Thursday, November 30, 2006

Today is the day that the Stonegate Team is supposed to leave for Liberia (click here for their blog, then ADD as a favorite for the next ten days, OK?)

Throughout the day I will continue to pray for my very dear friends: Jim and Doris, Beverly, Mona, Anna, and Howie. They are each facing tough times.

It would be a good time to remember all that a fasting, Deacon Jim shared with us in May, 2004. I've been listening to these tracks this morning on the CD version.These audio links should work for now:

Jim Fugate 1                Jim Fugate 2 
Jim Fugate 3                Jim Fugate 4 
Jim Fugate 5                Jim Fugate 6

Remember, I'm available 24/7 by cell phone: (209) 323-0727 and by email. When I'm at Saddleback, I'm online the entire time. I have a meeting with Francisco Camarena this morning. He's the DVD preacher for our local Hispanic Venue: La Luz de Cristo. He also pastors four other churches in Southern California.

Rick Warren has invited us (me) to stay here at Saddleback a couple days longer...

I believe that my time spent with Rick and 249 specially-invited pastors was time well invested--for me---but also for my beloved local church. 

Rick shared that he had planned to do this one year ago but waited until 2 weeks before to send his invitation to us....otherwise he would have had about 4,000 pastors who would have wanted to be included.

Off the record, he revealed to us 'exactly' what he is planning to do in a number of areas. The Press had not been invited to the event. Thousands, however, are coming from around the nation (and the world) for the other conference which starts today. I will share my complete notes with you in the days and weeks to come.

Although he is now a multi-millionaire, Rick is more humble than I've ever seen him.

Interesting timing:

Our church website name was 'bought' out from under us.....

So the new owners of the domain <fbcgalt.org> have asked us to name a price anywhere from $100 to $20,000

"$20,000...  no problem . . ."

James Moore is going to try to handle the negotiation for me today. It probably is quite important that we try to regain possession of the name. Jennifer and I had been discussing how to re-create the site to leave it in good shape for the season after I leave (2007) and eventually for the next Pastor to continue taking this local church into the 21st Century.

Don't worry, Virginia, we won't offer $20,000......

In the meantime, we still own fbcgalt.com (just not .org)....

This situation is yet another sign of the last days...n/k

In the meantime, everybody who googles their way around the Internet and tries to find us will get broken links. Broken links from other sites all over the world. The Y2K crisis was just a little slow in causing the havoc so many were envisioning.

It will take awhile to get this all straightened out. I'm not losing any sleep over it. I am, however, happy that my doctorate didn't depend upon all this!

No worry: as the old street preacher would say, "Don't put your faith in your webpage.... you can LOSE yo' webpage."

Our shared article with Rick Warren, Bill Hybels and others (Christianity Today) is now officially online, so click here if you'd like a link to it.





http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2006/003/16.17.html
 

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

This website is not easily found today. If you are reading this, count it as a blessing to me.

I'm sitting with 240-some pastors who are guests being given an intimate day with Rick Warren. He is really speaking to our hearts.

For some reason, our web address isn't working but Chris and Tara Zeller just led me to a back-door entrance to this page.

I'm getting some comments from some sweet people on these recent entries.

Don't put your faith in yo' website...  (view more)

Form and Content from RICK to Rob  (view more)

No Scandal, No Porn,
  No Affairs...I'm just moving onward  (view more)

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Years ago I was riding in a van with staff from Sequoia Heights. Jerry Yates was driving. We were heading back from a Pastors' Conference. Roger Williams was telling the rest of his co-laborers that he didn't like quarterly reports telling about what has just happened. Instead, he always hoped to report about something out in the future for the church: "The best days are ahead of us..."

That statement rings in my mind. So many of my online journal entries are simply a quick recording of what happened the day before.

I suppose I will have to skip telling you about Monday because Wednesday is coming toward me too fast. I'm supposed to be at Saddleback Community Church in Orange County tomorrow to participate in A Conversation about Tomorrow.

Letter from Rick Warren to Rob
 (and 249 other Senior Pastors)  (view more)

I was unsuccessful in my attempt to find another pastor who would be making the trip to hang out with Rick Warren in this informal setting.

Lord Willing, I'll head south down the road later this morning--all by myself. You know I enjoy drive time--time to think, to sing, to listen, and to . . . drive.

Just a little over a year ago, a man named Tom Robershaw wrote me this note from southern California:

(11-18-05) 

Dear Pastor Rob:

I was excited to come across your church's website while surfing the web.  I have been involved for the last six months with the Liberian Ministries (www.liberianministries.com).  It sounds like God has impressed on both your group and ours the same desire to spread the Gospel to and help the people of Liberia. 
 

. . . Two gentlemen, Carl Hadley and Rodney Edwards, have been with Liberian Ministries from the start and would probably be the right guys for you to talk to about possible ways for us to help each other.

 

Anyway, God bless you and your congregation.  I've added you guys to my "favorites" on the web and look forward to future updates.

 

Kind regards,

Tom

I almost chose to ignore his suggestion to look at their website. I was so very busy with other matters...but I did, in fact, click on the link. The rest is history-in-the-making. In the year that has elapsed since this letter of introduction, Tom has watched quite a network of individuals work together with cooperative, pioneer spirit.

So you can guess that I was greatly blessed to receive an invitation from Tom to have dinner with him and his wife, Kim. Further, I was invited to stay in their guest room tonight. I just did a quick search of my gmail files and saw a photo of their daughters that he sent me in April. Tom and Kim have twin toddlers: Chloe and Olivia. Tom has a background in Finance; they live in Tustin, California.

Anyway, I'm supposed to meet Tom and Kim at 6:00 p.m. tonight. They just happen to be local members at Saddleback, so they will point me in the right direction tomorrow morning.

While I'm at Saddleback, I think I'll see if it is possible to bring the teens there to visit on our way home from Tsunami. My Teacher's Assistant, Jenn Rodriguez, wrote to me yesterday to ask about the future of our top-secret Sunday School project. I quickly wrote back with some ideas to motivate her and other teens who will remain after I leave FBC Galt. We've been working on a Cause which is definitely greater than ourselves. Hopefully, City Council Woman, Barbara Payne, will catch my vision and help me finish my immediate time with these teenagers. We'll see.

Meanwhile, Jim Fugate continues to minister faithfully at the bedside of his wife, Doris. She has pneumonia and was hot with fever last night--all this while enduring the effects of chemotherapy. On the way to visit them at the hospital last night, I listened to a CD with Jim's sermon from "A Theology of Suffering and Healing.

Jim Fugate, a deacon at First Baptist Galt,  preached the first of four message back in 2004. His message is split up into six tracks. He was fasting that week:

Jim Fugate 1                Jim Fugate 2 
Jim Fugate 3                Jim Fugate 4 
Jim Fugate 5                Jim Fugate 6

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Monday, November 27, 2006

I'm writing this entry at 10:45 Sunday night. It has been a long, wonderful day of serving God's Purpose for my life. During the 8:30 Worship Service, I felt led of the Lord to choose Sunday Evening, December 24th, as my final time in the pulpit as the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Galt, California.

I dearly love celebrating the four Sundays of Advent. This year the final candle (the Christ Candle) will be lighted on a Sunday night: Christmas Eve. As has been our custom, we will have a Candlelight Service, with special music, and bring our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to a close.

That seems like a good time to also finish nearly 10.5 years in that pulpit. What a privilege to serve God's people as the pastor of a local church. I hope that we will enjoy some high attendance Sundays during this Christmas season.

I also announced to our church that our friend, Howard Gabriel, passed away. In Sunday's journal, I mentioned that our son, Joe, had assisted Howard in posting some of his stories and family heritage online. May Howard's wife (Mona) and grown children (Anna and Howie) find some comfort in reading Howard's entries for years to come and perhaps share these stories with generations yet-to-come.
 

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Here is Howard's Blogger Profile (click here). Joe sent me these links to the websites which toward which he helped to empower Howard in the 21st Century:

Gabriel's Children Stories

Gabriel Geneological Stories

Dr. Gabe's Health Articles

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I was blessed to receive this important announcement from Pastor Shamas in Pakistan:

From: Rt. Rev Shamas Pervaiz

 <rt_rev_shamaspervaiz@yahoo.com >

Nov 26, 2006 8:03 AM

To: Rob Patterson < pastorob@gmail.com >
 

Respectable Pastor Rob,
 

Greetings to you, your family and your people in Lord.

Thanks for Pray for my Father. God answer our prayers and my father discharge from hospital yesterday.

He is much better now.
 

Pastor, I pray all time in Hospital and also I pray on Doctors. and they Check free and they give much medicine free to My father.

Brother God help us.

Because alot of my brothers, sisters and children pray for my Father.

Especially, I am thankful to you all because you all pray for my Father.

God Bless You

Your Brother in Lord

Pastor Shamas

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Sunday, November 26, 2006

I tried to get to bed early last night. So, it took me awhile to gather my thoughts when Mona Gabriel called around 11:30.

She calmly informed me that Howard Gabriel (her husband) had passed away earlier in the day.

This may not be entirely accurate but here's what I think I heard her say:

She and Howard were traveling and had picked up Howard's mother. I believe that they were on the road when Howard starting showing symptoms. He died 15 minutes later.

As I recall, last Thanksgiving, Howard first noticed that the stress of his job had been taking a toll on his health. Later, in February, 2006, Howard went through 4 bypass heart surgery. During his hospitalization and recovery, Cathy and I drew close to Howard. Click here for February, 2006
Howard is mentioned in my journal starting on February 12th, 13th . . . and beyond.

Joe was still in Liberia for our 80 Day Adventure during Howard's hospitalization. Howard was such a great conversationalist that we were especially drawn to pick his brains to help us as parents. He was an amazing man--such that we wanted our son, Joe, to come under his influence.

So, after Joe's return from Liberia, the two of them shared some special time working together on a webpage for Howard's creative output.

Now it is time for me to arise from my bed and ready myself to lead our Worship Team and to preach God's Word. I will dedicate the songs of this Sunday morning to my memories of Howard Gabriel and to Mona--his faithful wife and mother. May Howie and Anna (both dedicated Christians themselves) find abiding peace as they learn of the depth of Christ's comfort for those who mourn.

Scroll down to yesterday to review the Scriptures and a special song chosen for today.

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Saturday, November 25, 2006

 

I've been experiencing some congestion in my chest and that affected my sense of well-being yesterday. I came home with the bulletins and musicians' binders and worked on putting them together from the couch.

I tried to get to bed early because I have an ongoing appointment to gather with other men to pray at 6:00 a.m. The funeral for Beverly's daughter is at 2:00 this afternoon.

If anyone wants to prepare themselves for Sunday Morning's Message, here are the texts for 'Your Strategy for Saving Others'.

Matthew 9:9-17     1 Corinthians 9:19-24

One of the songs we will sing tomorrow is an old hymn which looks forward to a time in 'the sweet by and by.' Doing a bit of research revealed that there is a very human story attached to the writing of this hymn. Be prepared for a midi soundtrack, should you decide to click here.

I awoke at 3:15, checked email, and wrote back to a precious sister who wrote to me after I had gone to bed. So, now its 4:25 and I think I'll try to get some more sleep before the alarm goes off.

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Friday, November 24, 2006

 

We enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving at home with our immediate family. Early in the morning, Macdonald Wreh called me from work to extend his greetings. Then I wrote to my friend, Dave Hendrix, in Colorado Springs. I then called to Coldwater, Michigan and, in two phone calls, had the opportunity to touch base with several members of my family.
This was followed by a pleasant conversation with my friend, Pastor Ken Hendon. They were having a Thanksgiving Day Service at his church at noon.

Pastor Shamas Pervaiz from Pakistan wrote to me, so we exchanged a couple letters in the morning. His father is seriously ill and has been hospitalized. I received my first letter from this pastor in March and made a slideshow of photos he had sent me (click here).  We have shared many chats and letters since then. Here is the most recent slideshow I made of photos Shamas has sent (click here).

Although my laptop internet connection had taken me all around the world on this 21st Century Thanksgiving Morning, I also had a full day of enjoying the blessings of my own little family--watching movies and eating.

After an overflowing day, Cathy and I went on a long walk before going to bed. We talked about how wonderful our Wednesday Night Fellowship had been. There were 25 adults who remained for the Bible Study after the meal. Ronny was on-fire as he led the Scripture reading and discussion. We had first-time visitors, great music, good food, wonderful fellowship... (abundant life is right there . . . in the ellipsis).

I have had some correspondence with Karen from Texas over several weeks. She is part of the Stonegate Liberia Team. They are are leaving for Liberia this Thursday. Karen has asked that we pray for their team and the trip. Of course, that is my desire. (click here for the team's blogspot)



I have enjoyed my interaction with Karen. She is a grandmother and maintains a filter (called Safe Bee) on their home computer. She was curious about my approach to Internet Safety. Our back-and-forth discussion has been helpful to me. I would be interested in hearing from others about this matter. Does your family have a strategy for protecting yourselves from falling into snares on the Internet?

My Friday Visitation Partner, Beverly, is being visited by all sorts of family. The Memorial Service for her daughter, Susan, is tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Today I will be preparing the music for the memorial and working on the message for Sunday morning. I hope that our sanctuary will be filled with people who are hungry for a revelation from God's Word.

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Thursday, November 23, 2006

The turkey is in the oven and should be ready to pull out just before noon. Derek and Linda at Cafe Latte are from Cambodia. They are closed for Thanksgiving. Yesterday, Joe and I had stopped by on a walk. I asked them if they prepare a turkey for a thanksgiving meal. Derek informed me that when they came to this country in the late 70's, they studied all about our history. So, yes, they learned about the Pilgrims and our custom of making turkey. He told us that they hadn't eaten a turkey before. Turkeys were like pets. They ate chicken and duck but turkeys were just left to run around with the chickens.

Greg Brayton sent me this link to artwork by his wife, Sally. That's how I first met Sally--in a high school art class. She was obviously the best in the class. It is fun to see her still having fun with art in her old age (click here). Maybe on this Thanksgving Day, we should make a visit over to Greg Brayton's website and see what new project he's working on: www.gbrayton.com
 

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Last night I gathered all the components of my police uniform and carefully dressed for the City Council Meeting. Police Chaplain Dress Blues comes complete with a silver-plated nametag and a real badge so heads turn when I'm fully vested.

Hmmm...what to do with this rare opportunity. On the way to City Hall, I stopped by the Tuesday Fellowship "Losing Weight God's Way". Robin McCall made a comment that got many laughs. Only Barbara Tavarez missed the punchline--she did note, however, that I blushed.

From there, I went over to Tommy, Joe, and Bryan's house. I thought they might come 'under conviction' upon the sight of a uniformed preacher knocking on the backdoor. No laughs there--they didn't answer. I was having an important conversation with Mike McCall during the drive so it was still time well-invested.

Once I arrived at City Hall, I was greeted by Pastor Larry Brand, Pastor Tim Stevenson, and Pastor Mary Sanders (the other three volunteer chaplains). We had a photograph taken of us together. My third son, Daniel, was also there for a school assignment. He has had to attend and report on various civic meetings. It was a blessing to have my son there with me. I introduced him to a number of community leaders.

Then, he came to sit with me after the swearing-in ceremony was over. Together we watched and whispered about the form and content of Mayor Clare's trip to the Sundance Seminar. The mayor's trip to Anchorage at the invitation and expense of Robert Redford. Mayors of strategic locations in America are being taught about the effects of Global Warming. As catalysts, they are being challenged to provide purposeful leadership in their sphere-of-influence. I was reminded of time I spent watching Al Gore's movie with my firstborn, Joe, on August 9, 2006 (click here).

Hope to see you at the Potluck-Bible Study Fellowship tonight at 6:30. Call me for more information: (209) 323-072

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Hmmm... I have just watched several video clips about the Michael Richards apology on Letterman. I wasn't watching the news so I missed the story when it first broke. In fact, the only slight hint of this situation impinged upon my consciousness when I was putting some gas into my car on Sunday afternoon. Our gas pumps come equipped with video newscasts.

An interesting slice of contemporary american experience. I appreciated hearing Sinbad's entire discussion of this situation and the big picture. From my perspective, the Big Picture is even bigger.  (click here: ABC News Michael Richards)

I have enjoyed Michael Richard's work since since seeing him on Weird Al's movie UHF. The Seinfeld DVD set I purchased a couple years ago had an interesting commentary. Richards' reputation for memorizing his lines and firm resolve to stay in character is discussed by his co-stars. Noteworthy is Diane Sawyer's mention that when Richards does stand-up, he is 'performing without a net.' There is certainly a teachable moment here for any man.

Tonight the chaplains have been asked to attend the swearing in of our new Chief of Police. I had the privilege of hearing Chief Loren Cattolico speak at Rotary last Friday. It will be interesting to see how this man continues to exercise leadership in our police department and among the myriad special interest groups in our community. I'm always interested in watching other leaders interact with the general public to see what works . . . and what doesn't!

One of the first public gestures by our new chief was to publish a Citizen's Complaint Form:

"Please feel free to express yourself on any matter which you feel should be directed to my attention. Every letter of complaint will receive my personal attention. Remember law enforcement is everybody's business, and your Police Department can only be as good as the citizens of Galt want it to be."    (click here for a pdf copy)

In last Sunday's sermons, I addressed the hesitancy that our nation's President may face to actually name the Name of his Savior. There have been times in which I have experienced the unspoken pressure to omit the Name of Jesus in public settings. However, the only Name in which I have a legitimate prayer is in the Name of Jesus. Therefore, right here/right now, in the relative comfort of this column, I pray for this town's chief Law Enforcement officer: 

Father, our Creator,

First, I thank you for hearing this simple public prayer. On behalf of all who choose to be law-abiding citizens, I ask that You may empower Chief Cattolico to exercise patient integrity as he leads an extraordinary team of crime-fighters in Galt. May he shepherd his flock with firm resolve that together they will all courageously serve a Cause greater than themselves.

Serving diligently under Chief Cattolico's authority, may each of our sworn officers remain faithful to their vow of service. May they be kept safe from those who plot evil or in any way work against Law and Order in this small corner of American culture.

In the Name of Jesus I pray.   AMEN.

The general public is invited to attend this ceremony. We will start with a meet & greet at 6:30 with the formal swearing in at the City Council Meeting at 7:00 (click here for map)
 

Monday, November 20, 2006

I have a full day ahead of me. Coming into the office I have interacted with several people who are serving the Lord in various capacities (Ana, Jimmie, Kat, Virginia, Eli). Now, the activity has settled down and I am going to try to sort through the paperwork that amasses at our church. I plan to do this while listening to sermon tapes from past weeks. First, however, I want to decompress what yesterday (Sunday) may have contributed to the Big Picture.

My Sunday School class seemed to be engaging for all who were there (ages 13-20). We were discussing issues learned during my semester of church-planting studies from seminary. Certain paragraphs from the Purpose Driven Church (pp. 160-161) were read and discussed by the students. We were privileged to have Aimee Sayre visiting with us during her break from CBU. She has really missed our church fellowship. Even though she has the opportunity to attend one of the 'coolest' churches in the state (Sandals at Riverside), she shared that, instead, she attends Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church--which is more traditional and has many elderly people.

I think that it was helpful for the younger students to hear this testimony from Aimee. It may help them to better understand the various dynamics involved in this matter of American church-shopping. Aimee is one of our 'satisfied customers' and yet our text and discussion challenged her modus operandi for outreach when she was in high school.

Our class has been targeting a unique church-plant idea as a vehicle to discuss all the points brought up in Rick Warren's dated text. Of interest to the class was his observation that the average American will not drive to a church where one must endure more than a dozen stoplights. That assertion was cause for us to stop and consider our attitudes and behavior.

Yesterday's Worship Service messages were grounded in two events which can be found in 2 Chronicles. (God's Word to Solomon: 2 Chronicle 7 and the events recorded years later in 2 Chronicles 20). The apostle Paul has given us the encouragement to consider Old Testament history in an illustrative manner. Joe was asking me about my belief in this pattern I employ--reading devotionally and making application for my own life. Here is one of the passages which have taught me to do so: click here

The demographics of the congregations gathered for our 8:30 service and the 11:00 services were noticeably different. The songs were exactly the same. The Reading of Scripture, the pre-sermon altar time, and the sermon points were very similar but there was definitely some differences in my delivery. It will be interesting to note what exactly those differences were as I listen to the tapes during this day. 

This particular message had a contemporary application more panoramic in scope than my normal local church sermon. Why? I suppose it was reflective of issues with which I have recently been confronted. The Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites are the combined forces marching against God's Kingdom. I could have named contemporary armies energized by unseen forces but that might have limited this message's impact in the life of any given hearer. Three important points concluded the message which has been entitled Responding to a Revelation.

Trust God and don't be afraid: We need to remember that GOd knows all, every situation any of us are facing. He knows every person involved. He is able. He is here. He is the perfect expression of Love that never fails.

Trust God and don't be afraid: We need to remember what He has already done our lives up to this very point.

Trust God and don't be afraid: Remember that He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. It ain't over till it's over. We should examine ourselves and consider what we tend to do when we are facing a trial. Do we praise? Do we doubt? Do we go for the quick fix? Do we humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from any wicked way revealed to us by the Holy Spirit?

Sunday, November 19, 2006



 "If a fellow was lookin' for a new church . . . We're sort of lookin' for a new church because of a situation with the pews."  This video serves well as a companion piece for the ichurch article. A new friend, Larry, shared it with us.

Well, we're not exactly the coolest church in town but if you yearn to live in response to a revelation from God, please come visit our church at 8:30 or 11:00 any Sunday morning.

   map to the epicenter

Before I forget, I will want to share what I learned about Leonardo Da Vinci in school Friday. An illegitimate child, the young man apprenticed at Verrocchio's Studio. He would soon surpass his mentor. A significant work in which he participated at the studio was Verrocchio's The Baptism of Christ.

In addition to his study of mechanics, painting, and sculpture, Leonardo conducted experiments with light and shadow. The three-dimensional depth of objects in his sketches was defined by light and shadow. Illuminated by candle, the artist would paint a view of draped fabric, then change the location of the candle and paint it again. This technique, chiaroscuro, made his paintings superior to those of his peers. Yesterday we had a Disney DVD playing and it began to freeze. Rather than get upset by the technological inconvenience, I studied the frame-by-frame change of shadow and light. I immediately thought about chiaroscuro. It helps to bring these animations to life.

Leonardo also observed that detail and color changed as and object receded in the distance. He took the state of this technique, sfumato, to a new level. Note the background in Mona Lisa.

I listed certain facts on the board during the students' viewing of the history Channel video. A commissioned work that Leonardo never finished was the Adoration of the Magi.

The question which surrounds that mystery stirred an interest in digging deeper. I googled Leonardo Da Vinci on Friday night. I learned that he wrote his private journals from right to left in a mirror image. Interesting.  Try it yourself: click here

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Before Prayer meeting this morning, Eli, David, and I walked a block west of our property to see the new construction taking place at the property of the River of Life Celebration Center.

Cathy and I had stopped in last week to say, "Congratulations" and visited with Deanna Brand and the little guy who had been run over. He was spinning around in his wheelchair--happy as can be.

Yesterday, my first class as a substitute began with a 15 year old coming up to me with a smile and saying, "Hi, Pastor Rob". I didn't recognize her by name until roll call. It was Erin Brand (Pastor Larry and Deanna's daughter).

During the class I received a tragic phone call. My Friday Visitation partner, Beverly shared the sad, sad news that her daughter, Susan had died in the hospital.

No more words about that . . . Just Pray for Mom.

Here's some mail that may be of interest. Let it be known that I definitely have some problems with recommending involvement with myspace. However, I have made the decision years ago to be a part of the solution to the problems I see. So, here is what I have been doing to contribute:


--Original Message--
From: pastorob@gmail.com
Date: 11/5/2006 10:38:18 PM
To: customercare@myspace.com

Subject: nudity on myspace

THIS FRIEND REQUEST has a pop up with graphic nudity. Please remove this page immediately. (here I pasted in the FRIEND REQUEST).

****

Today, I received two replies to what I had sent them on November 5th:

****

The profile/content/group has been deleted.

MySpace.com
Customercare

******

Dear Customer Care:

Thank you for the reply. I'm a substitute teacher for the local high school in my town (also a Police Chaplain, a Rotary Member, and a pastor).

I speak openly about the good things that can happen on myspace so if you ever need a positive spokesperson, I have a good analogy to share.