Much is Happening THIS WEEK

TODAY:

Carnival Day
USC’s Blatt Field
3pm-7pm
- Cotton Candy, Snow Cones, Popcorn, Jump House, Ultimate Frisbee and MORE. Invite some friends and be there TODAY around 3pm!

WEDNESDAY:
FREE Coffee & Rockband
Coolbeans on College St. just 1 block from USC’s Horse Shoe
7pm-10pm

THURSDAY (NOT just for the college students):
Skate Night & Putt-Putt & Free FOOD
Three Fountains Skating Rink – (DIRECTIONS are on the midtown website)
7pm-10pm

FRIDAY:
DODGE BALL Tournament
USC’s Blatt Field – the word is the Midtown Staff will be entering in a team…so bring it. Staff Strike Force is going to take it!
2pm

SATURDAY:
Lake Day – (DIRECTIONS are on the midtown website)
Wake Boarding, 4 square, beach volleyball, FOOD, and more.
1pm-8pm

ONE BIG GATHERING – THIS SUNDAY

I cannot wait to see what God does THIS SUNDAY, as we are gathering together for ONE BIG GATHERING @ 6pm @ The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the VISTA in Downtown Columbia. The next week we go Multi-Site so join us as we will all be together in one room. It should be an exciting night! DIRECTIONS HERE.

Weekend Review

Friday

• Hung out for a bit studying the word at the Starbucks in The Vista in downtown.
• Lunch at Tokyo Grill with my friend and Life Group leader Matt.
• Renie and I had a date night of gift cards. Dinner at Olive Garden (gift card) and then we went and saw the movie (gift card), State of Play. The movie is ridiculously good. A MUST SEE in my opinion and then on to Marble Slap (no gift card, but worth $8)

Saturday

• Renie and I got up and took off to head to Birthing Class at the hospital (videos and all). Then we got there and the door was locked even though it had posted on the door that the class was scheduled for 9am Saturday morning. We still are NOT sure why or even if it was moved or cancelled. O’ well….
• Renie and I came home and took a great nap.
• Lunch at The Gourmet Deli Shop in 5 Points.
• I came hope and painted the porch…it turned out well.
• We had dinner in the food court (choices people….choices) with our friends the Kakaras’ and Lauren.
• From there we made our way to Frankie’s Fun Park for a little putt-putt. Things went well for me.
• Then I watched as Lebron went down…I was sad. O’ well, GO MAGIC at this point.

Sunday

• Pre-marital counseling this morning with a couple who is getting married in July.
• I spent the rest of the morning putting the finishing touches on the message for The Gathering.
• I preached Mark 6 3 X at The Gathering. I talked on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Overall it was long but God worked. The power of the Holy Spirit was especially evident in the 7:15pm Gathering….Praise God.
• Then I went through the drive through at Sonic for a late night snack.
• Then BED…very TIRED after preaching for 3 hours.

Hillsong United did it again…

Hillsong United is a ridiculously good worship band from down under. They have put album after album out that is off the charts good and once again they do NOT disappoint. If you haven’t had a chance to download it yet…go on over to itunes and download the new album.

It is currently ranked 2nd OVERALL (just behind Eminem and just ahead of Adam Lambert and Keith Urban) on most downloaded albums on itunes….that is awesome. Keep spreading the Gospel…well done. I specifically like Tear Down the Walls. Go get it…you will NOT be disappointed.

Weekend Review – Hospital and Wreck Edition

Friday

• Read a bit
• Changed cars with my wife Renie and hit the road with the Midtown Summer interns along with a few staff members.
• We headed to Lexington, NC and stayed at a Lake House (for free) on High Rock Lake. GO CAMP PLANNING WEEKEND.
• Took in some local BBQ at a place called Cook’s. All I can say is glass bottled cheerwine…gotta love that.
• Got some planning done.
• Took my ambien and allegedly acted a bit crazy according to the interns….who knows?

Saturday

• Planning and creativity meetings throughout the day for GO CAMP.
• I rode the Jet-Ski for about 20 min. by myself while the groups were meeting.
• I decided to use my skills to spray an entire group that was sitting on the dock and was very successful in my attempt to soak them. (i think they were actually mad but they played it off well as if they thought it was funny too….sorry guys…ok, maybe not)
• Took a nap on the outside couch that sits perfectly under a shade tree overlooking the lake. GLORIOUS!
• I was woken up by Jay (one of our staff members) telling me that Sam (one our female interns) flew off the tube and busted her head open on a log that happened to be floating by.
• I took her to the hospital and within 2.5 hours we were back at the lake house…only she now had 4 staples in her head…yea staples. She was a trooper…girls are simply tougher than guys when it comes to stuff like that.
• I grilled some dogs and burgers for the team.
• More planning and meetings and then we took a midnight run to a place called Cookout. It was a good milk shake but I felt like we drove to Texas and back. It was a dang road trip for a shake.
• No ambien needed….I was out…well’ until the coughing hit. (currently still coughing)

Sunday

• Spent some time praying about Go Camp as a team.
• Then we hit the road south for Columbia.
• As we were taking the on ramp from I-85 South to I-77 South I noticed a car sitting literally up on it’s side with the guard rail beside the car mangled beyond repair.
• I immediately pulled off the side of the road NOT knowing if anyone was in the car or what the deal was.
• As I began running toward the car I noticed two passengers still in the car as it was sitting on its side with most of the glass busted out of its windows scattered across the road, the mud, and the grass.
• As I approached the vehicle I had no idea what I was about to see.
• The two girls were both conscious and began talking with me…explaining how the wreck had happened just 30 seconds earlier and that they hydroplaned hit the guard rail and then flipped.
• They both were fine except for a very small cut on the elbow of the driver and some pain in their necks.
• They carefully climbed out of the vehicle via the back window that was shattered out while myself and Joel (one of the guy interns) held the car steady from tipping over.
• We ended up staying with them about 20 minutes until the EMT’s arrived. We stabilized their necks by holding there head still and helped them make phone calls etc.
• It was a miracle that they were NOT dead….Praise God! (they happened to be on their way to church)
• While we were there….there were 2 more cars who hydroplaned in the turn and hit the guard rail. Both vehicles were fine as were the passengers…..To say the least it was wild.
• Finally, we took off and headed back to Columbia.
• I took a 35 minute nap at home.
• Put on my suit and headed to Charleston, SC for the ordination service of my good friend Paul Coleman.
• It was very special and I was honored to be able to be apart of the service.
• Renie and I had desert with the New’s then we headed back to Columbia and arrived back here around 1am.

PRAY FOR THE TIPPINGS AND HELP

Allen Tipping is our Community Missions Pastor at Midtown and happens to be my best friend. His wife Courtney is my wife’s best friend.  Allen & Courtney are currently expecting 6 babies…yep 6….at one time. Courtney will be 20 weeks pregnant tomorrow. The Tippings need your prayers right now.

Courtney was put into the hospital last night. She went into pre-term labor and was dilated to 5 cm. They were able to slow down the contractions a good bit and she is now sleeping. She doesn’t need too many visitors right now due to her needing rest more than anything. But, we covet your prayers! This is very dangerous at this point in the process. We will keep THIS BLOG UPDATED and we will share all of your comments with Court and Allen!

If you want to help (and we need your help!!), please go t0 http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/13340 and enter the following information in the appropriate spaces:

CALENDAR ID: 13340   SECURITY CODE : 6875

Then, you can register yourself to help out with some of the following:

1. Food. Allen, Allen’s parents, and Courtney’s mom are all going to be in Court’s room with her. So, they would love something better than cafeteria food. If you don’t mind bringing food, please go to the site above and register to bring food on the date and time you can. If you want to take food to the family, go to Palmetto Health Richland and go to the 4th floor, Labor and Delivery. The family will be there.

2. Yard work/House cleaning. We will have extra keys and can meet you at the Tipping’s house if you would like to do yardwork or house cleaning. You can simply fill out your date on the website.

If you want to do either of these on a different day listed, simply email me at kgclements@gmail.com and we will change the day of the week on the site for you. If you have any questions/concerns with anything concerning the Tippings, please feel free to email KRISTI @ kgclements@gmail.com or call her @ 864-979-9665. We will update you via THE BLOG. Please, please, please pray for Courtney and the babies’ health.

The Weekend Review

The weekend review will be up later today…be on the look out for it.

Thanks and sorry for the delay

Good Stuff Coming Next Week

I am pumped about some things that are coming up including some post I cannot wait to drop here in the blog. Be on the look out. Starting Monday…

Have a great weekend. I am heading to THE BIG MO for a drive-in movie with my bride.

TGIF

TGIF…Do you agree?

I’m OFF

I’m off as it is LABOR DAY. Have a good one and we will talk Tuesday!