So it has been a long time since I have posted and it is probably a good thing. I may have said things I would have regretted later, or maybe not. Things have been pretty stressful at the church over the past few weeks. With our new pastor celebrating his one year anniversary at the church, I can honestly say the honeymoon is over for him. There are a few "vocal" people that want to rock the boat and are against anything he or I try to get going at the church. This really came to a head this past week when the nominating committee told our pastor that he didn't have any say in who they recommend to serve on the personnel team and the stewardship team, and then they proceeded to nominate people that have created some of the greatest disunity in the church. Also this week, one member (head deacon's wife) informed me that she wasn't going to fill out the background check information required to work with students and children because she was afraid of "identity theft." When I told her she had a greater chance of identity theft giving her credit card to the waitress at a restaurant then using a secure website on the internet, she didn't understand and said she was going to consult an attorney. This same lady has created a lot of disunity in the church as well.
So, needless to say the past two weeks have been a real trying time at the church and stressful at home as well.
Other than that, I have been staying pretty busy with the ministry, home life and coaching baseball at Faith Christian High School here in town. It has been a real joy to get outside and work with students on one of the games I love. Prior to the season, my friend (the Athletic Director) and I built new dugouts at the school, which was a larger project than either of us thought prior to the job. However, we got them done and they look pretty impressive, if I do say so.
Well, that is it for now. If you would, please pray for Todd and I at the church and that we continue to follow God's leading. Also, pray for me as I continue to prepare for the trip to Brazil in July.
Bob
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The Holidays are upon us!
Well it has been a month since I posted last. Not sure who really reads these anyway. So we are right in the middle of the holiday season. Is anyone getting tired of people wanting to take Christ out of Christmas? I am not talking about the whole "X-mas" thing, I won't get into the X standing for Christ in the Original Greek.... oh yeah I just did. I am really talking about people at Wal-mart and other stores not being allowed to say "Merry Christmas," only "Happy Holidays." You can say Happy Holidays on New Years, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July...etc. They are all happy holidays. How many of you have a holiday tree? We have a Christmas tree. It only comes out at Christmas. We refuse to bring it out for any other holiday. Although I guess that could be a new selling point for "those" trees. So if they are a holiday tree, why do you only see them in stores over Christmas? I expect them to be in Wal-mart on July 4th. I may want one then.
Sorry about the rant...just wanted to fill a post (haha).
So for the holidays we are headed to Escondido to see my family for Christmas and then off to Long Beach for the Tsunami Student Conference. This month just flies by with Christmas parties (2 adult parties, 1 youth Party, 1 children's party, 1 office party (Michelle's), not to mention the school things, Scouts, parade, the list goes on.) Michelle and I were asked just this Tuesday if we would lead a couple Hot Topics at the Tsunami Conference the 27th. We have taught one entitled "Balancing Marriage and Ministry" before and I was pondering it again. That is until I notice my already frazzled wife getting more frazzled (if possible). Then God hit me with a 2x4. "Hey dummy, do you really think it would be good to lead a seminar on balancing your marriage and ministry at the expense of your wife's saneness?" Okay, so it wasn't audible, but I got the point. I am trying to not take on more ministry things at the expense of my family. When all is said and done, they are more Important to me than the ministry I am called to. You can agree or disagree with me (comment if you want), but I believe I am to honor God first in my relationship to Him, then my family, then my "Job" (ministry). Fortunately I have a pastor that agrees with me. So we are doing Tsunami with our students, but we are going as a family and spending some quality time together while we are there.
It is a busy time indeed, but don't forget to take time out to remember the real meaning of Christmas, and also spend time with the family.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Just Checking In
So it again has been a while sense my last post. It seems every time I commit to keeping things updated, I get busy and it stops again. Hmmmm...kinda like the Christian walk and beginning a quiet time. Oh well, had to throw that one in, I am a pastor and all.
So I am back from San Diego and the fires. I was there with 3,700 other youth workers for the National Youth Worker's Convention. I love this time at the convention. Lots of seminars to fill your day, great worship (Crowder was awesome), late night options, basically you could be involved in something from 7am until midnight everyday of the conference. So what did my schedule look like? Sleep in until at least 8am...head to breakfast, sit in a seminar (maybe) or walk around the nice hotel and spend time with just God, then head to the early worship time, then lunch, then again hit a seminar or go to the Fashion Valley Mall and just chill at the Apple Store, back to the conference center for dinner, it the late worship time and then back to my room to read or watch some sports game. That was it, except for the one day I headed up to Escondido (my home town) and see my family, played golf with my brothers (how's your game Tony?) and have dinner with my mom. Like I said, I love this convention. It is a great time to just relax and unwind from a year of ministry and sometimes stress.
So this past week on Halloween, I am driving my car to pick up my boys from school and I hear on the radio...CHRISTMAS music???? In October???? Don't get me wrong, my sons and I sang along to them all the way back to the church and then on the way home, but Christmas music in October? Then it came out of the mouth of my youngest son Nick (6 years old), "Dad, Doesn't all the music on the radio station we listen to talk about Jesus?" I said, "yes Nick." No wanting to bust his bumble the occasional time I hit the classic rock station. Then Nick says, "So then they play Christmas music all the time Dad, because they are always talking about Jesus!" Okay, so shut my mouth. I guess in many ways he is right. You gotta love it when you are preached to by a six-year-old. Can I get an Amen?
Now our church is doing its annual "Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner" this Friday. We have made some changes to it with our new pastor...that being the celebration part. We are not just coming to eat and do a raffle anymore (YEAH). We are now coming to celebrate what God has done in the life of the church body throughout the year. We are having testimonies, instead of cheesy barbershop quartets. We are preparing for the new year and what God has planned, instead of doing a cheesy raffle to win something you will place in your next garage sell. I am actually kinda looking forward to it.
Hope to hear from all of you soon!
So I am back from San Diego and the fires. I was there with 3,700 other youth workers for the National Youth Worker's Convention. I love this time at the convention. Lots of seminars to fill your day, great worship (Crowder was awesome), late night options, basically you could be involved in something from 7am until midnight everyday of the conference. So what did my schedule look like? Sleep in until at least 8am...head to breakfast, sit in a seminar (maybe) or walk around the nice hotel and spend time with just God, then head to the early worship time, then lunch, then again hit a seminar or go to the Fashion Valley Mall and just chill at the Apple Store, back to the conference center for dinner, it the late worship time and then back to my room to read or watch some sports game. That was it, except for the one day I headed up to Escondido (my home town) and see my family, played golf with my brothers (how's your game Tony?) and have dinner with my mom. Like I said, I love this convention. It is a great time to just relax and unwind from a year of ministry and sometimes stress.
So this past week on Halloween, I am driving my car to pick up my boys from school and I hear on the radio...CHRISTMAS music???? In October???? Don't get me wrong, my sons and I sang along to them all the way back to the church and then on the way home, but Christmas music in October? Then it came out of the mouth of my youngest son Nick (6 years old), "Dad, Doesn't all the music on the radio station we listen to talk about Jesus?" I said, "yes Nick." No wanting to bust his bumble the occasional time I hit the classic rock station. Then Nick says, "So then they play Christmas music all the time Dad, because they are always talking about Jesus!" Okay, so shut my mouth. I guess in many ways he is right. You gotta love it when you are preached to by a six-year-old. Can I get an Amen?
Now our church is doing its annual "Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner" this Friday. We have made some changes to it with our new pastor...that being the celebration part. We are not just coming to eat and do a raffle anymore (YEAH). We are now coming to celebrate what God has done in the life of the church body throughout the year. We are having testimonies, instead of cheesy barbershop quartets. We are preparing for the new year and what God has planned, instead of doing a cheesy raffle to win something you will place in your next garage sell. I am actually kinda looking forward to it.
Hope to hear from all of you soon!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Ducks and For Sale Signs
Today is Wednesday and I am already exhausted. I have had late night meetings the past two days and it is catching up with me. Okay, so maybe my late night exploits on Sunday night have a little to do with my tiredness. Let me share with you a little about Sunday.
We went over to some friends house to watch the Cowboys stomp the Giants (sorry Eli). While over there we were sharing college & high school experiences of TP'ing, forking lawns, etc. So we (my friends and I, all over 35) decide that we need to do something to our new pastor's house. Since he moved into a new development the trees have not grown much which doesn't provide much for TP. We decide to set out pink Flamingos in his yard, but we don't have any. We head to the Super Wal-Mart (open 24hours) to shop. After browsing the garden department we find no pink flamingos. We ask an attendant, she tries to get us to buy the giant inflatable snow globe with Santa (why is Christmas stuff is out so early? That is another blog). We decide to head the Fishing and hunting area. We find 2 boxes of a dozen duck decoys. We then buy a For Sale sign, a couple "No Hunting" signs, we are in the Boonies. I find a jackle Lantern that is a Giant Golf ball. We make our purchases and head tot he pastors house. After writing on the for sale sign his name and cell phone number, we spread out the ducks and put the for sale sign and no hunting signs in his yard.
Monday the pastor comes into my office several times and doesn't say anything about the ducks. After a couple hours, Todd comes in and sits down. "So, you wouldn't happen to know anything about a flock or 24 ducks would you?" He thought I had a late t youth event and they were the guilty ones. When he finally found out who was involved he busted up. He now wants to know who else in the church we can get. What a Pastor!
Bob
We went over to some friends house to watch the Cowboys stomp the Giants (sorry Eli). While over there we were sharing college & high school experiences of TP'ing, forking lawns, etc. So we (my friends and I, all over 35) decide that we need to do something to our new pastor's house. Since he moved into a new development the trees have not grown much which doesn't provide much for TP. We decide to set out pink Flamingos in his yard, but we don't have any. We head to the Super Wal-Mart (open 24hours) to shop. After browsing the garden department we find no pink flamingos. We ask an attendant, she tries to get us to buy the giant inflatable snow globe with Santa (why is Christmas stuff is out so early? That is another blog). We decide to head the Fishing and hunting area. We find 2 boxes of a dozen duck decoys. We then buy a For Sale sign, a couple "No Hunting" signs, we are in the Boonies. I find a jackle Lantern that is a Giant Golf ball. We make our purchases and head tot he pastors house. After writing on the for sale sign his name and cell phone number, we spread out the ducks and put the for sale sign and no hunting signs in his yard.
Monday the pastor comes into my office several times and doesn't say anything about the ducks. After a couple hours, Todd comes in and sits down. "So, you wouldn't happen to know anything about a flock or 24 ducks would you?" He thought I had a late t youth event and they were the guilty ones. When he finally found out who was involved he busted up. He now wants to know who else in the church we can get. What a Pastor!
Bob
Thursday, July 26, 2007
New Computer & Stuff
Well it has been a while since I posted last (what else is new) and I am surprised my sister-in-law hasn't chewed me out yet. Lots of stuff has happened since my last blog. 1. Michelle wrecked our van (see her post). 2. Went to Vegas with my brothers and their families. We had a blast, played golf in 100 degree heat, went swimming, gambled a little...okay a lot! haha, just had fun. 3. Went to children's camp with my oldest son, Nathanael. 4. Went to youth camp. 5. Currently going through Vacation Bible School at our church. 6. Got a new Mac Book Pro Laptop. Not the 15 inch, we got the 17 inch babies. Yeah, that's right, finally joined the Mac family. Still trying to figure it all out, not that it is hard, I am just not a fast learner, haha. This laptop is awesome. Just as we were ordering them from Apple, they were just coming out with the new updated version of the laptop, so we held off a few days and were able to get hooked up good. We (Senior Pastor and I) also each received 80 gig video iPods. So, cool to have a pastor that cares about his staff. Looking forward to posting more, making videos, podcasting and anything else I can learn to do.
Well VBS ends tomorrow with a big tailgate party in our parking lot. We are having bounce houses, bbq hotdogs, and a dunk tank for the pastor and I to get in. I told him we needed to make that a fund raiser. I am sure there are several members that would pay a load of cash to throw a ball or two. Should be interesting.
Saturday, Michelle, the boys and I all fly out to Dallas at 6am to see her parents. We should have a great time. She hasn't seen them since they moved their in March and is looking forward to seeing them and their house. I ont he other hand helped them get settled and moved in, and it sounds like they have a few more jobs for me to do...curtain hanging and stuff. That is the job of the son-in-law...hehe. I will be happy to do it...really...no really!
See ya soon,
Bob
Well VBS ends tomorrow with a big tailgate party in our parking lot. We are having bounce houses, bbq hotdogs, and a dunk tank for the pastor and I to get in. I told him we needed to make that a fund raiser. I am sure there are several members that would pay a load of cash to throw a ball or two. Should be interesting.
Saturday, Michelle, the boys and I all fly out to Dallas at 6am to see her parents. We should have a great time. She hasn't seen them since they moved their in March and is looking forward to seeing them and their house. I ont he other hand helped them get settled and moved in, and it sounds like they have a few more jobs for me to do...curtain hanging and stuff. That is the job of the son-in-law...hehe. I will be happy to do it...really...no really!
See ya soon,
Bob
Monday, May 28, 2007
Quitter
Okay, so my loving Sister-in-Law calls me a quitter because I haven't posted in the past 2 months. So here I go with catching up.
We now have a new Pastor and he is all moved up here in beautiful Yuba City. We are now starting to really get busy on ministry. In summary, I have painted every classroom in our children's center (not just walls, but painting stripes, bright colors, painting the doors, ceilings, baseboards and wooden furniture), I painted the nursery rooms as well. We have started working on upgrading our sound equipment (wireless head set for the pastor, working on wireless mics for the praise team, new speakers), we revamped our media computer to handle Media Shout better (more RAM, better graphics card), we are looking at getting the staff some Mac computers (yeah). I am looking at a Mac Book Pro laptop.
Personally, I have began playing softball again, however, it takes me longer after the game to recover. I am also trying to get out at least once a month to play golf (miss ya Tony). We are starting to gear up for a busy summer. This year Nathanael gets to go to Children's Camp (CentriKid at Jenness Park), starting to feel old. I will be at CentriKid and CentriFuge, helping with VBS, working on Brazil trip for 2008, planning some sort of family vacation in there.
Well, I am heading to a Memorial Day Service in a few, I will write more at a later time...really I will.
Bob
We now have a new Pastor and he is all moved up here in beautiful Yuba City. We are now starting to really get busy on ministry. In summary, I have painted every classroom in our children's center (not just walls, but painting stripes, bright colors, painting the doors, ceilings, baseboards and wooden furniture), I painted the nursery rooms as well. We have started working on upgrading our sound equipment (wireless head set for the pastor, working on wireless mics for the praise team, new speakers), we revamped our media computer to handle Media Shout better (more RAM, better graphics card), we are looking at getting the staff some Mac computers (yeah). I am looking at a Mac Book Pro laptop.
Personally, I have began playing softball again, however, it takes me longer after the game to recover. I am also trying to get out at least once a month to play golf (miss ya Tony). We are starting to gear up for a busy summer. This year Nathanael gets to go to Children's Camp (CentriKid at Jenness Park), starting to feel old. I will be at CentriKid and CentriFuge, helping with VBS, working on Brazil trip for 2008, planning some sort of family vacation in there.
Well, I am heading to a Memorial Day Service in a few, I will write more at a later time...really I will.
Bob
Monday, March 26, 2007
Heading to Texas
Well I am hanging out at the Sacramento International Airport awaiting my flight to Dallas, Texas. I am on my way there to help Michelle's parents get all moved into their new house and help set up things like internet and surround sound. Michelle and the boys dropped me off last night at the airport hotel. I don't know how some people can leave their family so often. I hate saying good-bye even for a short time. Michelle is going to be the strong one having to deal with both boys and getting them ready for school each morning.
I have to say, I love technology. I received an email from a former church member that lives in Italy. She has neighbors there that are moving to Yuba City to be stationed at Beale AFB. They are looking for a church and she mentioned ours. They have a teenage son and he has already checked out the church website and the student ministry site, he has submitted his contact information into our database and i am already having some cool theological discussions with him and he is looking forward to the move to our area. Sure brings a whole new dimension into evangelism and outreach!
Well I am about ready to start boarding. I will try and put more here over the next week while in Texas. Maybe even a picture or two of the greatest football team's stadium...GO DALLAS! yeah whatever.
Bob
I have to say, I love technology. I received an email from a former church member that lives in Italy. She has neighbors there that are moving to Yuba City to be stationed at Beale AFB. They are looking for a church and she mentioned ours. They have a teenage son and he has already checked out the church website and the student ministry site, he has submitted his contact information into our database and i am already having some cool theological discussions with him and he is looking forward to the move to our area. Sure brings a whole new dimension into evangelism and outreach!
Well I am about ready to start boarding. I will try and put more here over the next week while in Texas. Maybe even a picture or two of the greatest football team's stadium...GO DALLAS! yeah whatever.
Bob
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