Good Bye to the Land of Beer and Cheese

Good-Bye to the Land of Beer and Cheese

This is the last blog that will originate from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My emotions are terribly conflicted at the moment: I will miss my family and my adopted city greatly but I am very excited about the new opportunity in Tucson, Arizona. But I owe Southside and Milwaukee a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to repay.

Though this is indeed the land of beer, Milwaukee however, I have discovered, is far more than that. The city parks are magnificent (I know of no city with a Root River Parkway). The Domes, Miller Park, German Fest, Italian Fest, African-World fest, the Public Museum and Art Museum are places of fond memories.

But Milwaukee is really special because it is the home of Southside Church of Christ. Here I have been challenged and asked to grow. Here my family has changed and become more of what our Abba would have us to be. With this family we went camping with at Blue Mound State Park, we played Sheepshead, shot pool, went to concerts, saw the Brewers, Bucks and Packers ... and we prayed, studied and shared the gospel together.

Milwaukee and Southside are not "events" though ... they are people. Great people. These are folks who for some reason have allowed a mediocre preacher the awesome privilege of standing before them and talking about the kingdom of God. They have often surprised me with things totally unexpected. Yesterday, as I closed my lesson from 2 Timothy 2.8-13, "Don't Forget," at the end of "second worship," I was stunned as the congregation started to applaud. It was a very moving moment and completly unexpected. Yes, I will miss Milwaukee. I will miss Southside.

But PaLO VErde is also, I have discovered a people of great love and vision. I believe that God is directing our path to an even grander adventure in Tucson. The cloud moved and our Abba has only our good in mind when he directs our paths. In the last few weeks our new family has been worming their way into our heart.

I pray that God will bless Milwaukee and Southside. I pray he will Tucson and Palo Verde.

No more blogs for another week to 10 days.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine