars of honey on who met her at the church.  Nice job there, Lauren.

Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

Father, thank you for a church that cares about Chris and me.  Bless them.  Amen.