October 2009 Archives

This past Sunday, October 25, there was a major rock slide that has closed I-40 in both directions. (click here for story) The slide occurred between mile markers 2 and 3 on the North Carolina side. Highway officials are estimating that it could take up to 3 months clear away the rock debris and reopen the road.

Until the highway is reopened, guests coming to Ridgecrest from the west should take I-40 East to I-81 North and then take I-26 East to Asheville where you can get back onto I-40 East. This route is the recommended detour and there should be plenty of signage to help along the way. The detour will add approximately 60-90 minutes to your drive time so please plan accordingly. One good note, the drive on I-26 from Erwin, TN to Asheville is absolutely beautiful and you will definitely enjoy the views.

We will keep updated highway information on our Ridgecrest website. Please check beck for the latest before hitting the road for Ridgecrest!

Several buildings at LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center are undergoing extensive renovations this year. In New Mexico Hall, the conference rooms on the north end are being remodeled to better serve the function space needs of the many adult groups who visit Glorieta each year.  Rooms K, L, M and N have been gutted and will have an entirely new, more modern look by Summer 2010.  In addition to the new appearance, these renovations include measures to increase the energy efficiency of these rooms, which will result in energy expense savings as well as greater comfort for our guests.

Art Snead, Glorieta’s Business and Operations Manager, said, “New Mexico Hall was originally built for summer operation.  Our utilization of this building year-round, coupled with rising energy costs, has placed an increased financial burden on Glorieta.  As we renovate these rooms, we are taking advantage of an opportunity to become more energy efficient as well.”  Glorieta met with two energy consultants and its architect on how to best rebuild the rooms for energy efficiency and guest comfort. The recommended changes include adding two inch rigid foam and batting insulation to existing exterior walls and sound insulation to all the interior walls, which are being rebuilt. The rebuilt interior includes a new storage closet that services all three rooms and an enlarged corridor and storage room for Room K.

Glorieta sees Room K as the crown jewel of the current meeting space renovations. It is being upgraded to an executive board room that will afford a spectacular view of Glorieta Baldy along with the aesthetic and technological commodities necessary for modern executive retreats. These commodities include a custom built oak board table with built in power and A/V connectors, a flatscreen TV, QSC audio system and a slim-profile whiteboard cabinet flanked with notepads. The room will also feature a catering station that will be serviced from a catering area in the storage room located off the corridor that leads to Room K.

Renovations to Chuckwagon and Holy Grounds are scheduled to begin in November 2009 for early spring completion.  Hal Hill, Director of Glorieta Conference Center said, “Not only is this the first significant renovation that New Mexico Hall has had in recent years, it will allow us to update meeting room space to equal or surpass the best anywhere on campus. The changes we will make in the Chuckwagon and Holy Grounds will be amazing - accessible and enjoyable for all our guests. I am glad it will be a tangible improvement that will demonstrate to guests and all our visitors our commitment to excellence and the continuation of our mission as God's training center in New Mexico.”

This post was written by Glorieta Intern Mindy Cook.
 

NBS FIVAL GATHERING 2010 Au
Augu 11-, 2010

I attended the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta last week and it was a great event.  One of the speakers this year was Pricilla Shrier who in her closing comments recited this poem that I found on her website.  It had the crowd cheering and I thought I would share it with you this week.

He is the First and Last,
The Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was,
He always is, and He always will be...
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him,
and The leaders can't ignore Him.

Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him,
and The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him,
and Oprah can't explain Him away!
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging,
and His mind is on me.

He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life!

I serve Him because
His bond is love,
His burden is light,
and His goal for me is abundant life.

I follow Him because
He is the wisdom of the wise,
the power of the powerful,
the ancient of days,
the ruler of rulers,
the leader of leaders,
the overseer of the overcomer's,
and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you,
try this on for size.

His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
never forsake me,
never mislead me,
never forget me,
never overlook me,
and never cancel my appointment in His
appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I! fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.
So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...

He said it and that settles it.
God is in control,
I am on His side,
and that means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

If you haven't heard Pricilla Shrier speak you should, it will be a blessing for you, it sure was for me.  Look for an event near you at http://www.lifeway.com/women.

 

 

The Balloon Fiesta in Albuqurque is a big deal around Glorieta Conference Center, and many of the staff and volunteers took time to go enjoy the festivities. This shot is from one of the mass assentions, which involved over 200 hotair balloons.

This post was provided by Glorieta Intern Mindy Cook.

The Texas Baptist Men’s Furniture Building Ministry has been at Glorieta since August stirring up large amounts of sawdust as they custom built many needed pieces of furniture for Glorieta. From bunks and dressers to a custom designed oak and Brazilian walnut board table for the new executive board room, each piece is made with love and the utmost attention to detail. One volunteer, Melvin, is 88 years old and has been volunteering since 1986. He is the designated cross maker for this ministry and painstakingly makes hundreds of wooden cross plaques by hand. Some of these plaques are featured on furniture pieces like bunk beds and others are given away as gifts to those who minister on campus. Seeing a cross plaque or the Texas Baptist Men’s stamp on a piece of furniture on campus is an assurance of the quality and love put into that piece. As the Furniture Builders pull out of campus this week, they leave us with many beautiful and needed pieces of furniture and a deep sense of gratitude for all they gave.

The Oklahoma Campers on Mission have been on campus helping us with our renovations in Rooms K, L, M and N. These gentlemen have been working hard on the demolition and reframing of these rooms and having a grand time doing it. And while one of their favorite jokes is about how they never get any work done in the midst of all their fun, their progress is evidenced by dramatic, daily changes in the construction zones. Their skill, work ethic and sense of humor are all impressive. Their efforts are invaluable to us as we seek to upgrade these rooms.

This post was written by Glorieta Intern Mindy Cook.

Devotional Passage: Mark 1:40-43
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. Mark 1:41

While driving home for the holidays across northern New Mexico, my son, Kirby, stopped for gas and was approached by a Navajo man who asked for a ride. “I’m not going far,” Kirby told him. “I’ll be turning off the highway a few miles out.” The man asked if he could ride with him that far. In spite of misgivings about picking up strangers, Kirby felt impressed to let the man ride with him. Kirby witnessed to the man, who accepted Christ. My son couldn’t see leaving him stranded on the highway, so he drove 100 miles out of his way to take him home.

Trying to explain his late arrival to his clearly upset parents, Kirby simply said, “I celebrated with joy all the way home because I helped a lost man find Jesus.” Even as Jesus showed compassion on the leper, my son showed compassion on one who not only needed a ride but a Savior as well.

Ask God to help you be a champion of compassion today. Someone in need is waiting.

Father, in a world that is often cold and unfeeling, help me show concern for 
someone going through a difficult time.

©Fall 2008 Open Windows devotional guide. Used by permission. For information about Open Windows, go online: www.lifeway.com/magazines

Today, as I was looking through the books in my office bookcase, I came across a blast from the past. The book is titled Without Reservations - An Uncensored, Unabashed Look At How People Behave In Hotels and is a compilation of guest stories from Holiday Inn hotels during the early 90's.

As I looked at the book, I remembered first reading it when I was the general manager of the Holiday Inn Townlake in downtown Austin, TX. The book was loaned to me by Oscar Sanchez, my front desk manager at the time. After reading I must have set the book aside and forgot to give it back when Oscar left to go to another hotel. So, Oscar, if you read this... I'm sorry man!

From experience, I can tell you that guests really do some strange things when staying in your hotel. I wish I would have been smart enough to right down all the crazy stuff I've seen over my hospitality career. While I don't remember all of them, here are just a few that I'll never forget.

• While helping to open the Crowne Plaza Galleria in Houston I remember I man coming down to the front desk and complaining about the toilet in his room. Not an unusual complaint for most hotels. However this one had a twist. See, we had really rushed the last couple of days of construction in order to get the hotel open in time for the Houston Homebuilder's Show and when you rush construction, some things tend to get missed.  When the desk clerk told him she'd send maintenance right up to fix the toilet he told her the problem was not a 'broken' toilet. No, the problem was he didn't have a toilet at all, only a hole in the floor of the bathroom! Big oops!
• One night, when serving as the Manager on Duty, I got a call on the radio that someone was shooting off a fire extinguisher on the 4th floor. Grabbing two security guards to go with me, we headed up the elevator. When we got off the elevator, we didn't see anyone and it was very quiet. Thinking we must have missed them, we started to head back down to the lobby. However, before we could, we noticed CO2 powder running down the corridor carpet so we followed the trail. The trail led us directly to a room on that floor so we knocked on the door. Imagine our surprise when a young man opens the door with a fire extinguisher in his hand. Talk about finding a smoking gun! Needless to say, he and his buddies had been partying in their room just a little too much. They ended up spending the rest of the night in jail...
• One Saturday afternoon, while working as the F&B Director at Holiday Inn East in Montgomery, AL, I got a call from the front desk saying someone had reported a 'bum' loitering in our Holidome. She asked if I would check it out and if true, politely ask him to leave. I said sure, but before I could walk out of the restaurant, one of my waitresses came running into the restaurant all excited. I asked her what was going on and she breathlessly explained that she had just see Hank Williams, Jr in the Holidome. Turned out he was the 'bum' that had been reported to the front desk. Evidently his tour bus had stopped next door to the hotel and he was just walking around to stretch his legs. Needless to say, I didn't ask him to leave. Even though he did look a bit like a bum...

What about you? Care to share an unusual hotel experience with us?

I recently read an article about the 10 things we should pray for our children.  I thought it was a good reminder as I caught myself chuckling about some of the prayers I have prayed recently for mine:  "Lord, keep him out of trouble" , "Protect his heart" and "Father, keep me sane"  I'll admit have topped my list in the past few weeks.  Here is the list from the article.

1.  For Godly wisdom

2.  For character

3.  For an excellent spirit

4.  For humility

5.  For the desire to know God

6.  For direction

7.  For favor

8.  For discernment

9.  For the right friends and the right spouse

10.  For respect toward authority

 A good list to remember for our children.  And as for our sanity, well I guess that will have to wait for another list.