My Trip to Kansas City: Part Two

I left off just before my brother and I went to church Friday evening. I will now try to pick up where I left off.

Phillip and I drove together to Bro. Stan Gleason's church, that is where the conference was being held. We generally are early to pray before church, but we were running behind, and so we actually walked in during the last half of pre-service prayer.

Service started and was good. The best part of course was the preaching. Bro. Lee Stoneking preached, and he was excellent. I do not remember everything that was said, but I do remember him preaching about Apostolic power. I received some direction from the Lord during that service, Afterward, I met some of the people that go to the same church as my brother. I also met some people from a church a few miles away from ours. That added to the trip.

After my brother and I left, we joined his pastor and church family at Cheddar's restaurant. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of this meeting, but we had a great time. Prophecy, psychology, and many other things were discussed around the table. The great thing about being with other Apostolics is the feeling that you are with family no matter where you are.

My brother and I took his car to the morning sessions, and we were able to hear Bro. Gleason teach about what anyone starting out should do when they seek to enter the ministry. He had approximately five or six points that he made. Some of them were as follows: 1) Listen to your Pastor. 2) Obey those in spiritual authority without question. 3) Make use of the opportunities as they come available. 4) Be found doing things without being asked. 5) Volunteer to be used, and then be found faithful even if is seems like a small thing.

Bro. Stoneking taught the next session. His topic was on the gifts of the Spirit and their operation. He did go very in depth, but he did enumerate a number of things about them. 1) The best gift is that is best for the situation. 2) The gifts are given to men, therefore they are going to be misused and abused. 3) In spite of point 2, we should still seek for the gifts to be used in us.

During the alter service, after his message, a tongues and interpretation went forth, and the assembly was continued to remain for a very long time. The morning sessions started at 1000, and my brother and I headed out with a few others to lunch around 1400. After lunch at Chili's, we went home to prepare for the evening service.

Keep your eyes peeled for Part 3. I intend to post it tomorrow or Monday.

See you then,

Jonathan

My trip to Kansas City: Part One

Well, it has been a week since I started my trip to Kansas City, and I am finally able to post some of what went down. First, I am going to explain why it took so long. I travelled home very early (or very late) on Monday morning. When I got home at 0900, I went to bed and remained there all day. I then had to work third shifts, and managed to contract a minor sinus infection or cold. However, God has been moving on my behalf, and I am far and away over the worst of it. That is why I am now posting.


I wanted to get leave the Quad Cities for Kansas City no later than 1000, but as seems to be the case whenever I travel, I got out about half an hour late. For this reason, I stopped for gas between Davenport and Walcott, and continued hurried on. My hurry precluded my taking pictures when I stopped, otherwise there would be more than just Dialogue here. I filled up with gas before I reached Des Moines, IA. I then had a relatively uneventful trip until I reached Liberty, MO.

If anybody reads this and you happen to from Liberty, I like your city, but there has to be a better way to Kansas City aside from turning off onto the highway. As one point, it took me nearly 10-15 minutes to move one tenth of a mile. I thought that I would be getting to my Phillip's apartment at 1630. However, I did not arrive until nearly 1700 (5:00 p.m. for those who are do not live on military time). However, once in Lee's Summit, I had no trouble finding the apartment and getting inside.

It was at this point that I had a problem. There are two bedrooms, and one of them was to be mine. However, not knowing which one, I sent a text (which is the exception not the rule for me) to Kat, Phillip's wife. She informed me which one was mine, and I quickly moved in and started preparing for church.

While I was busy, Phillip came home and started getting ready to go to church. When the time came, Phillip and I went to church. These were a few of the pictures that I took while I was waiting for him to get ready so we could leave.

This is Asher. He a near constant companion for Phillip. He also is a bit shy.

Here Asher is looking at Phillip in anticipation of a treat.

Phillip is fixing to giving Asher his treat by balancing it on his nose. Unfortunately, I was too busy after this to take any more pictures until Saturday evening.

This is the ending of part one. I had thought about writing it all at once, but that suddenly loomed as nearly impossible. So I will post Part Two shortly.

God bless all of you,

Jonathan

Taking time

I know that I have promised an update when I got back from Kansas City. However, I seem to need more rest and recovery than I have been getting. I will hopefully have everything put to rights in a couple of days, and then I will be posting about my trip. I have pictures, but none of the actual services (I am an enthusiastic participant and not given to standing taking photos when I can be in the Spirit). Please forgive the delay, and I will try to make it up to you soon.

Interesting things.

Sometimes it seems that nothing is going on, and then it seems that there is quite a bit that happens all at once. These are a few things that are happening or fixing to happen. It will be a bit random as I happen to think about something.

First, I started taking piano lessons a month ago. I have made some progress, but not as fast as what I had hoped. There is so much that I have to learn and practice. However, with God's grace, I am getting the hang of what I am doing. It is very interesting, and I am understanding the system of playing by note. I can hardly wait to start playing by ear. My teacher is a lady who attends a Bible Missionary church in the area. I have learned a lot, and anticipate learning so much more.

I saw an interesting sight. Maybe others have seen things like this, but I am sure it is a first for me.

No the helicopter itself is not unusual, but its location was.

This is at a Menard's construction site. I was shocked to see a helicopter being used at a construction site. Here is one last picture for your consideration.

This is one of the containers that the helicopter flew to rest in the interior of the building. I thought that it was so fascinating I took some pictures.

We are starting an outreach campaign for Halloween. We are going to sit in the church parking lot, and as kids and their parents pass by, we will give them a packet of candy with a church card. This way we get the name of the church out, and show ourselves active in the community. I hope to have some pictures of this for a later post.

Last and not least, I am going to be going to Kansas City, MO on Friday. I will be coming home sometime on Sunday. I am going down to the Passing the Mantle conference at Bro. Gleason's church, and visiting Phillip and his wife. I will have some pictures of that as well to post when I get back. If I can, I will post every day that I am down there, but I will not make any promises. Bro. Stoneking is going to be preaching, and I want to see him preach.

That is all for now,

In Christ,

JT

A Wedding

I took a trip to Detroit, Michigan last week for a friend's wedding. I was on the road most of the time and did not take a lot of time off the road, and then my batteries in the camera died. Therefore I only have pictures taken at the wedding. I did have a good time, and met a number of new people including the family of some of my friends. Here are a couple of the pictures that I took of the wedding.

The sound men were testing the system to work out the rings.

Some of the guests for the wedding, as you can tell it was a bit chilly outside. The temperature was in the low 50s with an overcast sky.

The officiating preacher is leading followed by the groom (Andrew Wilson). The best man (Tim Miller, the bride's brother) follows him. (I think that was Tim Miller.)

I do not know who the pianist was, but she was excellent. (We had mostly cloudy skies until after the reception, which was held indoors. There were by this point quite a few patches of sunshine which made for nice, bright pictures.

The bride, her father, and her bridesmaids.

The Bride (Amy Miller) and the Groom (Andrew Wilson). She had just finished the walk down the aisle. I had to start praying as my camera battery was dying.

The repeating of the vows.

The newly married Rev. and Mrs. Andrew Wilson.

After this, my batteries died and there was no chance of resurrection. I was disappointed as there were many other pictures that I had hoped to take. I will say that the reception was excellent. There was fried chicken, punch, green beans, ham, and I dare not forget the cake. There were many gifts that were presented, and a lot of laughs. I also met the family of some of my friends.

I hung out with some friends of mine that were also in Detroit for the wedding, and finally departed around midnight. I got home at 0945. I had told my pastor, Dad, that I might not make it to church if I got home after 0100.  Needless to say, I was there and it was quite a bit after my scheduled arrival time.

I do have one more picture to post. I kept hearing about how cold it was at this wedding. I was at one earlier this year that was far colder. The middle of January, snow on the ground, temperatures in the single didgets, and the wedding was out side.

This was photo was taken in a park after the wedding, and it was one of the nicest pictures that I have of that day.

Well, I hope that you enjoyed the photos and update. There is much more to come.

In the grace of Jesus,

Jonathan Talbot