It's been a wonderful week! I have just arrived back home following the 86th Annual District Council of the Pennsylvania–Delaware District, held in Harrisburg, PA. You can read details below. While the staff and I were away, I have heard marvelous reports following the ministry of HeartSong on Wednesday evening!

Aren't you glad that our God can bless people in different places at the same time! He is blessing me now, and I know that He will bless you right now, too!

Here is Volume 2.19 of firstIMPRESSIONS. Keep living for God on purpose!

IN THIS ISSUE

Article 1 – Homefire Family Ministries Presents The Family Conference
Article 2 – Pastor Bruce Is Now Ordained!
Article 3 – New District Superintendent Elected
Article 4 – Happy Mother's Day!
Article 5 – Evangelist Jimmy Davis Here For One Day Revival!
Article 6 – Things I've Learned From My Mother
Article 7 – Carrots, Eggs, And Coffee Beans
Article 8 – The Last Impression...

Homefire Family Ministries Presents
the Family Conference

Starting this Sunday morning, and continuing each evening, Sunday through Wednesday, our very special guests will be HomeFire Ministries! The Family Conference is4 days and 5 Life–Changing Meetings for everyone in the family! HomeFire is a mom and dad, their two daughters and sons–in–law, and five grandchildren. Three generations on one platform! When it comes to family living, they know how to get up close and personal. This one of a kind family ministry travels full–time, challenging families to link arms and be an unbreakable force for Christ. Be sure not to miss this ministry to the family from a family.

Conference schedule:

Sunday morning - Family Musical Drama

Sunday evening - Practical Insights Into Family Living

Monday and Tuesday - Mini Concert (30 minutes), Workshops For Everyone (1 hour) - Marriage and Parenting, Singles, Youth, and Nursery.

Wednesday evening - Family Musical Drama

Click here to visit the HomeFire web site for information on their dynamic ministry!

Pastor Bruce Is Now Ordained!

This past Wednesday evening, during the Pennsylvania–Delaware District Council meeting, Pastor Bruce Cox was ordained into the Full Gospel ministry. Ordination is the highest level of credentialing that the Assemblies of God issues, and is only conferred upon those who have already received their License to Preach, and have demonstrated a proven ministry over a period of years.

In the Assemblies of God, ordination of ministers takes place on an annual basis at the District Council meeting. It was my privilege, as my first action as the newly elected Presbyter of the Delmarva Section, to personally ordain Pastor Bruce.

Congratulations to Pastor Bruce and Pamela Cox! As many of you know, Pamela just received her License to Preach. We are blessed to have this fine family with us on staff here at WILMINGTON first assembly of God!

New District Superintendent Elected

Rev. Stephen Tourville

On Wednesday afternoon, May 8, 2002, the Pennsylvania–Delaware District Council of the Assemblies of God elected Rev. Stephen Tourville to serve as its new District Superintendent. He succeeds Rev. Philip Bongiorno, who is retiring following 24 years of ministry as superintendent.

A long–time member of the Pennsylvania–Delaware District, Brother Tourville has been serving for the past two and a half years as the director of Intercultural Ministries in the Home Missions department at the General Council of the Assemblies of God headquarters in Springfield, MO. Previously, he served in our District office as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. Prior to his appointment to that position, he was the Presbyter of the Southeast Section, while serving as the Senior Pastor at Trinity Assembly of God in West Chester, PA. He also pastored Faith Assembly of God in Hazleton, PA.

Brother Tourville has ministered on many occasions here at WILMINGTON first assembly of God, and his son, Jason, is a past Youth Pastor here.

In other elections at District Council, Christian Education Director, Rev. George Krebs, and Women's Ministries Director, Rev. Ruth Puleo, were both returned to office. Assistant Superintendent, Rev. Paul Grabill, and Secretary–Treasurer, Rev. David Crosby Sr., were both elected to serve as General Presbyters. Rev. Tom Rees was re–appointed to serve as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, and Rev. Harold Crosby was re–appointed to serve as the District World Missions Director. Rev. J. Clayton Sheridan and Rev. Arnold L. Wheatley were both appointed as Stewardship Directors.

One significant resolution was passed, calling for the creation of a committee to study the formation of a District Reconciliation/Conflict Resolution Commission.

Also, by act of unanimous resolution, Rev. Philip Bongiorno was named to the position of District Superintendent Emeritus. Further, Brother Bongiorno will be presented by the Pennsylvania–Delaware District to the General Presbytery for election by the next General Council of the Assemblies of God to the position of honorary general presbyter.

Happy Mother's Day!

This Sunday is Mother's Day here in the United States. I'm sure that you would agree that much of the common sense and wisdom that each of us has is due to our wonderful mother.

Interestingly, I have recently discovered some "little known quotes" from the mothers of some famous individuals. Let's see what we can learn from these ladies!

PAUL REVERE'S MOTHER
"I don't care where you think you have to go, young man. Midnightis past your curfew!"

MONA LISA'S MOTHER
"After all that money your father and I spent on braces, Mona, that's the biggest smile you can give us?"

HUMPTY DUMPTY'S MOTHER
"Humpty, If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times not to sit on that wall. But would you listen to me? Noooo!"

COLUMBUS' MOTHER
"I don't care what you've discovered, Christopher. You still could have written!"

MICHELANGELO'S MOTHER
"Mike, can't you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?"

NAPOLEON'S MOTHER
"All right, Napoleon. If you aren't hiding your report card inside your jacket, then take your hand out of there and prove it!"

CUSTER'S MOTHER
"Now, George, remember what I told you – don't go biting off more than you can chew!"

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S MOTHER
"Again with the stovepipe hat, Abe? Can't you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?"

BARNEY'S MOTHER
"I realize strained plums are your favorite, Barney, but you're starting to look a little purple."

BATMAN'S MOTHER
"It's a nice car, Bruce, but do you realize how much the insurance is going to be?"

GOLDILOCKS' MOTHER
"I've got a bill here for a busted chair from the Bear family. You know anything about this, Goldie?"

LITTLE MISS MUFFET'S MOTHER
"Well, all I've got to say is if you don't get off your tuffet and start cleaning your room, there'll be a lot more spiders around here!"

ALBERT EINSTEIN'S MOTHER
"But, Albert, it's your senior picture. Can't you do something about your hair? Styling gel, mousse, something...?"

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOTHER
"The next time I catch you throwing money across the Potomac, you can kiss your allowance good–bye!"

JONAH'S MOTHER
"That's a nice story, but now tell me where you've really been for the last three days."

SUPERMAN'S MOTHER
"Clark, your father and I have discussed it, and we've decided you can have your own telephone line. Now will you quit spending so much time in all those phone booths?"

THOMAS EDISON'S MOTHER
"Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb, Thomas. Now turn off that light and get to bed!"

Evangelist Jimmy Davis Here for One Day Revival

On Sunday, June 16th, one of my personal friends, Dr. Jimmy Davis, will be ministering with us here at WILMINGTON first assembly of God. Brother Davis is the National Evangelists Representative for the General Council of the Assemblies of God. He has traveled around the world, conducting evangelistic crusades.

I have known Jimmy and his wife Sheri since we were students together at Central Bible College. He is one of my absolute favorite preachers, and I know you will be blessed!

To read more about Brother Davis and his ministry, Cutting Edge International, click here.

Things I've Learned From My Mother

Where would we be without Moms!

- My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE – "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside – I just finished cleaning!"

- My mother taught me RELIGION – "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

- My mother taught me IRONY – "Keep crying and I'll *give* you something to cry about."

- My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL: "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

- My mother taught me FORESIGHT – "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

- My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM – "Will you *look* at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

- My mother taught me about WEATHER – "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

- My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY – "If I've told you once, I've told you a million times – Don't Exaggerate!!!"

- My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS – "Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

- My mother taught me about STAMINA – "You'll sit there 'til all that spinach is finished."

- My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION – "Stop acting like your father!"

- My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE – "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

- My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS –"If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you; would you listen then?"

- My mother taught me about ENVY – "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

- My mother taught me LOGIC: "Because I said so, that's why."

Happy Mother's Day!

Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee Beans

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.

She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard–boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity––boiling water––but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

The Last Impression...

Give God what's right – not what's left. Man's way leads to a hopeless end – God's way leads to an endless hope.

So much excitement here at WILMINGTON first assembly of God You really don't want to miss a single service! Why don't you call a friend and invite them to come with you this Sunday for the Family Conference! You will be glad you did, and they will be eternally blessed!

Looking forward to seeing you this Lord's Day!