New Book

My daughter, Kristen, bought me a book for Christmas. It's called Touch and it's written by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. He pastors a church Called St. John's in downtown Houston. Side note, Beyonce grew up in this church and wrote a little note on the back cover.

I'm only on chapter 6, but thought I would share a few of my highlights.

The ministry of St. John's exposes fear, hurt, and doubt in each of us, and it lavishes love to heal these wounds.

The more I experienced the touch of His love, kindness, forgiveness, and strength, the more revolution God caused in my heart. I began to see myself as an advocate for the marginalized around me: drug addicts, homeless people, gays and lesbians, gang members, and misfits.

One day, a well-dressed lady who was a corporate professional came to me with a complaint, "Rudy," she said with a tone of disgust, "things just don't seem to be improving around here. What are you going to do about all of those people?"

I believe people have built-in radar to detect the level of acceptance we offer them.

ENGAGE BEFORE JUDGING
LOVE BEFORE LEAVING SOMEONE'S PRESENCE
PERSONAL PAIN IS FERTILE GROUND TO LEARN TO LOVE
REAL LOVE REQUIRES DEFENDING THE HELPLESS

(About a lady he knew in the neighborhood) She looked the facts squarely in the eye, and then she stepped up, spoke the truth, and took action. I've tried to follow her example by being brutally honest about people and circumstances, and then defending the rights of the helpless and hopeless against exclusion, racism, and all forms of injustice.

What can we expect when we choose love over fear in relating to people? We can expect most people to repay our love with trust and loyalty, but we can also expect a few to try to take advantage of our kindness, and a few of them will despise us. That's the range of people's responses to Jesus. Why should their response to us be any different?

And the reason for our limited ability to love might be that we live in fear and try to protect ourselves from being hurt again.

C.S. Lewis said, "Pain is God's megaphone." He uses it to get our attention. God uses our pain to deepen our dependence on Him so we move past fear and we learn to live in love. When we experience God's love, we can lower our guard of self-protection, and we can really love people.

According to Robert Linthicum in his book, Empowering the Poor, ministries can be characterized by their attitude toward "the least of these." Some churches have ministries "to" needy communities, some minister "in" those communities, and some minister "with" needy people.

Ministering "to" needy people is keeping the at arm's length. A suburban church may take old clothes to a shelter and drop them off. They expect the effort will help in some way, but they have very little contact with homeless people or abused women and children served by the shelter.

Many churches minister "in" their communities. The building is found in the town or city or countryside, but they see people outside the church as "them" instead of "us." They see their church as a haven from the injustice ad heartache outside the church, and they develop a fortress mentality. If people come to them, the church will try to find them some help. But if they don't come, that's fine too.

Instead of the church being a fortress to protect us from threatening people, the church is a family that cares for all of its people, the saved and the lost, the rich and the poor, the clean and the smelly. Churches that minister "with" their communities live in love, not in fear.

That's a good chunk to chew on for today, three chapters in fact. The next chapter deals with our fears. Tune in again!

Blessings on this sunny Friday.

Sad Face :-(

This week our beloved dog Sascha of 15 years suffered a stroke. We don't know exactly when it happened, but she is walking with her head tilted, not walking straight and stumbling, and has some visual damage.

There is nothing the vet can do but he did gave us hope. He said with damage at this low to moderate level, she can recover after three weeks of rest. We can't give her blood thinners, as this could increase the bleeding in the brain if it hasn't stopped yet. She wants to walk, and even run, but she can't get her blood pressure up. We continue to keep her separated from our 3 year old golden retriever, Casey, as he is too rambunctious for her delicate condition. The vet said if she is vomiting consistently to let him know and he will give her some strong car sickness medicine for the nausea. If she starts seizing, it would be time to put her to sleep. Right now she's not in pain or discomfort, other than being really dizzy. He said it was like being a kid spinning around several times, then trying to run or walk a straight line. I get that.

So we're watching her and are hopeful her dizziness and head tilt will lessen in a few weeks and she'll be able to walk straight again.

Please pray for her full recovery. She's the best dog we've ever had. Loving and protective, gentle and loyal.

Have a blessed sunny Thursday.

Too Funny to Miss!

We saw Kristen's play Friday night. It was hilarious, just like the brochure said. I was not expecting Kristen's character. I didn't recognize her when she walked on stage. The costumes and make-up were so good, you can't tell these are high schoolers! This is a laugh out loud comedy that pokes fun at Christians and the silly way we sometimes do church. In the end, it all works out and hearts are changed. Friday Greg was on an embankment at a customer's house in Modesto and started to slide into dry creek. He grabbed a vine and didn't realize it was full of nettles. His hand was red, swollen, throbbing, and prickly until the next day.

He's better now.

Have a blessed sunny Saturday.

Back to Work

After being off all but 4 hours this week, and that 4 hours was in the rain, we've got a full day ahead of us today. Greg said to pack breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yuck! I'm eating breakfast at my desk as I type, so maybe it won't be as bad as I thought.

I'm going through a New Testament survey book with a friend and I love it! I'll be starting the Old Testament survey book with another friend in 2 weeks and can't wait.

We have a busy weekend with Kristen's play opening Saturday night at 7:00 at Sunrise Christian Church. Here's the info, if I haven't already posted it.

A Hilarious Comedy About the Church

Pastoring a new flock didn’t sound so difficult . . .
But nobody told him he’d be working with Turkeys!

Performed by the TCHS “Class Act”

Dates:
Saturday April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday April 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday April 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday May 1 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday May 2 at 2:00 p.m.

Sunrise Christian Church, 1000 E. Monte Vista Ave. Turlock
Tickets $5 to $7 at the door

Off to work!
Have a blessed cloudy Friday.

EQUIP Update

This Sunday we're having a special kid's service. Children will be singing songs, reciting memory verses from VBS, giving testimonies, and reading scripture.

This Saturday we are having a baptism class and in a few weeks a baptism and bar-b-que. We will be having an interpreter for the parents of the children who will be baptized who don't understand English very well.

A membership class is also on the schedule and we're planning another leadership meeting soon.

Our small groups are going great. Greg and I are about ready to lead one ourselves for those with rotating work schedules.

The "Harvest Gathering" of Churches for God's Greatest Glory is a powerful, 2-day conference for churches throughout Northern and Central California. It is an opportunity for believers to hear from dynamic plenary speakers, interact with dozens of mission organizations, attend workshops to learn about strategic opportunities, and connect with like-minded believers from throughout the region. April 30-May 1 at The Home Church in Campbell CA.
This was a huge blessing to our team last year and we encourage anyone interested to go and check it out.

For more info on EQUIP's calendar of events, go to our website at .

Have a blessed gray Wednesday.

A Little Shove

Two friends have told me that although my book review blogs were good, my best blogs are the ones where I share what God is teaching me or what is being revealed to me. This will be one of those kinds of blogs, and hopefully good!

A friend of mine and I are starting a study of the New Testament. I started blogging on the Old Testament survey study we did about a year ago and the same author, Bill Jones has come out with the companion book, Putting Together the Puzzle of the New Testament. I can't wait! Thursday night I had some quiet time alone. Greg was in the bedroom watching Flash Forward (too stressful for me), Kristen was at her drama rehearsal, Mark was at his college group so I had the living room to myself. Yeah!!!!! I love those times.

I was reading the introduction to the book, which is more like a summary of the book when I read a sentence that stopped me dead in my tracks and brought me to tears, remorse, and repentance.

Lately, as you know, I've been very busy. Work, Easter, VBS, etc. During that time, I missed about 6 quiet times in a row. That's about my limit anyway, before I sit down and catch up, which was also what I was planning on doing Thursday night. I know God is waiting for me to join him, but I also tell myself there is grace when I don't make it every day, and I do make up for it, sort of. God chose this sentence to get my attention:

There they struggled with the tendency of turning away from the living God who loves and cares for them and turning to gods made from the hands of the Canaanites.

I felt I was doing the same thing. I had a tendency that I struggled with - putting God on hold while I put other things first in my day. In so doing, I was choosing to turn away from the living God who loves and cares for me. I started to feel some of the pain that God must feel when we do this, when I do this. He loves and cares for me. All the time, no matter what. And yet I struggle with the tendency to turn away. How horrible of me. I turn to gods made from my hands - business, tasks, stuff all screaming, "I'm urgent!" But these things are not important. God is the most important thing I have.

I sat, I cried, I apologized over and over. I let the moment of correction wash over me, not wanting to hurry it, but to experience it fully.

Today I am 1 day behind. I need to do yesterday and today. Reading through the Bible in a year helps me keep on track, otherwise I have a tendency to let it go much more. The schedule is a tool to help me stay accountable, it is not a God. There is only one God, and He corrects me.

Have a blessed sunny Saturday.

A Grand Send Off!

The Coburns joined us about 8 months ago for a season of recharging, healing, refocusing and direction. We expected this season to be from 4-6 months and all sensed their time with us was winding down as God has called them to start a small group in their home in Manteca. Under the covering of their previous church in Manteca, they already have many couples asking to be part of their ministry.

We announced their move a few weeks ago to give the congregation time to say their good-bye's and Sunday we had their family up front for a time of prayer and encouragement. After service we had cake. Tuesday night three families traveled to their home in Manteca for our monthly prayer meeting. Many prophetic words were spoken as we prayed for Dan and Audra, their children, and their ministry. It is an exciting time for them as they see where the Lord is ultimately calling them.

Many blessings to the Coburn family. God will do great things through them with their willing hearts to serve Him at all times.

Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

You know the exhiliaration of coming off a roller coaster ride? You're coasting into the final stretch as they apply the brakes, your hair flying backwards, or, if it's short, straight up. You have this silly grin on your face, that if you're lucky, the picture they just took makes you WANT to buy it.

That's how I've felt the last couple of days. So, if you've been reading my last couple of blogs, you saw the spiritual warfare taking place, mostly in our business. Then, early last week, our marriage was attacked. Fortunately, it was only a couple of days and by the time VBS started, we were on good footing again.

VBS was great. It was a spiritual high. Such a reward could only have been preceded by warfare, as the enemy knew what was coming. I have to say we were very drained. It sucked every bit of energy out of us but it was all worth it to see many kids come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

VBS itself was only 2 hours each day for three days, but we were there for 5 hours each day, which included setup, registration, and tear down. Much easier if we had our own building and could have transported everything needed once.

We started in the sanctuary with worship from Turlock Christian's Worship Band, which was great. Here they are practicing before we started the first day.
After worship, a few instructions and an introductory skit (written by Alex Gutierrez and performed by Alex, Jessica Bardini, Kristen and a few others as extras)
the kids were separated by age group and started their rotations. Some stayed in the sanctuary for a time of Bible lesson teaching (the theme was Heroes of the Bible) and the teaching separated girls from boys where the girls learned about Esther and Ruth and the boys learned about Gideon and David Wednesday and Thursday respectively and Friday everyone learned about the mystery hero, Jesus. Some kids went to crafts, led by our Sunday School teacher Amber Hutcheson and some went outside to play games that had to do with the theme and hero of the day. One of the games was throwing water balloon bombs at a 9 foot tall plywood Goliath, made by Dick and Mark Pritchard and painted by Kristen, when studying David. Goliath had signs attached to him like gangs, drugs, gossip, selfishnes, pride, etc.
After game time outside, it was snack time. I got to be in charge of registration and snacks and loved doing both. Their snacks were trail mix with cheetos and m&ms and cereal, brownies, mini cinnamon rolls, goldfish, and fruit cocktail. They also had lemonade, tang, and water.
Before VBS the first day, we got to play jumprope. Here's Greg and I giving it a try. I won! At the end of the day the kids came back together in the sanctuary and got to see the resolution to the intro skit from the morning. Sometimes they got a new skit. Before and after VBS the kids got to go into the Dora the Explorer bounce house. After VBS each day, the kids were treated to popcorn, manned by our actresses Alex and Jessica. The crafts included paper machet balloons, painted rocks, and bookmarks.

As VBS progressed, kids were rewarded with stars for attending, bringing a friend, memorizing up to 4 Bible verses a day, winning games, doing acts of heroics (like praying for someone, comforting, peacemaking, serving, etc.) and a few other things. At the end of VBS the highest performers of each age group were given their choice of prizes, like t-shirts, games, CDs, posters, etc. The kids were also given an opportunity to accept Christ the last two days and many did for the first time. Some were kids that went to our church, and others didn't go to church or went to other churches. That was the highlight for me!

To see all the pictures from VBS, look at the slide show below.

And Another Thing!

So, we're visiting my mom yesterday and we leave Kristen's 5x7 of her homecoming picture up there. Not a really big deal, we'll get it back at the end of the month when they come down for Kristen's play.

So, I'm getting things ready for today's Easter service, and I can't find the tray I bought Tuesday for the refreshments! I looked everywhere. I don't know if I even brought it home. It's on the receipt, so I know I had it at the register, but can't find it anywhere. I used a larger tray I also bought Tuesday, so it worked out. Just another frustration.

Now that Easter is over, I wonder if the attacks will stop. Probably not until VBS is over I'm guessing.

Easter service was great. I loved the baby dedication, worship, and sermon on Spiritual Strength. The weather was a bit chilly, but we made it through. The kids had a great time finding eggs in the grass. One of the people in our church brought chocolate crosses and handed them out to everyone at church! We also had special music, she and her sister sang Amazing Grace. It was beautiful.

I'm looking forward to a nap, but I'm told we were invited to a birthday party, so we'll go there first, then crash. Glad there is nothing else scheduled for today!

Have a blessed Resurrection day!

It's almost laughable!

As if my laundry list of our week or two wasn't enough, it just keeps getting better!
1. Today we lost a set of keys for work.
2. Greg had two guys coming to help us with a weedeating job and he had to piece together 3 pieces of equipment to make one weedeater.
3. Then we lost the gas cap to one of our weedeaters. The funny thing was, we had an extra gas cap because two weeks ago the oil cap broke and we bought the gas cap by accident, but we couldn't find our extra today. We went to one of our supply stores and they didn't sell them.
4. One of the keys we lost is to our storage unit so we couldn't park the trailer in there tonight. It will cost $50 for the storage unit people to break our lock, or $65 for a locksmith to come out. Last time this happened (oh yes, this has happened before!), the storage unit people loaned us their lock cutters for free. The times they are a changin'!
5. My back is killing me and I think I may have to go to the doctor.
6. There have been more, but we can't remember them, thank goodness!

Here's the good news:
1. The big mower is working and tomorrow we have 2 jobs left and we're done for the week! (Assuming no more equipment malfunctions)
2. We get to go out of town Saturday for several hours, and Mark got the day off to go with us!
3. It's almost Easter, and the bulletin is almost done, the fliers for VBS are printed, the baby dedication certificate is done, and the refreshment stuff is ready to go!
4. A lot of the VBS supplies are ready!

I just can't wait for this week to be over! Have a blessed cool, Thursday evening.