Archbishop Gregory Holley

4th Annual Father's Day Cook Off

 Once more Father's Day brings with it the Father's Day Cook Off.  The Champions bring the pits. The attendees bring the appetites. The competition is hot and heavy. Smoke fills the air as friendly taunts drift back and forth. Who will Win? Bill's Best Barbecue? The Chuck and Deborah Cooking Show? Lang And Champion Abrego, the so far Undisputed Champions of New Life?  The sneaky Chef Brian or the late bloomers who pitch up to wow the crowd?  Well, Pastor Gayla will be posting that on Monday so check her out at www.gaylasmagazine.com !  No, Butch is a eater, not a cooker this year!

www.gaylasmagazine.com www.rolemodelsofamerica.com

Sweeping up Behind the Elephant

When Angela was a baby we went to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. We were fascinated with the Elephants as much of her early life was spent in Africa.  In Africa we called the Elephant droppings "calling cards." You could follow the Elephants "calling cards" and find where they were by where they had been. At the Circus the Elephants came marching through and the there they were, "calling cards."  Following each of the Elephants were people with trash cans, shovels and brooms sweeping up the "calling cards." Till this day there are some days we spend it "sweeping up after the elephant!"  Through these doors are our staff offices and a whole lot of sweeping up goes on behind them!

The Queen is at her desk getting ready for her orchestra practice tonight and pounding at the keyboard. She is planning a huge Role Models of America craft day a couple of Saturdays from now and believe me she is trying turn this big old elephant of New Life on its ears to make sure the most productive day is had. Her 12 team leaders are humming right along and this year she has recruited the men to come along and help. Now, who's sweeping up after who?

Breaking her away to come help me is a challenge but she is so good at what she does.  I needed help with a few projects around the community center and  asked her to come sit in my chair and tell me what she would do if she were me.  Ha! What a deal! For 31 years we have been sweeping up after the Elephant of our lives, New Life! Soon Angela appeared and now I have all the authorities on the subject of sweeping up and we can really make progress!!!!

There was a rental in the Palace Theater today with 66 leaders of a great corporation in attendance. These are important to the budget of the center and being a resident food critic I had noticed the caterer was below par today! Well, after much discussion and a new catering group interviewed in the early afternoon it was decided that the New Life Elephant should have a baby and it should cater so it would be par excellence! We care so much about our community and desire to give our partners and clients the best in care no matter how much 'sweeping up' it takes.

Brian and the team are putting a new face on one of the Baby Elephants here, Starbucks. Lori, one of the team, is doing a great job and it is always a pleasure to see this single mom bringing cheer to the visitors in the morning. I had seen her at church on occasion and one day while shopping in a local office supply when asking for information she was the one who said, " Can I help you Sir?" Talk about the sheep knowing the voice have you ever heard of the shepherd knowing the sheep's voice?  Turning around and seeing who it was I was astonished at her professionality and business acumen. Upon returning to the office it was my suggestion that we try to hire her and here she is! What a great worker!

Frappucino, a iced coffee, has taken off like a rocket in the coffee market. We are adding another machine and a Frappucino bar. Brian is building away adding more sinks, more cabinets, more everything, more Elephant to sweep up after!

A new drive thru window has been installed and we are on count down to finish the interior which will include sandwich wraps, soup and yes, ice cream. Starbucks has 13 flavors and are adding to it. We hope by spring to have the ice cream shop in full swing. The drive thru should be open in a few weeks as now we must turn our attention to the outside and work on the menu board, speaker system, drive thru loop, concrete and posts to name a few pieces of the Baby Elephant.

The outside tables and chairs are being reviewed and decided upon. It has been a work in progress and now we begin to refine it.  It's a good problem, just needs a bit of sweeping up!

Well, it's about 8 pm and I think I will put my broom away and head for the house.  As I go home I will think about all my brothers and sisters around the corner and around the world and Praise God.  I will think of those in the wake of Hurricane Humberto are doing a bit of sweeping up on their own. I will think over the guys at the warehouses and what a great job they do.  I will think over the RMA Store and Ebay and the great job they do.  Yes, it's great to have the blessing of the Lord and prosper, but, boy, there sure is a lot of sweeping to do!