Much "Knee"ded Prayer

This is really uncomfortable for me, but here goes...

I want to ask something from you. I want to ask you to pray for me. Yesterday, I had (minor) knee surgery on both knees to repair some cartiledge tears. This surgery is quite common and insignificant, but doing both knees at the same time makes it a bit more difficult.
With the consultation from my wonderful doctor (Dr. Ron Gardner, a member of our church) we decided to go ahead and get them both done and get it over with.
So, please pray for the recouperation time and physical therapy for the next few days. Hopefully, I'll be up and "better than ever" in just over a week. For those of you familiar with my schedule - it looks like I won't have any problem making my prior commitments. Mark Bricker is preaching at Wednesday night's FOCUS service, but I'm still planning to be there to give the "First Quarter Operating Report," as promised.

McGregor's "Flip this Family" Parenting Conference is this weekend. Lu and I are still leading one of the breakout sessions. If you haven't signed up, it's going to be incredible -- visit www.flipthisfamily.com for details on registration.

Also, pray for my sweet wife, LuAnne, because I'm NOT a good patient. I'm stir-crazy already.
Great time for lots of Bible reading!!

Family Matters

Family matters to everyone. Family really matters to the Powells. I love my wife, we love our kids, our kids' mates, and our grandson - bunches!!
As with all parents, we are so grateful to the Lord for the way our kids are living for the Lord and serving Him - in lots of different ways.
Heather and Andrew are in Tampa. Andrew is on staff at Idlewild Baptist church as the Minister to Middle School students.
Kayla is at Liberty University in Virginia and right now doing 12 shows of the musical theatre production "West Side Story." It's incredible.
Alan and Brycie have been in Los Angeles for 18 months as he "tries to take the light of Jesus to the darkest place in our nation."
God has opened a door for him and his music. That's where YOU come in.
His recently-released "single" is available on his MySpace page. Here's what Alan says about the song:

"As of today March 31st after only a week of putting out my first single I have already been blessed with the opportunity to be featured as an unsigned artist on a major radio stations website! The radio station is 104.3MYfm Los Angeles, Ca. I’m featured on the NEW! section which exposes my music to more than 10 MILLION PEOPLE PER MONTH on nearly 500 radio station web sites across the country! Spread the word and help me rise to the top of the NEW! charts! Artists with the most plays get special homepage placement and are considered first to have their songs played on air! Just click the link below to play my song! God bless. Alan"

So, if you would, please click on the link below, listen to the song and therefore "vote" for Alan's song to be played by the LA station.

I'll keep you posted as to how it's going.
I really appreciate your help. Most of all, pray for Alan and Brycie in their ministry.

CLICK HERE to listen to Alan's song "Just Let You Go."

From the West Bank to the West Side (Story)

LuAnne and I just returned with about 30 others from our church from a wonderful trip to the Holy Land. Honestly, I cannot even describe this trip. To see the places described in the Bible, and the places where our Lord lived, ministered, died, was buried and rose again - it just can't be put into words. The Bible comes alive around you!
I hope that many of you will make your plans NOW to go with us next time (we'll probably go again in two years) and receive a huge blessing in your life and heart.
When we returned (exhausted), we went straight to Liberty University to visit with our daughter, Kayla. This was a special weekend for her. She played the part of Anita in the musical theatre production of "West Side Story."
We saw the opening night performance - 3 hours and 10 minutes!! It was awesome. Heather, our oldest daughter flew up for the performance and that was tough on her. She is almost 9 months pregnant (due May 16) but it was great to see her. Rilee (our baby grand-daughter) will be here soon. We are sooooo excited!!
This morning was great. To be back home with our church family was a blessing. I am so excited about the things coming up in the next few days at McGregor. The "American Idols" series on Sunday morning, the "REAL" series in our FOCUS service on Wednesdays as we study the book James, the "Flip This Family" conference and then preaching series for May - and then a full summer of outstanding events for everyone in the church family.
It is good to see God doing what only God can do in the hearts and lives of so many people.
Keep praying - keep growing in your faith.
Keep reading the Word - daily.

Dispatches from Israel...

I'm am currently in the Holy Land of Israel with 32 of our church members.  I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it is.  Seeing the Sea of Galilee where Jesus performed so many of His miracles; He was raised in this area, called many of His disciples from here, and nearly all of the Bible's setting is within a few miles of this area.

Then, to drive into Jerusalem -- the City of David -- the Holiest City in the World, the city for which Jesus wept - unbelivable.  We have prayed where Jesus prayed (Garden of Gethsemane), stood where Jesus stood (the Temple of Jerusalem), walked where Jesus walked (the Via Dolorosa) and have been to the place to which Jesus will return when He comes again one day (the Mount of Olives).  Words cannot describe this experience.  I truly wish every one of you could be here right now.

Today, we will worship as you worship at McGregor.  We won't have incredible music as we have at McGregor, no huge crowds, no great Sunday School classes, but still -- how could we be more blessed? Today, we will worship in Jerusalem.  What a blessing!

 

I'm praying for a great day for everyone back at McGregor - I KNOW I'll have a great day here in Israel.

God is good - all the time.