Saturday, June 30, 2007
"Where your treasure is, there also will
your heart be."
Here's one idea for a caption under the photo that will be taken by
the Auburn Journal on Sunday morning:
Auburn Preacher Dyes Trying
to Meet Needs
After the men's breakfast this morning, I'm
scheduled to meet with Nancy Dailey
(a
member who is also skilled in the process of
bleaching and hair-coloring).
Last night it was announced that our
five-night competition
between the Boys
and the Girls
had raised a combined
offering of
$1,079 for ministry among children
in Liberia and
in Pakistan.
The Girls were formally recognized as the
winners:
Girls:
580.65
Boys: 499.32
Although I hadn't planned to take up another
offering,
I asked for a 5 year old boy and 5 year old
girl to come forward. Sometimes I forget how
special 5 year olds are.
I asked them each
to hold an offering plate--just as we had
done each night of our Vacation Bible
School.
Micah
(18), our soundman, then ran up to
challenge other adults to follow his lead
and add to the Children's Offering.
"Surprise...surprise." An additional
amount came in:
an extra
$95.00 came in from Girls
(& women)
and an
extra $27.64
came in from Boys (& men)
$1,202.61
with the girls still in the lead
More to write from reading today's news but
haven't the time to spare right now.
Google-ads are designed to appear in places of
predetermined interest.
It doesn't surprise me
to see these links next to the morning's INBOX
messages.
50 years ago McCartney met Lennon:
click here
Today's Taliban Militancy in Pakistan:
click here
Friday, June 29, 2007
It was decided last night that my
'hair-coloring' would actually take place
tonight at
Family Night
(since some of the children at VBS attend
other churches).
However, I'm still supposed to show up at
church on Sunday with
PINK hair.
How do I already know the color
when the competition isn't even over yet?
Last night the Boys voted
PINK as
their number one choice. Likewise, the
Girls also chose
PINK.
Therefore, no matter who wins the
competition, that's gonna be the color of my
hair.
So, today's assignment:
Locate
HOT PINK
hair coloring.
We had a really sweet time in Vacation Bible
School last night.
There was a
fifteen-minute invitation time at the end of
the evening and a number of children from
ages 6-12 came forward.
As well, several children 5 and under came
forward to sit at the altar and talk with
the Rosenau sisters.
They came to talk about
all kinds of issues. A lovely sight.
Here's the UPDATE on our Children's Offering
for Pakistan and Liberia:
Boys
Girls
Night One
64.59
47.29
Night Two
139.02
65.31
Night Three
31.41
151.33
Night Four
94.35
484.22
Total:
329.37 +
263.93 =
813.59
Learn more about our personal invitation
by the
Holy Spirit to get involved with indigenous
pastors in these two nations:
This is a song I wrote while
I visited Liberia in February, 2004.
Runtime: 4:43
Plays: 357
For more on Liberia, click
here:
Liberia
Click here for Pakistan
Yesterday at lunchtime, Cathy and I attended
Joy Fellowship
where we heard a guest speaker address Home
Health Care for Seniors.
Afterwards, we met the key speaker, Buck Shaw,
and expressed an interest in having
Cathy work for his company after we make the
move to Auburn.
Here's a note that came in yesterday:
Hello Pastor Rob and Cathy,
I want to invite you to my workplace to
celebrate my 6th year anniversary on Sunday July
1.
My brothers will be here to help me entertain my
little community.
It starts at 2:00 till 5:00, maybe
longer. There will be hamburgers and fixings.
I want to let you know we will be playing
worldly music, plus we get to throw in a few
gospel songs here and there.
So, I won't make it to church but I
will hear it on the internet.
I do enjoy listening to each sermon while I work
in my office. You're very welcome to jam with
us.
Love to you both,
Vicki
Dear Vicki:
WE WILL
BE THERE!
Vicki, YOU are real important to me. I feel that God
wants us to RADICALLY grow this church--in DIVERSE
ways--mostly through OUTREACH.
Is it alright to invite others to come?
love,
Pastor Rob
Vicki replied: I am so glad you can make it.
I have a Mickey Mouse keyboard waiting for you.
Cathy, we need your talent too. Don't forget the
flute.
The answer is yes. Everyone would be
welcome to drop by on Sunday afternoon. Looking
forward to a fun time.
I love the blogging about the Children's
Offering! It's so great to be able to share with
those so less fortunate than we are.
Wish I could have made it to VBS, I know
everyone is having such a wonderful sharing with
the Lord.
Emma and Janae are getting so blessed
every day.
....and finally, here is a duet sung
by Renee Clark and son
Anthony (way back in April)
There are No Orphans
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Yesterday, at the Gym, the man cycling next
to me noticed that I had the large print
bible
propped up and was making notes in a
journal during cycle-sermon prep-time.
He
showed me his book and asked me if I had
ever read it. The guy began 'a spiritual
conversation'...
Turns out that he is the owner of the place
and is deeply involved in ministry at
Bayside of Granite Bay.
His name is
Art Chapelle.
Yeah, when God reveals a name,
it is important to
remember that name.
I woke up early
reflecting upon how to be more effective as
a witness for Jesus Christ.
If you'll
remember I am turning fifty in July. I have
chosen to let this fiftieth year serve as a
marker-in-ministry.
I desire to make decisions based upon a
personal goal of seeking the Lord for a
'quadrupling' effect upon the souls of
individuals.
I really haven't been keeping count...
BUT...
...if I helped to reach
twenty-five children
during
the
first twenty-five years of my public witness,
then I
would like to have helped reach an
additional one hundred
children
during the next twenty-five years.
Cathy and I went apartment-hunting again
yesterday.
We really want to focus upon reaching
out to unchurched families in Auburn.
About the Children's Offering:
The Girls
are now in the lead.
Hopefully, the Boys (and men) and
Girls (and women)
will be blessed to give some more tonight.
I still don't know how I'm gonna work out
the hair coloring
for Sunday morning.
I started to mess
around with the possibilities on 'clay pastorob'
in the slideshow at the top of this page.
I wonder if we should ask punk-rock-Lisa
consult with us.
I have my email account with google. The
advertising is low-key and seeks to identify
and target my interests.
I spoke in
Alisha's
Missions Class last night about serving as a
missionary while employing one's interest in
a mission field.
It has often been said in Stewardship
teachings that a quick scan of one's
checkbook will reveal where the priorities
in one's life.
Likewise, taking any sort of
biopsy of one's activities will be quite
revealing.
Sometime, I'm gonna sit in the thinking
chair (Sparky) and work out my thoughts on 'targeted' advertising.
Watching what google-ads chooses for me has been
revealing.
I am always interested in hearing about a
person's childhood--especially to learn if
they have had any spiritual background.
While
'hunting and gathering' current events in the
daily news, I've shown an interest in Paris
Hilton's incarceration.
So targeted news stories
about Paris shows up in my google-ads.
This is why I have included an
excerpt from Larry King's interview with
her:
"I
feel like God does make
everything happen for a
reason," she said. "And it gave me, you know,
a time-
out in life just to really find out what is
important and
what I want to do, figure out who I am."
Educated in Roman
Catholic schools,
Hilton said
she's "always been religious" and "always had a
sense of spirituality but even more so after
being in
jail."
She bought a Bible from
the jail commissary and
read it daily, she said. Asked to name her favorite
passage, she smiled and looked away.
"I don't have a
favorite," she said.
*click
here for more
I think the story above
is worthwhile reading IF
it spurs me on to share
the Gospel more and
more.
A 'time out' has
been good for
Paris
Hilton.
However, like
the eunuch in his
chariot--reading from
Isaiah without
understanding--a
Christ-centered
interpretation of her
Bible-reading may still
be lacking. May God
raise up a witness (like
Phillip) for her.
During this summer of
Vacation Bible Schools,
I suggest that It is
important to prayerfully
avail ourselves
toward
leading precious souls
to a 'saving knowledge'
of Christ Jesus.
Paris
wouldn't know that I
preached
about
boundaries and even
mentioned 'jail-time'
last Sunday.
So,
Paris,
if you happen across
this page, exercise your
freedom to click below and answer
this important question:
Wha Yo Nay?
Certain children in our
VBS are showing a
spiritual interest.
I
pray that those of us
who are laboring in this
field will be fully
guided by the Holy
Spirit.
I woke up realizing
that--at
times--yesterday I was
running without
carefully considering
His Voice.
May today be more
Christ-centered and
Spirit-directed.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Here's some exciting news about the
Children's Offering we are raising in VBS.
The final offering will be combined and
prayerfully sent to our personal connections
in both Liberia
and Pakistan.
Michelle Miller
from the Auburn Journal is planning to send
a photographer to our Sunday morning service
to find out what color the preacher's hair
is gonna be!
(See yesterday's entry for more details...)
Hmm...maybe someone ought to let the
picketers know that there's another special
event at BellRoad.
To learn/see more about my personal involvement
with the pastors of a local church in
either of these
two nations, please click below:
Liberia Pakistan
After VBS last night, I hung out with
Deacon Dave
until midnight--talking about
the Vision
that we are certain
God will unveil in the
days immediately ahead of us. Yeah, we
talked until midnight!
I told Dave about the apartment complex that
Cathy and I viewed yesterday.
It is a modest
place but there were many neighborhood
children seen running around in the adjacent
park.
I nudged Cathy and said,
"I am guessing that most of those kids are unchurched!"
The families of unchurched children are a
primary target group that I wanna reach out
toward in rebuilding a congregation for
Sundays at BellRoad:
Cultivate relationships.
See souls saved, baptized, delivered, and
discipled.
I think a final decision about moving here
is soon upon us.
I have been waiting for some time to see a
film that was released earlier this week:
A Mighty Heart (starring Angelina Jolie
as Mariane Pearl).
I don't know when I'll have the chance to
view the movie but I want for that to happen
very soon.
I googled for showtimes and
notice that it is currently playing in Elk
Grove (near Galt) and in Roseville (near
Auburn).
The film was shot on location in
India
and Pakistan.
The locations have personal connection with
our local church for two reasons.
1) Our VBS
Children's Offering is going to
plant seeds of Gospel hope in
Pakistan.
At VBS, we are already seeing photos of the
very children our offering will be planted
among.
I welcome the opportunity to travel
vicariously to Pakistan through this movie.
2) After a brief tour of Southern
California venues, our church
teen-missionary,
Hannah, will
be going to
India
with the New America Singers. There she will
have the opportunity to meet
Joe and
Sharon who
have made plans to
travel through India with the Team.
Furthermore, Joe
has been invited to
Pakistan (by Pastor Shamas)
and this prospect is a matter of heartfelt
prayer.
Here's are two excerpts from a review I read
in my pre-screening research:
Winterbottom succeeds in presenting a fast-paced
movie that visually embraces the
Pakistani and
Indian
locations where it was masterfully shot.
Toward the end of the movie, Jolie notes that
Karachi
is the frontline in the West's battle against a vast
international network of terrorists:
"Wherever there is misery, they find people, and there is
misery in lots of parts of the world."
This is as much of a message as the movie offers.
And it's a postmodern movie moment, for
it's hard to tell if Pearl's speaking or whether it's Jolie,
the goodwill ambassador for the UN commission on
refugees. I suppose the true answer is that it's both.
(click
for this particular article)
(and more about Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolie
with links to a number of other
related research
issues from People magazine:
click here)
Someday, one of our church members will
write me to ask
"Why would a preacher even bother to read articles
about Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie in People magazine?"
I certainly would enjoy talking that out . .
.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
"Let us run with
patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith."
Hebrews 12:1-2
This is our memory verse for VBS this week.
It looks like I might come to church Sunday
morning with a different color of hair.
For
the first time in recent history, the BellRoad VBS is having
an "Offering
Competition"
between the Boys and the Girls.
We began doing that during our years at FBC
Galt and it became a highlight of the week
for many children.
This may be a humble
beginning for my years of working among
children in Auburn but remembering the verse
above,
I am encouraged to keep my eyes on
Jesus.
On Family Night (Friday), I am going
to let the winners vote for which color to
dye my hair.
You know, certain people have suggested that
I 'take care of the gray'...
but I don't
think that any of these concerned
individuals were considering the colors I
have heard mentioned:
BLUE,
RED,
GREEN,
PINK...
It is
for a
Good
Cause. I
am
trying
to share
with my
new
church
family
about
local
church
work in
two
different
nations.
Those
two
nations
are
Liberia
and
Pakistan.
We will
divide
the
Final
Offering
and send
the
gifts to
support
ministry
among
children
in these
two
nations.
Last
night's
Offering
found
The Boys
in the
lead.
Boys:
$64.59
Girls:
$47.29
Half of
the gift
will be
sent to
Pastor
Richard
Wesley
to help children in
Liberia:
. . .and the other half will be sent to Pastor
Shamas
Pervaiz
(pictured here) with some children from
Pakistan:
at 5:44 AM ...a chat box pops up from the Philippines:
joseph:
hi daddy
me:
hey
big guy
is sharon with you?
joseph:
yes
me:
we're in
my
office
at 5:45
a.m.
Last
night
was day
one of
VBS. A
guy
named
Lou
brought
us an
air
mattress,
so Cathy
and I
slept on
it.
joseph:
good
me:
Mary
is on
cushions
in an
inner
room.
Daniel
is
working
this
week at
a
member's
house so
he has
accomodations
there...
joseph:
nice
me: The
four of
us went
to a
local
bowling
alley
after
VBS last
night.
Mary and
Daniel
played.
Mama and
I
watched.
joseph:
how's
Jerry?
me:
He's
doing
OK...most
likely.
I had
breakfast
out with
him
yesterday
morning.
He was
starting
his
first
day as a
lifeguard
last
night.
joseph:
oh, a
lifeguard.
wow
me:
So,
he
worked
at the
Savemart
in the
morning
and
early
afternoon,
then
went to
the Gym
to work
out,
then
went to
the Pool
to
Lifeguard
until
8:30
p.m. So
he's
busy!
Remember
CLUB 180?
in Lodi?
joseph:
not
really
me:
The
leader
there is
the the
son of
Angel
and
Ken
McGregor
(more
members
here at
BellRoad).
It's an
Outreach
to Youth
operated
by
several
churches...quite
cool.
Jerry's
old
band, A
Skylit
Drive,
played
there a
few
times a
couple
years
ago.
Club
180
is gonna
try to
reach
out to
that
age-group
that
tends to
drop out
of
church
attendance
after
high
school.
I think
it will
be on
Thursday
and
Sunday
nights.
They
will be
putting
together
a Praise
Band--with
music
and
message
targeted
for this
particular
people
group.
joseph:
Papa,
the
Internet
isn't
the best
connection
here
today.
There is
heavy
rain
also.
me:
Hopefully,
there's
a chance
that
Jerry
will get
involved.
I talked
to
Jake
McGregor
last
night.
He
recalled
Jerry
from A
Skylit
Drive.
He asked
about
Jerry's
'walk'
with the
Lord...
I told
him that
Jerry
had just
told me
that he
still
'tithes'
(you
know,
that IS
a sign .
. .)
But that 'bad Company corrupts good character'...
joseph:
yeah
me:
So...it
mostly
has to
do with
who he
chooses
to hang
out
with.
I
could
see our
move to
Auburn
(and his
busy
work
schedule)
as being
the
reason
he could
drop out
of
regular
attendance
(somewhere)
as
well....
However,
when a
person
has a
MINISTRY,
it does
really
help
them to
SHOW
UP....
(I'm reminded of the promo for 'Consider This'...
"You
have a
MINISTRY...")
Of
course,
he knows
that and
affirmed
the
point.
Jake
told me
that
he'd
call
Jerry
last
night. I
haven't
heard if
they
talked
yet.
I
sure
hope
that
this
could
happen
for
Jerry.
He needs
SOMETHING
for his
spiritual
growth.
joseph:
yeah.
Work and
work are
good to
block
time
but they
don't
INPUT
me:
Jerry
will
probably
struggle
until he
makes a
RADICAL
commitment
to the
Lord.
By the
Grace of
God, he
has seen
some of
the
results
of bad
choices.
Nothing
that has
yet
'ruined'
his
life...
joseph:
that's
good
me:
but, of
course,
his papa
would be
much
happier
(and
peaceful
about
his
future)...
IF
he would
have
that
RADICAL
calling
and
commitment.
joseph:
It'll be
great if
he
CHOOSES
before
he loses
something.
me:
Yeah.
joseph:
for me I
always
had the
New
America
Singers
to be
input...
and
just a
different
personality
so I
didn't
have the
friends
that
would
lead me
away.
So
blessed
just by
making
good
decisions,
really
limited
the
temptations.
Its a
lot
easier
just
having
choices
in place
that
limit
your
possibilities.
me:
Yeah...
Boundaries
are good
for us.
Did you hear my Sunday Sermon?
click to listen:
Wha Yo Nay?
joseph:
not yet
... we
downloaded
it.
Gonna go
home and
listen
to it.
me:
Good...
I went
over and
'pounded'
on the
piano...
during
the
message.
"Bless that Wonderful Name of
Jesus...
. . . No
other
Name...I
know!"
joseph:
I was
never
even
invited
to a
beer
party
made it
a lot
easier,
I am
sure.
me:
Well,
Jerry's
job at
SaveMart
puts him
in
continual
contact
with
'church
acquaintances'
from his
decade
of
'growing
up' at FBC
Galt.
Probably
like our
experience
with
seeing
Ben
Odell
at
Long's..
or
'you"....
That's
not
exactly
INPUT...
but
there
are some
'sweet'
people
out
there...who,
of
course,
would
'love on
him.'
joseph:
yeah
me:
AND...folks
that may
be
dropping
through
the
cracks
themselves...
Tom
and
Connie
Neal
see him
there...
Charlotte
Giddens...
you
know,
probably
Beverly,
etc...
He likes
to GO to
Horizon...
but he's
not
'hooked'...
its still an easy one for him to miss because of 'sleeping
in on Sunday' before going to work.
He needs
a
MINISTRY....
INPUT
and
OUTPUT
both...
joseph:
yeah. it
was
strange
for me
at CBU
because
I didn't
have a
ministry.
It was
hard to
get up
and go
to
church
alone
me:
I told
Jake
that
Jerry
led VBS
Youth
and
really
enjoyed
that. Remember his dance in the video
"So You Think You Can American Idol?"
joseph:
well
papa, I
think we
have to
get
going
now
me:
OK, my
dears...
I hope
you
enjoy
the
sermon...
joseph:
ok
me:
IT
was a
very
difficult
time for
me all
the way
up
THROUGH
delivering
the
message.
I just
wasn't
feeling
that
organized
with the
message
but was
greatly
relieved
that it
connected
well, I
think,
under the Lordship of Christ...
and trust in His Spirit...
now, the
test
will be
IF it
FEEDS
you guys
in your
situation.
Please
let me
know.
click
to
listen:
Wha Yo Nay?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Throughout the week, I really struggled with
preparation for yesterday's message.
Still,
with the support of my precious wife (and
the faithful prayers of my local church
members), I stepped up to preach.
With that behind me, we had lunch with the
Welcome Team that
Les Andrews is organizing.
Then I started setting up A/V for this
week's VBS at BellRoad. I'm serving as the
upfront person during the Rally each night.
We started back to Galt at 7:00 p.m.
I've been getting the Sunday Message ready
for uploading. I hope you enjoy it. It is
nearly 2:00 a.m. as I write.
We're all heading up to Auburn today for
the entire week of our VBS (GameDay
Central).
Listen to this week's message:
Wha Yo Nay?
No kidding. I am not a trained
linguist. However, I googled
Liberian-English (here)
and then found that someone
had put together
this brief dictionary (as a 'special
feature' for the SermonSeries Director's
Commentary).
|
Liberian |
English |
| |
|
|
alress |
alright |
| bah |
buy |
|
basiko |
bicycle |
| bock |
dollar |
|
bo-fre;ge-fre |
boy
friedn/girl friend |
|
bossmaen |
foreman |
| bruee |
bread |
| coh
wota |
cold
water |
| de ga
sompti spescho |
having something special |
|
dshjaela |
just
like |
|
eveletin´clerle |
everything is okay |
|
flalaba |
Flashlight Battery |
| gadin
bo |
garden boy |
| gimmi
ten fo feif |
give
me ten for five |
| go
for a puim |
go
for a swim |
| gu
plae |
good
play |
| eh ju
no |
do
you know? |
|
hadego |
how
is it going |
| I we
tek yu to cord |
I
will take you to court |
| kue |
Kool
Aid |
| ma |
my |
| mae |
man |
|
mamaen |
my
man |
| Ma se
ga pin |
I´ve
got pain |
| ma se
teia |
I am
tired |
| ma se
won bah dattin tu oh |
I
want to buy that as well |
| natin |
nothing |
| ogley |
ugly |
|
orinsh |
orange |
|
panapo |
pineapple |
| peday |
pay
day |
| penso |
pencil |
| pina |
peanuts |
| plea
dome fevo |
please do me a favour |
| plea
gimmi tu dalla |
please give me two dollar |
|
plentae |
plenty |
| plom |
plum |
| pude |
put
it |
|
sabuuhee |
bold
head |
| smo
gä |
small
girl |
|
stjupe |
stupid |
|
tenkju plente |
thank
you very much |
| why
yu lafin |
why
are you laughing |
|
wuasda |
whats
that |
Sunday, June 24, 2007
from my buddy, Greg Brayton, in Michigan:
Last couple chemo
treatments coming up. Then we do a CT scan and
find out if it’s having any effect.
Two weeks ago yesterday
I went in to the hospital with pneumonia. Bummer
spent a week in there.
Very sick. Last week was spent here at home
recovering. I’m still short of breath sometimes,
still feel like I’m gonna get sick every so
often not very hungry. Finally loosing weight on
this crappy diet! I knew it would happen if I
just stuck with it ha ha.
I’ve still been writing
which is good. I figure God must have more for
me to do. Several folks wanta get in here and
record as well, so I’ll get stronger with God’s
help, and do the work that needs to be done.
Last week I was just
too tired to write or call. So I have a favor to
ask you. Spend some time listening not just
praying to God. Be still for a few minutes. Now,
how does God want you to pray for me? For
yourselves? For your family and friends? People
ask me all the time, how do you want us to pray
for you? Right now I just want to keep my glad
and grateful attitude, my desire to make music
for God, and get healthy in the process.
Ok I’ve asked for
something but notice where I put healthy. Down
the list a bit, because I’ve learned in my short
time here, that if I do things to please God,
many things fall in to place. Not everything.
God knows what I need to go through to make me a
better person for Him. If you really listen to
the Holy Spirit, God will tell you how to pray.
Again I thank you so
much for your prayers and good wishes.
I can feel the love.
www.gbrayton.com
Thursday, June 21, 2007
We just received news that
Jim Simpkins
passed away this morning. Jim was attending
a conference at Saddleback Church. He
reported not feeling well last night and
went to his room. Someone found him this
morning.
Jim was the Intentional Interim Pastor at
BellRoad for one year and had become dear to
the hearts of many people in Auburn. I knew
Jim from our years together in the Delta
Valley Association.
I enjoyed being with my brothers and sisters
in a prayer meeting last night. Sweet,
profound, fellowship.
Google has a channel at YouTube that should
be a place to check regularly for staying
abreast of technological stories like the
plug-in hybrid:
click
here
Here's a story that pops up this morning from
an Internet news source. Yesterday in Iraq.
Written differently than most I see:
click here
Came to Galt last night...but tomorrow night is
Auburn Family night on the streets of our new
town. So, that's where we will be, Lord willing.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Joe decided to reside at the Airport in
Bangkok for 40-50 hours until his flight
that lets him join his wife in Manila. Due
to ticket problems, they weren't able to
travel together. I tried to get him to go to
a hotel and get at least one night's sleep
on a bed but he seemed determined to make it
work at the airport.
Awhile ago, Deacon
Mike suggested I teach an
entry-level seminar about the Internet and
computers. For various reasons, there is a
significant number of people at BellRoad who
lack knowledge and experience in this area.
One of our seniors,
Faye, was
in yesterday. She told me that she and
Clyde
have had a granddaughter teach them about
their computer every step along the way.
I've learned much of what I know because we
have kept up with the technology alongside
our growing children. However, now that
they're starting to move on, it isn't as
easy as grabbing hold of a resident
teenager.
On Sunday, Cathy left her iPod in my
office. For the first time, I decided to try
to figure out how to use the little thing
--called
the shuffle (retail 79 USD).
VCRs have come and gone without my ever
learning how to program one. I've noticed
many of the people at the Gym using an iPod.
Although I like to take a book with me and
study while cycling or climbing, I thought
that it would be good to get in on that
technology--especially since my sermons are
on a podcast
with rss.
|
|
|
Above was a link I found to my SermonPlayer
and rss but I
couldn't figure out how to get the messages from
there to the iPod.
I plugged the little guy into the USB port and
saved a sermon onto it...but it must've saved in
a data sector because I couldn't hear it.
I noticed that James
Moore was online, so I opened a chat.
He didn't know how to do the iPod.
Bob Knapp
was online, so in my chat with him, I asked
again. He didn't know.
Joe was
online from the airport in Bangkok, Thailand. He
didn't know either. He has a different mp3
player but he googled "iPod manuals" and located
this page. That was helpful.
I noticed the unit right away, downloaded the
manual, and learned that I needed to download an
iTunes Library in order to upload podcasts to
it.
Here is a page with SermonPlayers (and podcasts)
from around the U.S. (click
here).
So, now I kinda know how to use an iPod.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I came up to Auburn in the afternoon yesterday
because there our monthly Leadership Council was
meeting. Daniel is working here this week so he
stayed over with me last night.
We discussing plans for September Outreach.
I'm going to concentrate on reading and writing
today. Then, I have some letters to write and
calls to make.
If anything out-of-ordinary comes up, I may be
back!
Here's an interesting story about YouTube's
unique involvement with the Presidential
debates:
click here.
Monday, June 18, 2007
If you read yesterday's entry, you'll remember
that our little dog was killed on Saturday
night.
After church, I noticed that Mary was holding a
kitten with a handicapped paw. Apparently the
pitiful creature was discovered in the 'suicide
lane' in downtown Galt during a Saturday night
run to SaveMart.
I generally have to be the tough one...'no more
pets.'
While I was preaching yesterday, I took that
chance.
I departed from my carefully-edited sermon
transcript and told a story that I had heard
just the night before.
I named names...
Nothing wrong in my heart(as far as I know)--but
probably the story is better without names...
So, after some reconsideration,
I re-edited the audio to
drop a couple personal references. If you
were thinking along the same lines, I appreciate
the confirmation.
Cathy is nodding approvingly.
When this preacher stands to deliver a message
from God's Word, I have prayed over the content
(and form) of what I am about to attempt: to
rightly divide the message of the Bible.
Others have also prayed for me to experience
God's power to preach His Word.
In The Joy of Preaching,
Philips Brooke wrote
"Preaching is Truth through Personality."
I hope that the Truth comes through and (even)
that somehow my personality will be be seasoned
with salt and full of grace.
May you more fully receive the Blessing--
when you choose to
click
here and listen.
Blessed be the Lord our God and Savior forever .
. .
and on this sunny, Monday
morning.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
It is Father's Day. I woke up around 3:30 and
have given about 30 minutes to upload today's
entry:
Cathy and I spent Friday and Saturday night in
Auburn. We've have walked the streets of
downtown and old town Auburn (during the day and
at nighttime).
Last night, after Caitlin's Dinner for the UGM,
Cathy and I took a short drive to Downtown
Auburn in order to walk a loop through Old Town
and back.
Our slow walk took us from 9:20 to 10:30 p.m.
Almost immediately after getting out of the car,
Cathy received a text message from Mary (who was
staying with her brothers last night).
"I've got to talk to Dad"
I called her immediately and braced myself for
whatever was going to follow.
"Dad," she cried,
"don't tell Mom....but
Capo got hit by a car and he's dead."
Of course, I would have to tell Cathy
because she was standing there watching my
facial expressions and listening intently for
any clues about the subject matter of the return
call.
Capo was a small Corgie Terrier that joined our
family in the days that followed the sudden
death of Cathy's mother.
Cathy loved that little dog and Capo was the
perfect pet for her. I broke the news to her and
broke her heart just a little more. I have
delivered that sort of news to my sweetheart
several times during our many years together.
Downtown was rather quiet with just a few small
clusters of people we passed along our way. They
weren't any more aware of our small tragedy than
we were of their night's events.
In Old Town, I heard some raw rock music
playing, so we followed the sound a strong voice
hitting some high notes. A tall, young man
with tattoos stood directly in front of the bar
with his arms folded talking to a couple others
(as I cocked my head to look past him to look
for the source of the sound).
The place has a neon light: California. Inside
was a three-piece band (Strat, Bass, and Drums).
I didn't recognize the song but the singer was
hitting notes out of my range.
An hour later, on the way back to the car, I
broke through my own wall of indifference long
enough to meet a young man named Aaron who lives
above a Pizza Bar with four other young people.
It appears that a couple of them work there AND
rent the spacious apartment above. The young
people were skateboarding on the sidewalk.
We were invited to stop in for Pizza sometime. I
suppose that we will do that and see if we can
invite Aaron and his household up to BellRoad
somehow.
Well, we've gotta start...
Friday, June 15, 2007
Last night we rented Tyler Perry's "Daddy's
Little Girls".
The DVD's special features included an extended
church scene at the Wheat Street Baptist Church.
Tonight, we will be back in Auburn for Alisha's
Mission Dinner. We will learn about her work in
Mexico.
Tomorrow is Caitlin's Senior Project Dinner (to
benefit the Union Gospel Mission).
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Cathy, Mary and I came back to Galt last night.
I've been occupied with extended-family matters
most of the day.
Yesterday, Greg Denham
(from Auburn's Calvary Chapel) called to invite
us to get involved with them in a community
outreach on July 28th and 29th. I told Greg that
I had just opened a sealed 'Visitor's Packet' at
our Outreach Meeting last Sunday. He's a good
guy. He's always the first to offer a prayer at
the end of conversation.
I met Alisha Rosenau
in person last night. We had interacted some
over the Internet while she was still in Mexico.
She'll be home for the summer.
Today, a fellow named
Terry
returned my call. He's a gifted guitarist who
had given several years of his life to ministry
at BellRoad. I had called him to talk about
music--hoping that he might wanna come back and
help me with the challenges ahead.
But, alas, he is now firmly grounded in an
exciting ministry at Bayside Church (near
Roseville). Still, Terry has agreed to pray with
me about seeing God bring us
Daniel Teale (below).
He wants to see the kind of ministry happening
at Bayside (100 people a week getting saved...)
occur through 'any' church in Auburn.
Yeah, pray for BellRoad with me, Terrry!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Late posting today...due to being in a long,
vision-driven chat with Brandon (our youth
leader).
I cc'd Brandon to another vision-driven chat
with my Australian friend, Daniel Teale
(still working on getting
him to come to the foothills and fulfill all
righteousness...).
Here's his myspace profile (click on the frame).
I met Daniel through his YouTube postings.
I had a talk about Baptism with
Cerissa
yesterday. So, I'm looking forward to that.
Cathy, Mary, and I are heading up to Auburn
today. It will be a busy weekend for the church.
Alicia is
coming home from her long-term Mexico mission
and will be presenting on Friday. One of our
graduating seniors,
Caitlin, is completing her Senior
Project at the church on Saturday night. She is
raising money for the Union Gospel Mission with
a benefactor's dinner.
Caitlin has asked me to perform some
music as part of the evening.
So, there is a wave-of-activity that I've gettin'
ready to jump on and ride through Sunday
(Father's Day).
Last night, Cathy and I finally watched Will
Smith's movie: The Pursuit of Happyness (a true
story). I kept hearing that it was sad...and
about 'homelessness'...but not much else.
It was an important film for us because we have
a background in being part of the process in
helping people who are on the outside looking
in.
The important meetings and chats of the last few
days are likened to seeds that have been
planted. So, this entry simply waters the
Outreach Meeting, the Membership Class, the
Baptismal Formula, the monthly Remembrance, the
Sermon Series, BellRoad University, Sunday
School, the Artist-in-Residence Program, etc.
Cathy and I are on-the-move...to live in the
foothills. So, its gonna be a whirlwind of
activity ahead. MUCH prayer requested.
The chats are safely stored and excerpts will be
shared upon request by those who show an
interest in VISION.
Brandon is trying out a new website for his
youth group. Gmail targeted me with this site.
The software's analysis of my keywords must
figure that I might be interested in this new
service by a bay area Dad. Brandon and I talked
about the issues and felt needs involved with
this ad:
click here for Eye to I (this is just
research...)
....and then, there's the case of one of our
newest members: Christy.
She's on myspace. Check out her high school graduation photo!
Meanwhile, Christy is probably the youngest
member of our Genesis class. Well,
Christy (and
Kurt) have a business and I've
started to acquaint myself with their webpage:
Gold Financial
Services
We've chosen them to be our Mortgage Broker.
They are quite the couple. Kurt is soft-spoken
and Christy? Well, maybe this will help
you get to know her better. I'm thrilled that
they are onboard to help build up BellRoad.
Hey Christy,
I saw your Sunday vlog and posted a link on my
journal just now..... haha you've got
guts!!!
Well, we're gonna have some fun in the weeks
ahead...with the high-tech church at 707
Headquarters....
On my journal last week sometime, I gave a link
to a pretty cool video vlog site....Here is a
guy named Jim Howard, from Florida, who has been
experimenting with this stuff for some time:
click here
love, pastorob
Christy's reply:
Yeah some
people call it guts. My family says, “it’s
no brains.” I would say 99.99999% of the
world will never see it, and that .00001% that
does, will just hoot!
Maybe something will come of it. My business is
heading that way, which could be a good thing or
a bad thing depending on your outlook.
I remember when realtors first started to use
photos on their business cards or on their
ads. Of course the best looking photos got the
most response. Are we surprised by this? Nope.
People are artificial, but none-the-less,
technology has enabled us to “see” who we want,
when we want, and even though I don’t think you
can always trust your eyes, seeing is believing!
Christy
Click
here for Christy Sandhoff's gutsy vlogs
Monday, June 11, 2007
I haven't skipped this much journaling in
a long, long time. Listen to yesterday's
message and maybe you'll understand better why I
didn't write.
Hey, Paris Hilton
called Barbara Walters and said that God has
given her a second chance. The article doesn't
mention Jesus...but this might be a sign that
the Real God is at work in a small jail cell
down in L.A.
click here
Paris, when you get out, come on up to BellRoad
and learn about Jesus, OK?
Cathy and I had a time of refreshment yesterday
evening.
Another Sunday--having 'delivered the goods'--
I sighed a peace-filled release of contentment.
We spontaneously decided to pull off the road
and have dinner at Logan's in Elk Grove (around
9:00 p.m.) before making the final jaunt back to
Galt.
Such an encouragement:
Mike McCall visited BellRoad yesterday. I
asked him to come up on the platform and serve as
our Reader during the sermon.
This Monday morning has been invested thus far in the editing
of yesterday's message for broadcast purposes.
I
hope it will refresh your spirit...
CLICK HERE for Yesterday's Message:
Refreshment Time
At the end of the message, Mike and I shared a heartfelt public invitation to
receive Christ's gift of salvation:
an
A, B, C prayer
Cerissa, an
18 year old visitor, prayed from her seat and
gave her life to Jesus!
That made my day! Several people
ministered to Cerissa during the hour that
followed. She was welcomed into the family of
God with great joy by all.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
I never got that long walk with the Word yesterday. Last week I had made
a commitment to help deal with someone's family
issue so that's what I did for a couple hours...
At our prayer meeting last night, we read from Daniel 9 to reflect upon
the heart of an intercessor:
. . . in the first
year of his reign, I, Daniel,
understood from the Scriptures,
according to the word of the LORD given
to Jeremiah the prophet, that the
desolation of Jerusalem would last
seventy years. So I turned to the Lord
God and pleaded with him in prayer and
petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth
and ashes.
I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:
"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with
all who love him and obey his commands,
we have sinned and done wrong. We have
been wicked and have rebelled; we have
turned away from your commands and laws.
We have not listened to your servants
the prophets, who spoke in your name to
our kings, our princes and our fathers,
and to all the people of the land. . ."
We took turns reading while interjecting devotional
thoughts, then concluded the reading with 1:20-23.
While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin
and the sin of my people Israel and
making my request to the LORD my God for
his holy hill-while I was still in
prayer, Gabriel, the man I had
seen in the earlier vision, came to me
in swift flight about the time of the
evening sacrifice.
He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give
you insight and understanding. As soon
as you began to pray, an answer was
given, which I have come to tell you,
for you are highly esteemed. Therefore,
consider the message and understand the
vision:
Our time in prayer was encouraging to
me. I heard a sister ask the Lord to be generous
in giving His Spirit. That request blessed me
with a vision of the Holy Spirit being 'poured
out' in fullness upon the lives and
relationships in our church.
My son, Daniel, spent the night with me after the prayer meeting. He is
working all week for a church member.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
I had missed the last two weeks of Tuesday
prayer with area pastors. So, I drove to Meadow
Vista to meet with them yesterday. We prayed for
revival among us.
After work last night, Daniel drove back to
Galt. I stayed here in Auburn. Then Daniel is
planning to drive back up to stay with his
employer's house a couple days.
If you have time to check out a new TV blog site
being hosted in Israel. It is an interesting use
of the Internet. Here is a guy in Miami who is
reviewing a site:
He saw me online as a guest this morning and
greeted me. Here is a fellow, Jim Howard,
who has invested years using the Internet.
Obviously this type of study could absorb too
much time but as an introduction to
video-streaming sites, Jim's videos serve that
purpose.
Here is the site where I was the only viewer
watching Jim's show. He was curious about who I
was.
click here
Today, I have planned to dig into God's
Word--hard copy on a long walk. Tonight at 6:00 p.m. is our
prayer meeting followed by the Praise Team
rehearsal.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Daniel and I are up at 6:00 a.m. and about to
leave for the Men's Breakfast.
Last night, we went to Jimmy and Chet's last
night for a long-table, sit-down supper with
other guests: Heidi, Brandon, Tim, Robin, and
Clarisse (and baby Lukas).
Joe and Sharon called in from Laos around
midnight. They are seeking the Lord for how best
to invest themselves after the NAS trip ends for
them (July 24th).
Ben Rosenau has written from his Mission Trip in
Alaska.
CLICK HERE to
view his letter.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Stayed in Auburn till 9:00 p.m. last night.
Daniel drove to Auburn early this morning.
Planning to do some work for his Sunday School
teacher. I also plan to drive back there today
because I have an evening appointment.
We're moving ahead with plans to move to Auburn.
My heartfelt thanks goes out to a sister in
the church, Ann Reeves,
for working so diligently to help children and
adults experience discipleship this year through
TeamKids.
Here is an audio copy of yesterday's sermon. Ann
and others missed out because they immediately
began working on setting up for an after-church
picnic.
All Things
Common (23 minutes)
The entire series is uploaded on the
SermonPlayer at this page (click
here).
Mention is made of ongoing movement in the life
of a youngster known to Kaye and Frank. I hope
that they will tune in.
We had a few families visiting with us yesterday
morning. One was a pastor's family from South
Dakota.
Hello, Pastor Glen Peterson. I hope you make it
over to this page. If so, let me know.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
For today's message:
All Things Common
An excerpt from a pre-church chat this morning.
6:26 AM
joseph: hey papa
what time is it?
me: its 6:26 a.m. so, I'm up
getting ready for church departure. mama's
ironing my shirt
She says that she is VERY happy that you're on
the computer today
joseph: ok... VERY happy. We're happy too
Just dont know why--it is raining HARD
me: I just read your letter to Pastor
Shamas
Thanks for writing to him
joseph: just found out another set of my
friends are engaged
me: haha
bet you're happy that you're not sittin'
around---all single, and lonely--
watching your friends get married!
me: Is Sharon with you at the moment?
joseph: yes
me: mama says, "Hi Sharon!"
joseph: Hi mama
me: On my blog, I have photos from
Alaska...from Ben
He's on a NAMB mission trip there for the summer
After church there's a picnic at BellRoad
Daniel graduated last Thursday
joseph: cool
me: How long are you two gonna be in
Laos?
joseph: hopefully we can apply for the
India visa tomorrow
had a short conversation on Friday
maybe we can
or else, they will say GO to Philippines
if we can get the visa, we might go up north for
a few days and then back here to pick up the
visa, then down to Cambodia, then back to
Thailand
maybe 2 weeks
me: OK...
joseph: dont really know
me: hey, is it alright to publish most of
this blog for my entry today...
joseph: kinda enjoying our time relaxing
and listening to audio books
me: don't have time to write much...
joseph: after June19th it will get busy
me: and...
joseph: yeah, go ahead
me: it might be synergistic
joseph: and thanks for asking
me: OK, honey.
joseph: we're not just resting
me: so we're praying for you and the visa
situation
joseph: also doing independent study in
real estate, wealth management, audio tapes
we got them FREE
and I enjoy the positive tones
me: I spoke to Macdonald yesterday. he's
doing well
the Story continues...
joseph: Sharon and I recommend the movie
Music and Lyrics
Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant
me: not many are reading over our shoulders in
these days...but that's OK too
me: hmm...we've seen it
joseph: pretty great, except for the non
marital relations
me: WHY...do you recommend that film?
joseph: We thought it was cute and sharon
and I are songwriters
me: oh really?
joseph: it reminds her of the lyrics she
has written many years ago
just packed up in her notebooks
and I am known to write a littly PoP ditty
me: Does Sharon play any instruments or
understand music theory
joseph: *little.. she makes a joyful
noise
me: good....
joseph: and it's a sweet sound in His ear
me: I'm glad you've got some 'freebie'
audio to engage your minds and stir your
conversation
joseph: music is a good way to store up
those bits of knowledge,wisdom and truth
me: Mama says this is like having a cup
of coffee with you this morning
joseph: like Joseph said, there are 7
years of prosperity that come before the 7 years
of famine
me: hmm
joseph: you gotta store all the good
stuff away, before the trials come. that's part
of the way out when you are tempted toward any
kind of sin or unhappiness
We just can't wait to get up to Bell Road again
....
me: Yeah...so for us, we're heading off
to church (the storehouse)
We may not have a house in Galt by the time you get to California....
However, maybe you guys can camp out with
PunkRock Lisa... She's our church's 'homeless'
girl. I've mentioned her before in the
blog.
joseph: we may. we're considering buying
a mosquito net
the roof of the church looks like a cool place to camp
me: haha
Well, Cathy and I are off to church. Hope you've
enjoyed this short 'father-son' talk
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Cathy and I arose early this morning and headed
for
Angel Island to be with Steve and Marcie for
a Memorial Service. The life of David Legge (Davo) was commemorated through
Scripture, Song, and Story. We then scattered his ashes in the
San Francisco Bay.
Before we left, we had a nice chat with Joe.
He and Sharon are now in Laos. They just
celebrated the two-month anniversary of
their marriage. Upcoming travel will lead
them to meet up with the New America Singers
in India.
I received some photos from
Ben who is on a
summer mission trip in Alaska. Click on the
frame to see more.
Ben's mother will be editing his journal. I
will help them publish it. In church last
Sunday we specifically prayed for this young
man and his immediate work under the
guidance of our North American Mission
Board.
Friday, June 1, 2007
There is a young woman in our church who
enjoys listening to God's Word being
preached. On Sunday evening, I realized that
the recording of that morning's message was
missing about ten minutes. I asked
Patrice
to jot down what she could remember.
In her email, I discovered that
Patrice hears sermons
better than I preach them...
I really like the wording in her reflection
of Sunday's Lukan passage involving
Zechariah:
"Would praise come out
of my mouth after 9 months of
God's discipline? Or would bitterness and
anger come out?
What's going on inside, in the quiet places
of growth?
A churning of feelings or a praise of
thanksgiving?"
I encourage Patrice (and everyone else) to
keep listening and then share with your
pr(t)eacher(s)
what you have heard. Positive feedback will
surely spur them on toward the next time
they have opportunity to minister God's
Word.
Jerry, Mary, Cathy, and I went to Galt High
School last night to watch
Daniel graduate.
Afterwards, Daniel went to an all-night
event called "Safe and Sober."
Cathy is teaching today. I will be working
on my message for Sunday.
