Saturday…
Saturday was a full day! I had the honor and priviledge to be a part of an ordination council for a dear friend Dick De Witt. Dick is the new President/COO of Market Place Ministries www.marketplaceministries.com based out of Dallas TX. Dick and his wonderful bride Marvel just moved to Dallas from Lockport and The Chapel after 30 years. Dick is extremely talented and gifted in many ways most noteable is his gift to encourage. Hearing about what Marketplace Ministries does by providing Chaplains for the work-place in over 1500 companies reaching/helping/encouraging people (over a 100,000 people) was moving and challenging. As we think about the vision and mission that God has given us at Elmwood to reach every man, woman and child in North Buffalo with repeated opportunities to hear and see the transforming message of Jesus Christ, I know that we are not going to get everybody into the doors of the Regal Theater to hear that message. Hearing about MarketPlace yesterday was another reminder how God is moving and working in extraordinary ways to accomplish His vision and mission.
Seeing the strategy of MarketPlace as they go in and bring the light of Jesus into the workplace on a day to day basis it reminded me of our strategy and resposibility. To inVEST in the God ordained/initiated relationships that he has provided for us in our circle of influence by building bridges (not walls)that will be strong enough through time/love/help/support that will one day be strong enough to inVITE them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
After the morning meeting I headed down to Kissing Bridge to join the family in our favorite winter passtime – Skiing! What a day. It was spectacular! BLUE skies and the snow conditions were the best I can remember since we started sking 3 years ago. We have a ski club (Sesha's Ski Club) made up of about 10-12 families and we ski every Saturday and it is a lot of fun. All but Canon can ski the mountain from the Cockrell clan. It takes about 50 minutes to get to the slopes from our house in Kenmore so it is a great way to pass the Buffalo winters!
We got home just in time to have a birthday party in honor of our dear friend (and our ski club's name sake) Sesha. Not going to give out any numbers for the world to see but we had a great time as family and friends celebrated together. Could not help but think how God ordains our steps whether we understand it or not and how He connects us to people along this journey we call life. Another reminder to enjoy the moments!
