Have you seen the television commercials where the turtle husband and wife revel in the slowness of DSL as opposed to the lightening quickness of cable high speed Internet? When you look at the state of our ROC, you might conclude that this same tortoise couple is in charge of its construction—and to correct flawed thinking like that I want to use my article to explain our repeated delays.

As you should know by now, our problems stem from two things. First, our contractor went bankrupt several months ago. To avoid the added cost of hiring a new contractor our own Jack Murray, Hugh Faulconer, and now John Stracener have done a phenomenal job keeping things going with the various sub-contractors. We owe these three Redlanders a great deal of thanks. Second, our contractor took shortcuts in some areas and we have been working to correct those errors.

It may not look like it but we are making progress—ever so slowly. We have a punch list of incomplete jobs but at the moment our number one priority is getting the work done that will make it possible to get our occupancy permit. Five things must happen in order for the permit to be granted.

1. We need additional structural improvements and are waiting for the engineer to submit his written report. Once that is done (very soon we hope) the new steel can be ordered and installed.

2. The building’s fire alarm needs to be completed with required additional wiring, as well as the installation of a dedicated phone line.

3. There is electrical work that must be done including the installation of fixtures.

4. The remaining four basketball goals must be installed. Delays in finishing this task stem from two issues. First, the contractor did not order the right parts. Second, waiting for these parts to come in has put us in the busy season for the goal installers themselves. They are now focusing on their “bread and butter work” — the gymnasiums in public school systems. This puts us at the bottom of their list.

5. We need to install a gas exhaust flue for the water heater.

There are other issues like completing the storm water management system, some small painting jobs, and the final touches to the floor—none of which can happen until the five things on the above list are complete.

By the way, we expect the cost to come in under the spending limit authorized by the church but it’s going to be tight.

I encourage you to respond to this update as I have. First and foremost, pray. With the above information, you can pray very specifically and I hope you will. Second, be patient. God has called us to build the ROC and He will see it through. We will finish this building!

If you have questions, give me a call and I’ll do my very best to get the answers to you as soon as possible.

Keep the SON in your eyes!

When WWII broke out, like thousands of his peers, my dad left the farm and joined the navy. The day he left for boot camp, my grandad took him to the bus station and before he stepped into the bus he told him, “Charles, remember whose son you are.”  My wise grandfather knew that a the knowledge of both who and whose he was would be important for dad as he faced not only the literal battles of that great conflict but the day-to-day struggles we all contend with as fallen beings living in a fallen world.

My daughter Becca’s dorm resident assistant understands this principle as well. Yesterday, as we moved Becca in for her sophomore year at Wheaton, I noticed that her R.A. had hung posters all over the walls of their floor—posters that will serve to remind the girls, who will be living there for the next 10 months, exactly who they are as Christians. Here is a sampling of her postings:

“You are the SALT OF THE EARTH…the LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”

(Matthew 5:13-14)

“You are a JOINT HEIR WITH CHRIST, sharing His inheritance with Him.”

(Romans 8:17)

“You are the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (1^st Corinthians 3:16; 6:19)

“You are a MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY.”

(1^st Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 5:30)

“You are RECONCILED TO GOD and a MINISTER of RECONCILIATION.”

(2^nd Corinthians 5:18-19)

“You are GOD’S WORKMANSHIP—CREATED TO DO HIS WORK.”

(Ephesians 2:10)

“You are CHOSEN OF GOD, HOLY and DEARLY LOVED.”

(Colossians 3:12; 1^st Thessalonians 1:4)

“You are an ALIEN and STRANGER to this world in which you temporarily live.” (1^st Peter 2:11)

“You have been COMPLETELY FORGIVEN, justified, and made righteous.”

(Romans 5:1)

“You have been given the MIND OF CHRIST….Christ Himself is IN YOU.”

(1 Corinthians 2:16; Colossians 1:27)

“You have been BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; you are NOT YOUR OWN. You belong to God.” (1^st Corinthians 6:19-20)

“You have DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18)

I don’t know about you, but when I read these verses, both my sense of peace and my confidence level goes up as I understand better all the implications of the fact that I am, “…a Child of God.” (John 1:12)

Keep the SON in your eyes!