Apology to Marissa

I am sorry that I did not put a post in about the loss of another of our family members. Ginger Rush (Marissa's Teddy Bear Hamster) passed away on Father's Day. I seriously did not mean to leave it out. I got a call from home before church started that morning and drove straight home to hug a broken hearted girl. She was a great pet for Marissa for almost 2 years. Hamster's do not live much past that because of their metabolism. Marissa learned a lot taking care of Ginger. She learned responsibility. She learned that something else depended on her in a very important way. I will say that Marissa loved Ginger the way a great pet owner loves a pet.

While Ginger is gone - she will never be forgotten. I am sure that we will all remember her and that Marissa will always cherish the memories of ONE GREAT HAMSTER!!!

A Sense of Accomplishment

We are leaving next week for vacation/camping in Yellowstone (thanks to Buddy and Mary Camp for loaning us their trailer). I have been thinking about it for some time now. I am anxious to get out in God's great outdoors and see His majesty.

Part of the deal of borrowing the trailer was that I needed to install a trailer brake controller on our Trailblazer. In my past, I used to do things like that all the time. Did I say in the PAST!!!! Well, I went and bought the controller and googled information about how to install it. I got home and began the installation and could not find the wire loom that was supposed to be pre-installed by the manufacturer. Soooooo, I went back to Google and found a better article. To make a long story short - I FOUND IT!! I finished the installation and voila - so far so good.

STEP 1 complete towards our journey. The next step is now to go and hook up the trailer and make sure that everything else works. I will keep you posted.

When God Shows Off

After yesterday I feel as though I need to say something. Sunday's at Immanuel keep getting better and better. I serisously mean that. Just when I think it can not get any better, God shows up and makes me eat my words. Here is what I mean.

Yesterday started out pretty normal when Ray and I got the privilege to make coffee for our Bible Fellowship Groups (this is our weekly service ritual). Then the staff gathered for an awesome time of prayer. There are a lot of hurting people within our congregation and we get the privilege every Sunday to lift some of them up in prayer. Then people started showing up for Bible Fellowship at 7:45. I was able to go into the service before teaching my class at 9:00 and say hello to some people who I had not seen since the week before. Then I went and taught my class, which is growing and always an incerdible blessing!!! We had an awesome time discussing the book of Habakkuk (we are in the minor prophets right now). As soon as Bible Fellowship was over we went to the 10:40 service and God continued to show off. The praise time was great and pastor's message was fantastic. As if that were not enough, we had a class fellowship at both our house and our great friends, John and Teresa's house, after church. We ate our house and swam at theirs. It was a great time. The day was capped off with last night's service. The praise time was again great and Doug preached a great message.

All this makes me anxious to see how God is going to show off again next week!!!

Seeting our focus

I just got back from our staff retreat yesterday. Of course I am not too sure why we call it staff retreat because it is more like a staff planning conference. This year the goal was to reset our focus. To really clarify what Immanuel is to be about. We have a great purpose statement.

Glorifying God by introducing Jesus Christ as Lord to as many people possible, using the most effective means, leading them to be imitators of Christ, making a positive difference as a community of believers, in this generation and the next.

It was agreed that our purpose is good, but that we need to boil it down to some specific tasks the church should do in order to accomplish the ultimate goal of Glorifying God. So here are the four specific tasks.

1. Attract people to church
2. Connect them to the body
3. Grow them up in Christ
4. Empower and equip them to SERVE

Now comes our task of really developing that and communicating it to everyone.....

Me Church

Check This Out..

Father's Day and Going to Church

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I am going to enjoy the day by going to church. Some father's choose to set the day aside and have "their" time (sometimes this includes not coming to church). It is my prayer that this Sunday we see many father's doing the right thing and leading their families to worship!

I had the privilege of growing up in a home where my dad made sure that every Sunday we were in church. There were very few excuses for missing church that he would ever allow. As a father it is my responsibility to be the pace setter in my family and make sure they see me worshiping in and out of church.

Some might say that this is religion. I say it is biblical (Do not forsake the assembling together). Going to church energizes and equips me for the work that God has called me to perform for Him.

So... See all you fathers in church this Sunday!!! Let's celebrate and worship our Heavenly Father together!!!

Proud to be a Partner

I have been on staff at Immanuel for seven years (actually it will be seven on the 23rd of this month). I realized very early (actually before I came on staff) that Immanuel was a church which was built on obedience to the Great Commission and God's Word. The reputation of Immanuel in the community and beyond was a well known fact. After coming to Immanuel I realized that this was the case because the Pastor is obedient to the Word of God.

As I am sure many of you know, our pastor spoke the final word at this years Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in San Antonio (when it is in the archived file I will post the link). I watched the entire sermon and was prouder than ever to partner along side a pastor who knows what it means to be obedient to God's Word. I am sure that there were those who disagreed with him; however, if they did then they clearly are in disagreement with God's Word and with God Himself.

It is my prayer that as a church we lay aside any complacency and pursue exactly what God's Word tells us. We are to GO. I also pray that this concept again seeks into the very DNA of our church body. We have the best news in the world and we should refuse to be silent. Get excited Immanuel because God is moving us forward!!!!

They Call it Baseball

After dinner tonight Marissa asked if we could go and play catch. So we went out to the front to do just that. It did not take too much time before we had a crowd of about 10 kids outside. Marissa asked if we could play baseball, after a little thought I gave in. We played 3 innings of sandlot ball.

WHAT A BLAST. My team consisted of 3 girls and me. The other team had 3 boys and 2 girls. Needless to say we had a great time. The kids batted, pitched and played themselves silly (of course I include myself in that group). The game ended in a 2 - 2 tie. I guess I am just going to have to give in again so we can finish what we started.

Alright kids - bring it on....

Recap for the Weekend

As weekends go, I thought that this last weekend was a great one. It started out Friday morning with Gretchen and I going on a mid day date. We went to Ocean's 13 (4 stars out of 5) then went to Chili's in Redlands for lunch. After almost 20 years of marriage I still enjoy going on date's with my wife. We just enjoy each others company - so it is always great to get some one-on-one time with each other.

You can read my post about my Saturday morning and afternoon. Saturday evening we went with David, Lisa, Jerry and Judy to the Cherry Festival. WHAT A BLAST (5 out of 5 stars). We had great food and fun just walking around and spending time together.

SUNDAY was great. Our Bible Fellowship Ministry seemed to go really great. We launced a new ladies department (S.O.S. Single on Sunday). Thanks to Norma, Sallie, Brande and Amee it was a great success. Then we had a meeting with our Blended Families Department to discuss how to launch a new department by the end of summer. I will keep you posted on how that goes. It really looks like more than a department will come of that meeting.

My own class was GREAT!!! The lesson really spoke to me (before, during and after). I really felt the class begin to gel together. GOOD TIMES ARE AHEAD.

Saturday but Sunday is Coming

It was a typical Saturday. Typical for when Upward is in session that is. We got up and went to the game. Team Lightning played against the Bulldogs (arguably the best team in the 3rd and 4th grade division - of course I am not sure how I know that since we do not keep score). Needless to say, it was.... Well, on to the next practice to get ready for next week.

Then we came home and I got to do one of the things I like most. YARD WORK! I am serious about that. I love working in and around my yard. To me it is therapy. It is one of the most relaxing things I get to do. You may be right, I may be crazy (Thanks Billy Joel). Then I got to clean up the garage. Enough said about that. After that I washed my golf clubs.....

The rest of the afternoon was pretty relaxing as we chilled out and got ready to head out to Beaumont for the Cherry Festival with our best friends David and Lisa. I will let you all know about that later.

Tomorrow is church. I am anxious about what will happen then. I pray that people will come ready to get charged up to take the message of the gospel out into our community and world.

SEE YOU THERE!!!!

Getting Ready for Summer

Summer is almost here. Meagan and Marissa have only 5 days of school left. Malory has to go one extra week. I am anxious for them to get out. I remember very well how excited I was when I knew school was going to be out. No more homework or tests for three months (of course now it is more like two months). Just a time to relax and recuperate from a busy 9 months.

I am looking forward to this summer. As a family we have some fun things planned. We have Gretchen's uncle flying all the way in from Maine to spend a week with us. He has never been to California so we are going to take him to Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, the beach and whatever else we can do in the short time he is here.

Right after that we are going on a camping trip to Yellowstone. I think I was 5 when I went the first time and have not been back since. The same goes for Gretchen. The girls have never been so, (thanks to Buddy and Mary Camp) we are loading up the trailer and going for 5 fun filled days in Yellowstone. WE ARE PUMPED!!!!

After we get back there are a lot of church things happening. Camps, VBS, youth group outings and much more to keep us busy. Did I say this was a time to relax????

Launching Pads

I have been doing some reading and thinking about how our Married Adult Bible Fellowship Groups function. After some consideration I think they basically function two ways.

1. Holding Tanks
2. Launching Pads

Holding tanks are just that. They hold people with little thought to fulfilling the great commission. Every once in a while they might give something out, but for the most part they are content with just keeping the same people in the same place.

Launching pads are places where the great commission is aggressively promoted and lived out. These are place where it is a natural occurrence to invite friends, find a place of service, reach out to the lost, etc.. Launching pads are exciting! They are places where growth (spiritual and numerical) occur naturally.

I guess the question that I am asking is - what kind of department are you a part of?

Take a Stand

By now I am sure that everyone knows that Dr. Falwell passed away today. I remember watching the The Old Time Gospel Hour as a kid growing up. I used to love watching it and listening to Dr. Falwell preach. I also remember when he began the Moral Majority. It was that which shaped the face of conservatism in the United States. He is contributed for the renewal of moral values and the voting in of Ronald Reagan (arguably the greatest president we have had in our short history as a country). He is also know for making polarizing statements. He was just one of those guys that you either loved or hated, respected or loathed. There was no middle ground when it came to feelings about him.

That is what drew me to attend Liberty University for two years (the place where I met my AWESOME wife - thanks Dr. Falwell). During my time at Liberty I saw Dr. Falwell as a guy with undying passion for people. I remember meeting him personally and then seeing him later, where he remembered me by name. When he was not traveling, I remember him being on campus a lot. I remember him sitting in the cafeteria eating with students. He attended ball games. He joked with students. I remember racing him in my car down a street in Lynchburg and getting to the stop sign (after him of course), only to see him smile and wave at me.

Many people say that he hated people opposed to his views, but what he hated was sin. I do not believe that he hated people at all. In our country that is a taboo thing. What our society says is that to love someone, you must also be willing to love the sin that they are in.

I got home tonight and watched CNN (I am not usually a CNN watcher) and Larry King was on recapping his history with Jerry. For the most part it was not all that bad. After that Anderson Cooper came on an interviewed a guy who was full of hate. He used all kinds of hateful words and basked in the fact that Dr. Falwell had passed away. At first I was pretty mad, but as I write this, I almost laugh because that was totally fitting. Dr. Falwell would have loved that.

The one thing I gleaned from my time at Liberty was that you need to take a stand. Take a stand when things are not popular. Take a stand when when it would be easier to cave. Say what you want about Dr. Falwell, but I say that he was a man who was dedicated to Christ and His kingdom, his family and his church.

24/7 Update

This week has been our 24/7 prayer emphasis at church. It has been great to see the number of people who have committed to one hour alone with God in prayer.

This morning I went in with one thing in mind and then God changed my plan. I brought my Ipod with me to listen to some music while I was there. One of the albums on my ipod is the Passion of the Christ Soundtrack. I played that and then read the account in Matthew. Needless to say it was pretty powerful. I was extremely tired when I read about the disciples not being able to stay awake for one hour in prayer. How fitting. I made it through the hour without falling asleep, but I realize that there are many times in my life when I have fallen asleep spiritually. Another thing that hit me, was the denial by Peter. I really sympathized with Peter because I too would have done the exact same thing. I would have, because I do now. Not with my words but with my actions

All of this brought to a fresh realization of the love Christ has for me. I cannot believe He has involve me into His plan. Certainly I do not deserve that love. The question then becomes, how can I ever hide that love from others.

Hummingbirds

I have always been amazed by birds in general. My grandfather was a bird watcher. I can remember going to his house as a kid and seeing him with his bird books and binoculars. I guess it is because of that, that I became a bird lover. They all simply amaze me, however, the Hummingbird is the one that really catches my attention. They are truly one of God's great creatures. This past weekend I bought a Hummingbird feeder and set it up on the back patio. I told the girls about it, which made them excited too.

Well, I set it up on Saturday and of course expected the little birds to show up immediately. After all, I knew they would come, because it is in the genetic makeup of our family. When they had not shown up by Saturday night, I was a little discouraged. I looked several times on Sunday afternoon and nothing. By that time, I was thinking I had done something wrong, put it in the wrong spot, etc. So last night we all went to church (Lord's Supper night - always a GREAT TIME), and I had to stop by the store on the way home. I knew when I got home that the first thing I was going to do was to check out the feeder.

When I got home, the girls with great excitement told me that one showed up (Malory was the first one the sight the magnificent creature). At first I was like, don't play that cruel joke on me, then I went outside and sure enough a hummingbird was there (a second one showed up a little later) partaking of the sweet nectar. SUCCESS at last. I am going to Barnes and Noble today to get a book on Hummingbirds so we can identify exactly what type of Hummingbirds we have.

If anyone knows which Hummingbird breeds (do you call them breeds???) grace this area??? If you do let me know.

One Down

Well, our (Team Lightning that is) first Upward Soccer game is in the books. WHAT A BLAST. I had no idea this would be that much fun. The kids were just awesome!!! It went by so fast that I am not sure what all happened.

One thing I did see was a ton of people that I have never seen on the church property. My prayer is that through the fun of sports that many will come to Christ!

Here's to a fun a season.

Upward and Outward

This Saturday we start Upward Soccer games. By we I mean that I am coaching Malory's team this season. At first there were many reservations. I have never played soccer, let alone coached it before, so when asked to do this I was not so sure. Never the less, I am doing it, and having a great time. Last night was our team's second practice and it went GREAT. Upward is a great program that will literally bring hundreds of people to the church who are not connected to Immanuel.

This week in staff meeting we talked a lot about being outward focused. To me that means we are purposeful on reaching those people who are outside the church. Those who are willing to make Christ Lord of their life. I was in a meeting once where someone disagreed with that, saying that our purpose was to build up the body. I guess to me the formula is very simple. You do both. You build up the body so the body goes forth.

Upward is that ministry which accomplishes just that. It gets the church body going forth. My prayer is that we adopt that same mentality church wide. Pastor encouraged people yesterday at our National Day of Prayer meeting to look at lost people as though they were our closest friends, relatives and neighbors. When we do, it gives an urgency in telling those who are lost about Christ.

So let's all go out there!!!! That is where the lost are!!!!

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!!!!!!!!