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!