Field Trips

What kid in school does not like a field trip? I know that when I was in school (mannnnny years ago) that it really did not matter where we went on a field trip - it was always a blast. What really mattered was that for a single day, I did not have to sit in class. Some things over the years have changed, but I am still a sucker for a field trip. Since becoming a dad I have gone on several field trips with my daughters and all of them have been great. Whether it is going to the pumpkin patch, a mission in california, the zoo, a play, etc it is as great this time as it was when I was growing up.

This Thursday I got to go to the Peterson Automotive Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits with Marissa. It was GREAT!!! I have always wanted to see the Tar Pits. I had never heard of the Auto Museum but being a car lover I was totally game. However, the greatest part of the day was getting to go with Marissa. We ate a sack lunch together and walked around and even sat by each other on the bus. She was not embarrased to have me around and it was a great time.

I hope I get to go on a few more before the kids get out of school....

Milk and Cereal

This morning I woke up and ate some Milk and Cereal... How fitting because last night I was given the opportunity to speak at our Young Adult worship service called "Milk and Cereal". It was great (not me - the whole experience). They have an awesome Praise and Worship time. There was a great group of Yound Adults there. Some I knew, while others I have never seen before in my life.

While I was there I began to realize something. There are many who are telling us that this generation is beyond hope. They supposedly don't enjoy church, are wishy washy, non-committal and selfish. What I see in this generation is a group of young adults willing to come and worship and listen to God's Word at 8:30pm, and in a local theater no less. I saw them praise God with passion and respond to the message. I caught their excitement and saw their optimism.

If you doubt what I am telling you then I would encourage you to go check it out. They are welcoming group (even to a 40 year old). They meet at the Krikorian Theaters in Redlands at 8:30pm each Wednesday night. I even heard last night that next week (May 2) Pastor Rob will be the speaker.

Anthony Vines, keep up the awesome job!!!!!!!!

Family Videos

Gretchen is getting ready to head to Texas with a good friend of hers - for some serious girl time. As part of her trip preparation she is gathering our family videos. Her mom has one of those VHS/8MM to DVD recorders, so she is taking them so she can transfer them to DVD's. Much better format that should allow us to enjoy them for years to come.

Last night Meagan had put one of the old VHS tapes in to watch (this has become a favorite hobby of Meagan's as of late). I heard what was going on and went in to watch what turned out to be Marissa's 1st birthday party.

I thought to myself - how time flies!!!! Where did the years go? This all seemed to happen to me without my permission. When did we ever consent to letting our girls grow up. I must have missed out on that vote. It was one of those - if I knew then, what I know now - moments.

Knowing (and seeing last night) what I know now - I would have video taped every moment of their lives. I mean I would have set it up like the Truman show, so I would have documented, visual evidence of everything they have done.

So.... I am getting an additional battery for my camcorder and a Sam's Club pack of 8MM tapes. GIRLS WATCH OUT - YOUR DAD IS ON A FAMILY VIDEO MISSION!!!!!!!!

24/7

May 6 - 13 we will be having another 24/7 prayer week at church. This will be the fourth one I have participated in here at Immanuel. This is just an awesome time for the church to come together as one unit to pray without ceasing.

Little Prayer, Little Power
More Prayer, More Power
Much Prayer, Much Power

We will be encouraging people to pray for specific things during the week, but to me the biggest prayer is for God to change me!!!

My biggest challenge in life is not those around me - it is me. I was reading a book recently that states that the biggest leadership challenge everyone faces is themselves. HOW TRUE IS THAT!!!

Let's all come together for 168 straight hours and get on our knees before a Holy God and ask Him to change us, mold us and create in us what He wants us to be!!!

See Ya There

Inviting...

Here are six key elements to making you Bible Fellowship class more inviting.

1. Invigorate
2. Incorporate
3. Intercede
4. Invest
5. Invite
6. Involve

Sunday we will be hearing from the guy who came up with these six key elements. I hope to see a lot of people there!!!!!

Greatness Determined

After spending time with some of the greatest people this side of heaven I was able to see some qualities that make these people who they are:

1. Great dependence upon the sovereignty of God.
2. Great dependence upon the power of prayer.
3. Great dependence upon the sufficiency of God's Word.
4. Great dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
5. Great dependence upon the love of Christ working through them.

I made this note in my journal.

Why do people in the church of America have conflict over the methods of our worship service when there are people who would love to have what we have week in and week out.

While spending time with these people, someone made the statement that A Restful Soul is One's Greatest Asset.

I pray that the American church gains a restful soul - a soul that finds contentment in Christ and Christ alone.

Beyond Measure

My first entry while in Poland is titled Beyond Measure. I was on the plane on the way here and was listening to the Jeremy Camp song titled "Beyond Measure." It basically states that he feels blessed beyond measure. That is exactly how I feel. Beyond my salvation I cannot believe I have been blessed so greatly by God. I have the greatest wife in the world. The greatest 18, 12 and 10 year old girls that a dad could ever ask for. I do not deserve this life - that is why it is called being blessed beyond measure.....

Thank you LORD!!!!