"I more fear what is within me than what comes from without." -- Martin Luther

Quote

"There's always somebody who is paid too much, and taxed too little - and it's always somebody else." - Cullen Hightower

Home Again

Courtesy of Southwest Airlines, I arrived in Oakland a little ahead of schedule, Virginia picked me up, we grabbed a bite to eat, and I'm writing this from home.

It was good to be with Mom for a few days. Probably spent more time talking with Kent on the drive from Nashville than in several years. It's always fun to reconnect with people from our Cabot church family.

We picked up Louise around 10:00 this morning, enjoyed a late breakfast at IHOP, and I got the the airport with plenty of time to get some reading and other work done before boarding the plane.

Tomorrow... things on my list already. :-)

Back East

I remember when I was growing up in California in the 50's and 60's after moving there in '56 that people who were natives often referred to places like Oklahoma or Texas as "back East." I thought that was a bit odd because "back East" to me meant places like NYC or Boston. I guess it's all in your perspective.

Well, Thursday afternoon I headed "back East" courtesy of SW Airlines, landing in Nashville and spending the night with Kent and Susan. Friday Kent and I drove west to Cabot, Arkansas to visit Mom, so I'm writing this from her house. We're having a good visit; Kent will drive back to Nashville early in the morning, and I'll fly home Tuesday. We've missed having Virginia and Susan here... probably been 40 years since it's been just Kent and me with Mom and/or Dad.

We spent quite a bit of time cleaning up her computer today, and we installed a wireless network (hence this post). There are a few more things to do as well, changing light bulbs, fixing a shelf or two, maybe some other things. Ryan drove down from Harding in the afternoon, so it was good to see him. Mostly this visit is a time to enjoy just being together, including dinner at Dixie Cafe tonight. Thanks, Mom!

Quote

"I believe that professional wrestling is clean and everything else in the world is fixed." - Frank Deford

With all the difficulty the California Legislature is having just passing a budget, I'm beginning to think Frank may be correct.

The Hills are Greening Up

Even with the rainy season making a late appearance, there is green beginning to show in them thar hills. Hurray!!

View of the hills with a touch of green and Mount Diablo just poking up in the background.

Contra Loma hills in full green attire.

Sunday Assembly

Here's what our worship assembly looked like yesterday. Brice spoke from Colossians 2, emphasizing the reality that Jesus is the answer, in spite of all the arguments and other distractions the world has to offer.

Sing On Ye Joyful Pilgrims
I Love You, Lord

Welcome and Greeting (What draws you close to God?)
Come Worship Christ the King
Prayer
Reading: Colossians 2:6-7
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
Reading: Colossians 2:8-12
In Christ Alone
Reading: Colossians 2:13-15
Wonderful Grace of Jesus
Communion: Motivation for How We Live
Bread: Nearer, Still Nearer
Cup: More Holiness Give Me
Offering: Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus
Invitation to Children’s Church
Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus
Sermon
Jesus, Draw Me Closer
Family Matters & Shepherd’s Prayer
My Life Is in You

Wash Out!

It is still raining here in the Bay Area... pretty windy and sloppy, but we really need the moisture. Many of the cities that a week ago were running 40% or so of average for this point in the winter are now running 60-70% of average. It seems that a south wind has caused this front to stall out, so we are to get more precip tonight into tomorrow. And, after a brief break mid-week, we're supposed to get more rain toward the end of the week. Maybe we'll get caught up to normal before it quits raining for the spring. Now the main issue will be mud slides on those hills that burned during the fires last fall. Oh well...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Bay Area Snow

It's been raining lately and is supposed to rain quite a bit over the next few days. When you live in California, rain this time of year is both expected and really needed. Basically, if we don't get rain through the winter, we just don't get it. Sooo... we gladly put up with some wet, windy, nasty weather so we have water the rest of the year.

Much of that water this summer will come from snow in the Sierras, and when the storms come from the north, as these current ones, they bring cold air as well as moisture, so the snow levels creep down. Our local mountain, Mt Diablo, is only about 3500 feet or so, but it has snow right now. VJ said it was beautiful this morning as she headed out and was able to catch a view through a break in the clouds. Here are a couple of shots I found, one from a distance and the other at the summit.

When it snows, the rangers close the road to the summit, so those who go to the summit have to hike 2-4 miles, depending on road conditions and where the closure occurs.

Happy Birthday Abe!

I love this Abraham Lincoln quote: "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."


Interestingly enough, Lincoln shares a birthday (even same year) with another person who has shaped the development of Western culture, Charles Darwin. Hmmm...


I think Abe would have been proud of this Marine. My guess is you will be too. Click here for the story and here for a video clip.

Sunday Assembly

Sunday Brice started a new sermon series. Over the next several weeks we'll look at our motivation and some practical aspects of Christian life. Here's our order of worship for Sunday's assembly.

Standing on the Promises
Come into His Presence
Majesty
Welcome and Meditation
How Great Is Our God
Prayer
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:9,10b
You Are My All in All
Responsive Reading: Colossians 3:12-14
I Am Mine No More
Communion: Remembering Our “Why”
Why Did My Savior Come to Earth
More Precious than Silver
Offering
Children’s Sermon

Invitation to Children’s Church

Thy Word
Sermon
In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified
Family Matters & Shepherd’s Prayer
We Are the Body of Christ

What do you know!?!

On this date in 1893, comedian, singer, pianist, and Emmy Award winning actor, Jimmy Durante was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Also, in 1906, monster movie legend, actor Lon Chaney, Jr was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

And in 1950, nine-time Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Spitz was born in Modesto, California. Hmmm... that means Spitz is a few months older than I am. However, I don't think I have any Olympic medals laying around... now where did I put that road race trophy...

FaithNotes

From Ron Rose's latest FaithNotes email.



Inspiration

"If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?" I asked the kindergartners.

"No!" the children answered in unison.

"OK, if I prayed everyday, went to church every Sunday, was even kind to the bullies, and kept my room neat and clean, would I get into Heaven?"

Again, the answer was,"No!"

"Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"

One outspoken little boy yelled out, "You gotta be dead."

Don't look for the complicated when you talk with children, but be ready for truth.



Motivation

Ask someone close to you to pray for you this week. Tell them you are testing your faith. Invite them to ask God two things for you: (1)To put Jesus sightings in your path this week and (2)To do whatever is necessary for you to seize that moment. Now trust God to show up. It's a simple "childlike" trait. Look for Jesus in your opportunities to forgive, to accept, to listen, to serve, and to coach. He lives in you. Keep your eyes open for other followers of Jesus who are testing their faith. What will it take to see Jesus this week? Nothing! Just open your eyes and let it happen.



To check out more at Ron's web site, click here.

Various

As President Obama and the Congress, not to mention Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature, fuss and arm wrestle over philosophical differences in this difficult time, this quote by Henry Kissinger seems to grow in significance: "The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously."

On this date in 1964, the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan show. I don't remember seeing it when it happened (my folks were more Lawerence Welk and Bob Hope people), but I do remember the impact.

On this date the very next year, U.S. troops were sent to South Vietnam, and we all know how that turned out.

"An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." - Niels Bohr

... and finally...

"Though you can give without loving, you can’t love without giving." - Tom Drout

Grandkid Pics

Well, it's time to post some grandkid pics. We don't get to be with Kaleb and Claire as often as we'd like, so we really cherish the photos Jen posts for us!!

Believe it or not, Kaleb turned 10 in January!

Claire outside on the playground at her Preschool. Think she's used to being out in the snow?

Kaleb is such a good big brother! And he's sharing his love for reading with his little sis! :-)

Motivation

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

John the Apostle, 1 John 4:7-12, The Message

"We can do no great things; only small things with great love." -- Mother Teresa

Strength in Weakness

The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me… for when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9,10b

You are my strength when I am weak,

You are the Treasure that I seek,

You are my All in All.

Seeking You as a precious jewel,

Lord, to give up I'd be a fool.

You are my All in All.
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,

Rising again I bless Your name.

You are my All in All.

When I fall down, You pick me up;

When I am dry, You fill my cup.

You are my All in All!
Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your name.

Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your name,

Worthy is Your name,

Worthy is Your name!

Dennis Jernigan, 1990

The Day the Music Died

Fifty years ago today after a concert in Iowa, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were all killed in a plane crash, one of the biggest tragedies in rock music lore.

I guess we owe the day's name to Don McLean and his 1971 hit, American Pie, but this happened in a simpler and more innocent time. Not many years later it was not uncommon to hear of overdose deaths and suicides, but in the 50's those abuses that existed were mostly behind the curtains of public image.

Today on the radio I heard an interview with the Donna of the Ritchie Valens hit Donna. She certainly had an interesting perspective about how times had changed. Her dad hated it that she was dating an Hispanic. Anyway, he wrote the song for her, and she heard it for the first time riding in a car with some girl friends. Click here for a listen.

Don McLean's lyrics not-withstanding, it seems the music didn't actually die that day after all.

Quotes... Plus

If the human mind was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it. - Emerson Pugh

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside. - Mark Twain

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On this day in 1933, Adolph Hitler dissolved the German parliament... the beginning of a very dark period in western civilization.

XLIII

How'd you do?