Thanksgiving Day

Yvonne, Rishard and I woke up in our city, Rochester and thanked the Lord for all that He is/has doing/done for us. For breakfast it was sweet potato pie and coffee. Unfortunately we have like a ton of sweet potato pies and the problem is, they are all from "excellent sweet potato pie makers."
Our church participated in a three church Thanksgiving Fellowship service this morning. Rishard and I arrived at 10:25 for what we thought to be a 10:30am service, just to learn that it actually started at 10:00am. I was met in the foyer by lots of Mount Olivet members because we thought it started at 10:30am. We caught the last half of devotion...
Three Church Fellowship? It seemed more like one church service with two other churches there to support the one church's service. Host church singing and preaching.... A good sermon by Interim Pastor Headman, I might add. "Please Pass the Salt" I thought it was an old Adrian Roger sermon, but as it turned out, it may have been an original. Well, I have the Adrian Rogers version. I do. I have preached many of his sermons, and I'm sure others have as well.
Antioch is on the verge of selecting a new pastor! It was announced that the three Church Thanksgiving Fellowship will be at Zion Baptist Church in 2009. Some said Mount Olivet, of course I dont know, but I do know where ever it is, we will all be there.. per James 4:15.
We didnt do a turkey today, rather, Cornish hens and dressing with the trimmings and iced tea, (we didnt have ice, so we filled our glasses with snow) is that safe? We had dinner like three times.... Watched TV... Slept, ate, Watched TV... talked.... laughed at the funny stuff that Rishard always does and say.....slept and ate... I'm up ten pounds... off to the gym again.. I felt like a stuffed animal in my suit today.... Now we plan to hit the stores tomorrow in this "Black Friday" thang. I rhink its more Green Friday. We will make a selection on a refrigerator today.. We dont have one, and decided to wait until "Black Friday" to purchase one...
Would you believe that our heat went out again today? Now I just paid $200 to get something done to this thing.... and we noticed tonight that the house was cold and the heat was not kicking in... so we will call the man back... No I'm not Joe the Plumber or Joe the Heater man!

The Night before Thanksgiving

This is my life in Rochester, New York. I had a few appointments today; Scholarship and Nominating Committee business today, but was still able to leave the office early, stop by the store, shop for Yvonne a bit and get home in time to see Janet Lomax on the news... Janet is news anchor and Rishard recognized her really fast when he saw her on the news. We were just thrilled seeing our church member doing the news... Mount Olivet is filled with people in high places who are humble, down-to-earth, fun, God-loving, Christian folks. It's just an "Out-and-Out" great Church. It is just about snowing everyday...but one truth here is, "It doesn't stop anything!" See the beautiful new building and the old building too. This really is a beautiful church; it goes well with the beautiful people! We're staying in tomorrow for Thankgiving dinner. (Macaroni and Cheese, Cornbread dressing, Cornish hens, turnip greens, candied yams, sweet potato pie, pound cake, and beverages. Im hungry... Be back shortly!

House for Sale in Tucson

Now listen, Somebody buy this house. Paying this note from Rochester is not exactly what we had in mind! President-Elect Barack Obama, keep doing your thing so that the market will open up again! Mercy! LOL .. Seriously, this is the home we left in Tucson and it is/was very special to us. Its the only house that we built. There were a lot of tears in leaving this place because it has so many stories for Yvonne and me, but as we have relocated here in Rochester, we realize stories dont stop! Our story continues; so this house was a part of our story but in no wise all of the story! We're not building a house this time rather we're building a home. It's a new chapter now, that chapter has closed, house is for sale, and we're on with the new and wondrous chapter that the Lord has begun in our lives! Amen Holy Ghost!

Rochester New York's Weather

When I left the desert coming to beautiful Rochester, New York, I knew exactly what I was doing, where I was going and the type of weather I was coming to. I came so looking forward to the four seasons and the snow and the beautiful fall leaves that met me here upon arrival, and what a site this city is. Rochester is actually having much warmer weather than I anticipated and its causing me not to know how to adequately dress. The word here is "Layers". Rochester people dress in layers. You leave home in the morning with shirts and sweathers and as the day progresses and it warms up you take off a layer as needed. Well, I have had to "unlayer" because the real cold weather hasn't come yet! I know you folks from Arizona are looking at the pictures and thinking that it cant get any colder than that! Nah....! That's nothing... You have a beautiful snow overnight or even during the day and I have already seen it snow all day for a couple of days, but by no means is it anything less than beautiful. Yvonne, Rishard and I have already agreed to do as the folk here do, get out in the snow and do our thing! Friday night we were out in what would be called a "big snow" in Memphis and a "Double Facto Shut-Down the Town Blizzard" in Tucson, but here, the streets were full, restaurants, stores and malls were full... and we were out taking pictures and having a ball.... Stay posted, I'll tell you if it gets worst, but for the moment, it's wonderful!

The Reverend Doctor Ella Mitchell

Dear Beloved, Our elder, Dr. Ella Mitchell, died peacefully in her sleep last night (Nov 20th 08) and is now at home with God, surrounded by the saints. In her final days, she was comforted by family, friends who loved her and her faithful husband, Dr. Henry Mitchell. It is asked that you keep the Mitchell family in your prayers as you move throughout the day and in your quiet moments. Dr. Ella Mitchell was a sturdy Black bridge over whom we have crossed. We owe her much and give praise for her passing our way.
The Reverend Doctor Ella P. Mitchell (1918-2008) was a teacher, preacher, devoted wife, mother and outstanding author. She is known as the "dean of Black women preachers." Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Mitchell graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she met her husband Dr. Henry H. Mitchell, with whom she has ministered for over sixty years. Together, they have served as co- mentors in the Doctor of Ministry Program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and were founders of the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies in Los Angeles. Dr. Ella was the first woman Dean of Sisters Chapel at Spelman College and also taught at the American Baptist Seminary of the West and the School of Theology at Claremont. Dr. Mitchell was the editor of five volumes of the series, Those Preaching Women, and, with her husband, completed their joint autobiography, Together for Good, which shares the secret to lasting love and friendship.
Both Drs Ella and Henry Mitchell were overnight guests in our home last year as well as speakers for us at Mount Calvary, Tucson!

I'm Where I Am Supposed To Be

Church was good today. From the moment you walk in the door until you departed, you can sense a warmth and love that's flowing in the place and more importantly it feels so natural and right. It's no question that this is the Lord's doing and He is pleased and the Mount Olivet Family is pleased and so am I. We are loving how God is establishing us together. Mount Olivet is very patient with me and embracing the changes that are coming forth as well as encouraging change.
Those of us who have Pastored Baptist Churches for any length of time know that transitions can be very difficult! Not this one! It's the most comfortable of any transition yet! It's a very challenging work ahead of me I might add. Meetings all day and everyday. The people are so ready for the blessings that we all know that are ahead for our Church.
I got to hear the children's choir sing for the first time today. My men sing every Sunday. Mount Olivet's Male Chorus is one of the best ever. I'll join them with a song or 2 real soon. My Director of Christian Education and I visited the children's church and nursery today. It was interesting. Our church is suffering for space. We have one of the most beautiful sanctuaries ever, actually two but are very limited in classroom, and other ministry areas. I will look at the plans this week for new facilities and we will have a shovel in ground soon.

I Cant Find My Green Suit...

Now that all the clothes are unpacked, Where is my green suit? This was my Seminary Graduation gift and I wear it on planes for some reason. I flew here October 31st wearing this suit. I wore it to a meeting the next day at the church, returned to the hotel and remember hanging the suit in the closet and seeing it in the closet. My robe and all the suits that were hanging with that suit are with me now, where is my green suit? Wait, I wore the suit to a dinner in Buffalo also. So when did I last see the green suit? The shirt to the suit is hanging up at Mount Olivet. How have I lost a suit? I'll let you know if it appears. Before you ask, I have already checked every closet in the house, the trunk of the cars, all of the luggage, and my last hotel. Where is My Green Suit? PS. That's Moma and me at my Seminary Graduation celebration..

Inauguration Here We Come

Mr President Elect I am so happy for your family and you and for America and and to be in America. When did we ever envision this? Mercy! What a sense of pride and greater self-worth and respect for self and appreciation for "Our Country" we have as a result of your tenacity, your calmness, your ability to withstand pressure, stay focused, regroup when necessary, and push through! Though I will be in DC and have tickets to the Inauguration, I will probably watch the speech from the comforts of a recliner and by way of television. If Oprah had to stand in the rain to hear you in Chicago then I might be in the Tornado Hurricane section to hear you in DC. I love you my Brother and if you need me give me a call... You have the number... LOL

Connected Cable - Big Screen Broken

I never thought I would have withdrawals from cable TV. Tonight was the first time I had access to Cable TV since the night of the election. I have not seen my President Elect and his family since he gave his acceptance speech in Chicago. So tonight I got a chance to see my favorite TV shows again. "CNN, I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, and Court TV." Still no President Elect yet! Now in everything theres always some problem or another. We own that original big screen. It was Circuit City's best 10 years ago; You know that big 61" Hitachi that's square and not rectangular, and is self standing, and not on some table or the wall as are the new big screens. It was "IT" in its day and has never given us a minutes trouble until now.

JoAnn (Mount Calvary Member) suggested selling everything and buying over when we got to Rochester for that same reason. Road trips are not good for furniture and appliances or me. The picture in the TV shows several pictures behind a black like veil. Repairman, if you are reading this, call us immediately, or somebody suggest a Rochester TV repair company. This 19" is sufficing for the moment!

Weekend Number Two

Here I am in my big beautiful pulpit. I waited a few days to express my opinion of my first full week at Mount Olivet which would be my second Sunday in worship. Why did I wait? I waited because it took some time to adequately describe the weekend. In the words of the younger generation, it was off the chain. I joined my men in Male Chorus rehearsal. They were good. My musicians are fantastic but fortunately, I have always had the best musicians, so no real biggie. The men didnt tarry long before being joined by the Sanctuary choir who worked on Christmas music and rushed to a soon close to get home for the election returns.
(By the way, not only "(YES we can, but YES we did").

There was something going on everyday of the week afterwards which would allow interactions between the congregation and me; and personally I think thats what contributed to such an awesome Sunday. We had some time to get more aquainted, establish some relationships, learn some names, laugh and simply enjoy pastor and people together as the Lord would have it.

Saturday tons of people flowed in for the Mission Fair and that was great. I was in the midst of folks taking pictures and meeting new members as they attended the fair.

Sunday came and I was as ready as I could be. I had prayed, studied, and set my mind on a good worship and God didnt let anything short of that happen.

My Male Chorus blessed us and then God blessed us with a good word.. Yes He did. I was far more comfortable with my congregation this Sunday and I think they were with me as well.

The sermon "NO Time for Gazing" Acts 1:9-11 was a blessing for our congregation. One lady left church saying, "Pastor, we got it, no time for gazing up."

Look at God.!

My First Sunday In Rochester

Wow.. What a day. People filled the beautiful spacious sanctuary anxiously waiting to see and here the new pastor of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church preach his first pastoral sermon. The people are some of the most warmest folks I have ever met. They are super friendly and most loving and welcomed my eldest son Rico and me with open arms. I was so excited and ready to go, I thought, but it never happened. I was so off until it was embarrassing. I know that the dynamics are different from what I'm accustomed to on Sundays, but I'm really used to diverse congregations across the country so that's no excuse. I didnt fall into that groove preaching and tried to sing "I Know the Lord will Make Away" in B-. Wrong key, LOL......
Let me see..... Could I blame it on the microphones...? Well those of you who know me know how the mikes can throw me off. The mikes, yeah, were problematic to say the least, but not sure if thats what threw me!
On the other hand, Hundreds of folks filed in a line to shake my hand afterwards, welcome me to Mount Olivet as its 10th pastor and express their appreciation for the message. I was somewhat encouraged by their kindness.
Many of them are looking for the person that they see on Youtube and hear online, and He has not arrived up yet! Well, I'm not uneasy, I just know that I have a lot of praying to do, some adjustments to make, and some settling in and down!
Yvonne and Rishard are not here and wont be here for a few weeks, the cars got here Saturday evening, so getting out of the rentals helped tremendously. The movers called earlier tonight; my furniture is somewhere near Chicago, on its way to Rochester. I could be much more comfortable when I have left this hotel. A meal at home will help some too, restaurant food gets old real soon!
So what can you do to help me? Just pray for me that the Lord settle me in, calm my nerves, strengthen me in His will, humble me in His blessings.. Yes, Mount Olivet is truly my blessing and I am ever so grateful at the opportunity to serve them!
Hey.... Be sure to Vote tomorrow!
Bye!