The family that splits peas together...

While looking for just the right picture to put up for my Dad's birthday, I stumbled across these two. Just this past Sunday, Louise and John were telling me that they were going to make split pea soup this week. It instantly brought to mind the many times my family would stop at Andersen's as we travelled up and down the coast in our motor home. You'll notice that the ones holding the sledgehammer are, respectively, my Dad ...and Sheri! She splits peas in this fashion to this day.

It's kind of wild to me that you could open a restaurant based on split pea soup. But have you tried it? How smart it is to promote what you can do incredibly well. If it weren't in the title, I probably wouldn't have tried it.
I got a kick out of John. He told me that once he went to order a hamburger there and his dad kind of scolded him for it saying, "Do you see anyone else here eating a hamburger? Get the soup!" I suppose it's like going to a Chinese restaurant and ordering an enchilada.

Put Another Candle On The Birthday Cake

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday Pastor Vaughn
Happy birthday to you!!!
(...and many more)

In honor of Pastor Vaughn's birthday, fireworks will be going off around 9:30 tonight in Anaheim...around the vicinity of a theme park.

A Short Visit

Yes sir. That's our own Dave Short shaking hands with the President of the United States! He was touring Robinson's Helicopter in Torrance and wanted to know how to make a mean pineapple upside down cake. Dave filled him in.
Dave told me that security was incredibly thorough. The secret service had arrived several days early to check things out. Also, for added protection, they kept a terminator nearby.

Put Your Heart Into It

Beth Moore has written a book titled, "Get Out Of That Pit". I love her humor and her honesty. Most of all I love what God has done in her life. At one point she writes:
"If you're like me, sometimes you want Him to bend the rules for you and bless your disobedience or half-heartedness. Who doesn't want a shortcut? Don't we all want God to bless our marginal cooperation with mammoth results? A powerful anointing? A stunning harvest? An entirely altered family life? A final farewell to addiction?"

Ouch. It's a good reminder that some things are just going to take a lot of time and effort. A lot of work. You've got to put your heart into it. All your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
This conditional promise comes after the scripture that talks about the plans that He has for us -to prosper us and not to harm us -to give us a hope and a future.

Hi Yo Silver, Let's Pray

Well, I've been losing some weight lately. I'm down about 25 pounds from what I think was an all-time high for me. My gym has been very helpful. When you get going on those cardio-vascular machines and there's a bunch of people around you doing the same thing, it can be very motivating to press on. If I was just the only one in the gym I think it would take more effort to get going.
That's kind of how I feel about our Tuesday Night Worship and Prayer Meeting. Sometimes at home there are just too many interruptions and distractions. Those things can make it tough to focus and really get down to business. So instead of being a Lone Ranger pray-er, why not join us for an hour on Tuesday nights? We get here, we worship, we get down to business, and we make a difference for the kingdom.
Romans 12: 11-12 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Don't Give Up On Him

This little guy just looks like he's up to something. While some of the other sheep may just roll their eyes as he heads out the door, that's never the Good Shepherd's reaction. He goes off to find him and to bring him back where he belongs. And once the little guy is home again, it's party time.

Luke 15: 4-7 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Contemporary Service Party

Well, last Friday night was a blast at Karin's house EVEN THOUGH, as you can see, she did not remove the scale from her kitchen. Undeterred, I tackled a little of everything on the dining room table. Wow, our people can cook! I wouldn't mind this happening more often.
Karin was so sweet to let us stampede -and even provided a heating lamp so we could graze late into the evening hours. Her backyard was just made for parties. However, there was a scary looking gnome eyeing us the whole time. Next time we'll pray over that guy.

Now We Are One

Well, like the kid pictured here, our Contemporary Service is now one. Tonight...WE PARTY! So thankful to Karin Kefalas for opening her home for us to smash cake into our faces. The last time we had a celebration at Karin's house, I couldn't help but notice that she had a scale in the kitchen -of all places. I had to step around it to get more whipped cream for my strawberry shortcake. But I believe she's moved it out of there for our convenience. Tonight, I'll probably have more cake in my mouth than on my face. Sheri's making my fav...pound cake. Hallelujah.
So...Happy Birthday Contemporary Service! We are so thankful for everyone who calls it home. We love you.
Phil. 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Fooled You

Went to a great little Japanese restaurant around the corner today. Had the teriyaki beef plate. It was quite tasty.
About 20 years ago I went to China. One of the dishes was announced in Chinese as it was placed on the table. When we asked our interpreter what they'd said, he announced nonchalantly that it was dog. I tried many different things on that trip but I just wasn't in the mood for Lassie at that point. Although we were told that when they're cooking dog in Southern China it smells so good...you don't care what it is. Just for the record...I care.

Pier Cafe

While in San Diego, I took a walk through SeaPort Village and spotted this place. The thought of eating there made me a little nervous. I was wondering if there was a weight limit to the restaurant and if they weigh each of the customers to make sure they're not exceeding it. Scale or no scale, I'd rather plant myself on a firm foundation. The wise man built his restaurant...on a rock, you know.
Matt. 7: 24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

BAM!

Beast Takes A Break

As you can see from this picture of me, I really needed to get away. I was turning into quite a monster. It would've been nice to go somewhere exotic like Tahiti, or the Amazon, or Fontana. But it wasn't in the budget this time around.
I did however put a few dollars together to go down to San Diego for a couple of days. For many years I've gone there the week after Easter to attend MusiCalifornia -a conference that exhibits the latest and greatest choral music. But this year was different. This year it was personal. A personal time for God and me. And He put some wind back into my weary sails.
Matt. 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."