Spring Planting

Yesterday and today were the first weekend days this spring when we've been home and had dry weather to get out and work in the yard... and what a nice weekend it has been. Saturday, VJ and I hiked over the hill to Contra Loma Regional Park and just enjoyed the beauty. Virginia said that whenever we walk over there it feels like we're on vacation. I told her that any time I'm with her feels like vacation... good line, huh!?! The truth is I really mean it. :-) Here's one shot just to tease you.

After we walked, I ran for a while and we spent the rest of the day working in the yard trimming, pruning, pulling weeds, planting... you know, it would probably say be more accurate to say we worked until we were spent... that actually happened before daylight ran out because we were both pretty hot and tired. At least VJ got a couple of rose bushes in the ground... hope it's not too late in the season. Then a little later those nice thick pork chops we grilled a bit later sure helped us feel better.
This afternoon we fixed a sandwich and headed out in the yard again... the back this time to set out tomato and squash plants and plant green bean seeds, seeds for more squash, and some random flower seeds. Should be an interesting garden in a few weeks... providing the seeds come up.

We had our final EBPTeam practice at Livermore tonight. Several were not able to be there, but we had a really good rehearsal anyway... sort of like God is bringing it all together in His timing. If you're at the Pepperdine lectures this week, come sing with us in Stauffer Chapel at 7:30 Friday morning and/or 2:00 Friday in Elkins.

Doubt that I'll have much time to blog this week... maybe after Pepperdine. God bless!

The Week Between

Back from a week of vacation in Boston means back to work... certainly not a bad thing, just certain. Those of you in full-time ministry know that when you are away there are many things that just get put on hold until you return. People's needs don't disappear... tasks still need to get done... planning must still happen. Sooo... this week is full.

The Pepperdine Bible Lectures Tuesday night through Friday next week, and there are still some East Bay Praise Team details to wrap up and one more rehearsal this Sunday at 5:00 at Tri-Valley. Greg and I are getting together Friday to iron out the final stuff. We're all really looking forward to our times to sing next Friday. We get to partner with Lynn Anderson for the Morning Praise in Stauffer Chapel, and then we've put together what I believe will be a very meaningful afternoon worship time for Friday afternoon. More about that later.

Anyway, this week is the week between, and it's been a good one so far. God has an amazing way of creating blessings out of everyday stuff, doesn't he? Enjoy!

Boston Photos 2

We did a little sight seeing. This is a shot of a beautiful park near downtown...

... including swan boats in a small lake.

Here's Fok, Jen, and Kaleb in front of Paul Revere's house... wonder if he still lives there...

Boston is home to the New England Holocaust Memorial. It's thoughtfully designed.

Jen and Kaleb in front of the Old State House.

And, of course, there's the Old North Church. "Oneth by land, twoeth by sea..."

Here's Kaleb after his haircut. We did a little more trimming the next day just to even it up a bit more.

And... Kaleb asleep Saturday night. He woke up bright and early to cheerfully see me off.

Boston Photos 1

OK... I promised Boston trip pics, so here are a few. This first one is a neighborhood street between where Jen and Fok live and Harvard.

Of course one of the reasons I went was that it was Kaleb's spring break.

Part of one day he and I "hung out" and enjoyed the sights. A playground...

...the place where George Washington took command of the American army...

... a cannon at the same site that was abandoned by the British...

...a statue of John Harvard (although I hear it's not really) that everyone wants to touch the toe for good luck...

More pics tomorrow!!

Boston, the Final Day

I know "final" probably sounds a bit melo-dramatic, but I just liked the feel. It was pretty chilly last night, and today dawned gray and blustery. We were pretty slow getting around, but the coffee was good, and Jen made some wonderful apple whole wheat muffins.

Late morning, Kaleb and I went out for a bike/run (me running, him biking) on a local bike path... have no idea who this is in the picture, but you can see the setting. :-) Kaleb has gotten really good on his bike, so on the longer stretches between cross streets he had to stop and wait for me. Kaleb was great on the downhill and flat portions, but I needed to give him a bit of a push on the hills. it was neat running along with him... reminded me of similar outings with Jen and Jeremy back 20 years ago or so. We were out for about an hour, so I was tired enough when we got home.

Mid-afternoon all four of us hiked to get some ice cream at a Toscanini's not too far away. The wind was in our faces on the way there,
but the ice cream was good! On the way home there was a light drizzle, but the wind was at our backs, so it was actually more comfortable.

Jen had given Kaleb a haircut yesterday, but she asked me to sort of even it up this evening... I gave it a shot. She had actually done the hard part, so all I had to do was pretend like I knew what I was doing. I'll post before and after pics when I get home.

Jen and Fok went out for a date this evening, and it's about time for Kaleb to get ready for bed, so I'd better close out. Blessings to all as you live in God's light!

Friday in Boston

You know, I wrote "Boston" in the title, but we're actually in Somerville. Just wanted to make that clear. This morning we got off to a relatively slow start, but Jen made some Peet's coffee, so it was a good start! The picture to the right is not their house, but it's similar in style. They have the first floor of a 3-story house that contains 3 apartments. Sort of a "shotgun" arrangement with all the rooms either side of a long hall. Actually quite a bit of space... 2 offices, living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shared laundry in the basement. The rooms are pretty small but the setup is great for Jen and Fok to work.

Fok took me on a run down through Harvard Square and the campus to the Charles River where we joined numerous runners, walkers and cyclists enjoying the sunshine and crisp air. You know, one of those days when you feel God has given you a bonus. We didn't go too fast, so I survived OK... about 71 minutes, so I'll call it 8+ miles. (By the way, that is not Fok and me in the picture. :-)

Fok went in to work and Jen wanted to attend a couple of math lectures in her field at Harvard, so for lunch I went down to a little Salvadoran/Mexican place and picked up some food for Jen, Kaleb and me before she left. Kaleb and I stayed on at the playground for a while, and then we went home to get his Taekwondo stuff for class.

Kaleb loves to read, so right now he's in his room with a book. I think he practiced tying his Taekwondo belt a few times, but the literary allure soon drew his attention. Jen and Fok should be home soon. Tomorrow is the last full day of my stay. The week sure has gone fast... but I'm lovin' it!!

R.F. O'Sullivan's Pub

Today was a catch up day for me and Kaleb. Jen and Fok both went to their offices to catch up on some work, so Kaleb and I hung out and "caught up" too. He caught up with his reading, and I caught up on some odd jobs Jen wanted me to do. I love being able to help out with "handy-man" kinds of things. You have to understand... my "handiness" is limited to a pretty narrow spectrum of skills, so having the chance to actually be of some real help is pretty cool. I walked Kaleb to Taekwondo this afternoon and picked up a few things from the hardware store... pretty quiet day, but the weather was glorious. Thank you, God!


Just a few blocks down the hill and through the pedestrian underpass is one of Boston's top 100 restaurants... R.F. O'Sullivan's Pub. What they're famous for is their burgers... 1/2 pound of freshly ground sirloin, cooked however you want it and piled with cheese or mushrooms or.... and topped off with a side of huge steak fries and/or freshly made onion rings. Jen had decided that I might really like it, so Fok decided tonight was the night. The Red Sox were playing, so the place was packed and loud, but everyone (including us) had a great time. And my burger was superb!!

I think tomorrow Kaleb and I will take the train with Jen to see Brandeis U where she teaches. Then, he and I may do a little sight-seeing on our own.

Boston 2

Well, today Kaleb and I walked with Fok over to the Harvard campus and then on to Cambridge Commons where there is lots of grass and a pretty cool playground. Fok did a workout at the gym and Jen was gone to yoga class, so Kaleb and I played and walked around reading plaques on statues, climbing on Revolutionary War vintage cannon, and just having fun.

Later we met up with Fok and Jen and caught a bus down to check out some of the historic sites along the Freedom Trail (Paul Revere's house, Old North Church, Old State House, etc.). There were a jillion (is that a real word???) people out today, but spring has arrived... the trees are in bloom, the tulips are blooming, the sun was warm... it was a good day.

We ate dinner at a tiny sort of hole-in-the-wall Italian seafood place. Really good. Kaleb and I split mussels and linguini, and I had some clam chowder as well. This place is so small, you wait out on the sidewalk until they tell you to come in, and then you sit with the other folks who come in when you do... filling up the table. It was interesting... a young business man from L.A. completed our table, and it turned out he lives in Pasadena... not far from Cal Tech... small world. I didn't ask if he knows Kevin Bacon.

We rode the T (subway) to the station close to home and walked the rest of the way. Good day!! I know I promised photos, but I forgot to bring the cable to connect my camera to my computer, so I guess they'll have to wait.

One interesting bit of trivia. I noticed that they call the weekly or monthly passes for the T Charlie Tickets. Back in the 60s there was a song by the Kingston Trio called "The MTA Song" that described the plight of "poor old Charlie" who had enough money to get on the subway but not enough to pay his way off... dooming himself to life underground. I guess they decided Charlie was famous enough 1) that one no longer has to pay his way off the train, and 2) he deserved a ticket named after him. Check out this link for all the lyrics if you are so inclined. That's all for tonight!

Boston Visit

Monday morning I finished packing and Virginia dropped me off at the Pittsburg BART station for my ride to SFO. It was my first time to ride BART, and I had a plane to catch, so I was a touch nervous. But the ride went smoothly, and I found my way around SFO to my gate. All in all, it wasn't much longer than a car trip... maybe shorter in commuter traffic... and I was able to read the paper. :-)

The flight was long... but non-stop, and we even got in to Logan Airport a bit early. Jen picked me up at the airport in her rental that they had used Easter weekend, and we made it back to their place in Somerville.

This morning Kaleb, who was asleep when we got in from the airport, came and crawled in bed with me so we could talk... not much better than that!!!! We got scones from a local bakery... I went for a run with Fok (nice way to scope out the neighborhood). In a little while I'll take Kaleb for a haircut (I'll try to post before and after pics), and this afternoon we'll to for his Taekwondo lesson.

Right now... I think Kaleb has the Stratego board set up...

Easter Means Spring Flowers

This was a busy and wonderful weekend. Friday night we showed The Passion of the Christ at our building. We did not have many come, but that movie is a graphically powerful experience for anyone who watches it.

Saturday we did our annual Eastside picnic and Easter egg hunt. It's always a fun event... especially for the kids. We usually do this event at a picnic area at Black Diamond Mines, however, because of all the rain we've had recently, we held it at the fellowship hall this year. Probably not as many folks as usual, but picnic lunches were still eaten, eggs were hidden and found, and all who were there had fun.

After the picnic we set up the foyer in the main building for the"breakfast fellowship" we had this morning during class time. Doug and Victoria were there also, decorating the auditorium, so Virginia and I helped out and had a good visit with them.

Saturday brought a break in the rain, so we got a good look at our California wild flower patch. The poppies are really in bloom right now, and a few other flowers are showing up too. Here are some pics from Saturday.

























































Today our Easter service was truly amazing. Lots of people... all focused on why we were there... great singing... Jarrod was "on"... the videos we used were powerful... and God, in his way, made the whole morning more marvelous than the sum of all the parts. Thank you, Lord.

Tomorrow I fly to Boston to spend a week with Jen, Fok, and Kaleb... maybe I should say with Kaleb and his parents. :-) It's Kaleb's spring break, so we should have some fun. Don't know if I'll have time to blog, but I'll catch up later if I don't. Blessings...

It's All About Timing

Here we are approaching Easter... a time when so many focus on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. I wonder who it was who decided NOW was the "right time" to do a media blitz about the Gospel of Judas... first "discovered" in the 70's? Talk about timing!! If you want a concise and balanced review of both the document and the coverage, check out Edward Fudge's last two GracEmails. In his update he gives a New York Times link to the actual text of an English translation... just look for it... if it's still active.

Virginia had a wonderful time at Kelli's and Rob's wedding. In addition to the wedding and getting to spend time with Jeremy and Amber, she also got to see lots of other folks who mean a lot to us... she had a great time. She posted some pics on Comcast Photoshow if you're interested. I was soooo.... glad she was well enough to go and enjoy herself. Talk about timing! :-)

Well... it's time for bed. Sleep well. God bless!

Flat Stanley II

Well... I promised so pics of Stanley's adventures with us, so enjoy!!

Here's a close-up of Flat Stanley.

Stanley getting buckled in for a trip.

Stanley at Praise Team rehearsal.

Stanley getting some work done.

Stanley visiting the Antioch Police Department where Virginia works.

Stanley at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Stanley enjoying Yosemite.

We have really enjoyed having Flat Stanley with us for a few days. I think he had fun. Seriously, this is really a fun school project for kids. I hope Kaleb learns a lot and has a fun with it.

Flat Stanley

We had a surprise guest arrive today. Well, we knew he was coming, just not the timing of his arrival. When I checked the mailbox, there was a large envelope that contained Flat Stanley, a letter of introduction, and a journal chronicling his visit with our grandson, Kaleb. Stanley started his visit with us by going to church with us tonight and sitting in on praise team practice. I think he had a good time... we even took some pictures. Maybe I'll post some later in the week. Kaleb says Stanley likes food, so maybe I'll get him to help with dinner while he's here. I think he wants to go to work with Virginia tomorrow, and I guess he can go with me to take her to the airport Saturday. I hope he has a fun visit.

Speaking of the airport, VJ's flying down south to attend Kelli Isaac's wedding Sunday with Jeremy and Amber. I wanted to go as well but couldn't really miss this Sunday. We're both really happy for Kelli and Rob.

Well... better go make sure Flat Stanley is ready for bed...

Leading Singing

We weren't really late heading out the door, but we were rushing to the car anyway. Making sure the kids were safely buckled into the back, I gave the keys to Virginia and climbed into the passenger seat. She started the car and, pushed in the clutch, slipped the transmission into reverse and backed out of the driveway. Taking out a plain 3X5 card and removing the cap from my pen, I opened the hymnal and began selecting songs for the worship service that would begin in about 20 minutes. After soliciting input from the kids and Virginia... didn't want to miss the opportunity to sing a favorite or two... I jotted down the requisite song numbers. Almost at the building and running out of time, I decided to check with the preacher before settling on a song before his sermon and an invitation song. Then, I could decide on a closing song during the sermon... hopefully finding one that would connect with one of his 3 points. As we locked the car and headed up to the building I began to relax a bit... after all, I was prepared.

I wouldn't say those were the "good old days," but sessions like that were a reality back in the 70s and 80s. My how things have changed... and for the better I believe... when it comes to planning worship. Words like prayer, planning, intentionality, Spirit, emotions, story... each of these has a role in weaving a weekly tapestry in the worship life of our church family. And I believe God uses these times of community worship to mold and shape us after His heart.

For a good chuckle, you might want to check out the link below. My friend, Karen, sent to me this morning. She found it at Worship Forum. Anyway, enjoy...
http://www.songleaderrevolution.com/

Outta Gas

Well, Florida was great and UCLA was not... guess they finally just ran outta gas. Actually, they had a few good moments, but not many. Two things: UCLA's heretofore awesome defense hardly slowed Florida down... and they were really cold when they had an open shot. Face it, Florida played an almost perfect game. Well, here it is April 3rd... and March Madness is over... go figure.

On a more positive note, Virginia is feeling much better today. She still has a bit of a cough, and there is still pain in her ribs, but her pain has gone from a 9 to a 3 or 4 in a day's time. Thank you, thank you, thank you for praying for her. Please keep those prayers going.

It's still raining here... April has continued where March left off. They say spring will get here eventually... I'll be glad. Think I'm ready to start riding my bike part of the time.

A Varied Saturday

I was working in the kitchen when the phone rang. It was my mom, and she said, "I bet I know what you're doing... watching the UCLA game, right?" Well, she was sorta right. I have had the game on, but, as I explained to her, I get pretty nervous when I just sit and watch a game that I have some emotional attachment to, so I'm usually better off just having it on so I can check in on the score but focus on something else. We talked for a little while, and after we hung up I checked the score. WOW!! I couldn't believe it. The Bruins had not looked like world beaters in their previous tournament wins (at least offensively)... LSU had handled Duke and Redick (3 for 14)... I just hoped UCLA could stay close. They were well up in the first half, and as I write this they're up 55-34 with just over 7 minutes to go. It looks as if we'll have a Florida-UCLA final Monday night. Wonder what I can work on while I listen to the game then?

Randy and I had a pretty good, if drizzly, run up the Somersville hills to the Black Diamond Mines this morning. I felt better than the last week... maybe there's a chance I can get back into decent shape as the weather warms up.

Virginia's cough seems a little better... her voice sounds better... but she coughed so hard a few days ago that she strained something in her ribs. As a result, every cough is really painful. I'd rather take a beating than for her to be sick, so this is hurting me too. Pray that she gets well soon. Thanks!

She's been working on videos for church. Last year and this we decided to use the Sundays up to and including Easter to focus on this Community of the Cross that God gives us through Easter. Last Sunday we did a Child Dedication service... really neat to see those parents and grandparents commit to raising their little ones in the Lord. And the other cool thing was our church family committing to be there for these families... to support them. VJ did a really cool video with pics of the the kids for that Sunday. Tomorrow we're focusing on the love and community that church should be, and we're using the ESPN version of that JMac story. Palm Sunday and Easter we'll have videos as well... but I don't want to let all the cats out of the bag. :-)

We bought a Tassimo hot beverage machine today. I got it when I returned an Espresso/Cappucino machine we got last week. It just didn't work as I'd hoped, so we decided to try the Tassimo. I think we're really gonna like it... more later.

Well, the game is winding down, and I need to "spring forward" all our clocks before bed time.