It Is A Laughing Manner

I looked over today and saw gas for $4.13 a gallon. And that was the cheap stuff. I laughed. I actually laughed. That's not to say that I like the price of gas rising higher than Mount Everest. It just hit me that -regardless of high gas prices, God is with us. They can make us worry, they can scare us, but what's the point? God is with us. We've been through stuff like this before and we're still here! So worrying is wasted energy. Might as well laugh about it. The price of gas may be bad but the price of worry could be worse. It could affect your health.
Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
The doctors really should say, "Take two laughs then call me in the morning."

Off To India

Ashley, Jessy and Shawn Pallil recently took a trip to India to attend Jessy's sister's wedding. It was Shawn's first international flight and, by the looks of it, I think he was excited.
They were over there for three weeks -which felt like 3 years for us- but we were happy they were able to take the trip.
I asked them for pictures so that I could take it with them, at least, vicariously. Next time, I'm sneaking into the luggage.

Downtown For The Holiday

We had a great time at Downtown Disney on Memorial Day. Some of us came early to hit some rides inside the park -which wasn't all that busy at that hour. Then we took the Monorail over and had some lunch. Then we tried to work off our lunch with some of the games at ESPN Zone. (I lost an air hockey game to Louise Gardner. I'm demanding a rematch!) Here are a few moments I caught with my phone. I love the kid's table.

Psalm 46:10-11

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah"

Steven Curtis Chapman

Please keep Steven Curtis Chapman and his family in your prayers. They have lost their 5 year old daughter, Maria Sue, in a tragic car accident. His music has been an awesome source of inspiration to me -ever since I heard his very first album. One song from his "Speechless" CD was written to comfort families who had experienced the loss of a child.
With Hope
This is not at all how we thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you, we had so many dreams
And now you've gone away and left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say and nothing we can do
Can take away the pain, the pain of losing you,
but...
We can cry with hope, we can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope, 'cause we believe with hope
There's a place by God's grace
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more the wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home and now you're free
and...
We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything God promised is true
So...
We wait with hope and we ache with hope
We hold on with hope, we let go with hope

Got cheese?

Think Blue

Wowie Zowie. I believe that's a Greek term meaning...Wowie Zowie. The Dodgers had quite a game last night. The evening was a little odd at times. Homer Simpson threw out the first pitch. A hip-hop violinist played the National Anthem. And at one point the second baseman forgot that you have to tag a runner. (Thought they would've covered that at practice.)
It was a struggle against the Cincinnati Reds for awhile. But they tied it up and then DeWitt was able to hit a single at the end -but the bases were loaded. I just love it when a hitter comes up to bat at a moment like that. The air just feels electrified. Everyone gets on their feet in anticipation. He made it happen when it counted. And the place went nuts.

Blind Guides

I love how Jesus turns things around. A man who had been blind from birth was thought to have sin in his life, or his parent's life, that had caused his blindness. But Jesus set the record straight by saying that it happened so the work of God might be displayed in his life. Then it turns out that the blind man can see better than the scholars in the synagogue who had been studying all their lives. Suddenly they are the ones asking him all the questions. But they weren't willing to accept his answers and even admitted in regard to Jesus, "...as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from." I love the 'blind' man's response.
John 9:30-33 "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
I'd say it would be better to have been the blind man who experienced the power of God and a real revelation in his life -than to have studied all my life in the synagogue and never experienced or recognized the power of Jesus and the revelation of who He is. He was, afterall, the very One they were studying about and waiting for. Who's the blind one in this story?

Life's Ruff

On my way into the grocery store the other day I spotted these two in the parking lot. We've got some very affluent dogs in my neighborhood.

Gary's Truck Stop

I took a quick road trip with Gary last week. He had a few stops to make in Bakersfield and Fresno. His business, "Gary's Truck" has been in existence for over 10 years now. It hit me as he was walking into one office how awesome it is that he has stuck with it through all the ups and downs of starting a business. Many times he could have just thrown in the towel, (or the truck) but he just kept putting one foot in front of the other and just kept trusting that God was leading each step. He's got some pretty awesome stories of God's faithfulness.
I'm very thankful for his example of perseverance. Today's mindset is all about getting rich quick. They only think of the destination. But maybe in God's eyes the journey is more important than we think it is. Maybe He wants to spend time with us along the way, to encourage us not to give up through all the ups and downs, and not just at the end of the story when they all lived happily ever after.
So when you want to give up it might be good to remember these words...
Hebrews 10:36 "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
Sheri and I have gleaned so much from Gary and his experience -in regard to Faith Christian Assembly's Contemporary Service's first year of existence. Gary is our Church Administrator and a vital part of the leadership here. He's an awesome man of God, businessman, brother-in-law, husband, father, friend, and Sunday just happens to be his birthday. So happy Mother's Day Gary!

Spotlight On Music Ministry

Worship leaders should ask themselves if they're truly leading worship or just singing songs. Are you praying about what songs to lead? Are you willing to let God take you in another direction?
It's a little frightening for me to think about the fact that Lucifer was a worship leader. He got too attached to being the one up front and began to feel that he was the one worthy of worship. No wonder he got evicted.
As a worship leader you are to be like a magnifying glass. No one buys a magnifying glass just to look at it. They buy it to magnify something else. You are to become invisible and point people to the One who is truly worthy of all worship. It's a good idea to welcome the people, start the service with a smile, give direction...but then get out of the way. Don't talk too much. If you need to share a scripture or thought, do it at transitional times. Don't be afraid of silence or of just letting the people linger in the presence of the Lord. Listen for the Holy Spirit to lead you as you lead the people. Be willing to just sing a new song to the Lord. Even if you're the only one. Remember, they need to learn from you. So lead by example...and then let them spread their own wings and fly.

Matt's Jazz Band

Last Saturday I went to a Jazz Band Festival to see Matt Short's jazz band in action. They were terrific! And I give them extra points for playing so well in front of -not only an audience of friends and family members, but three judges ready to critique them after the performance.
The judge that spoke to their band had some great things to say. One point that stood out for me was her advice for each of them to find a successful artist of their particular instrument and listen and try to emulate some of the things that they're doing.
Dr. Charles Blair recently gave the same type of advice from our pulpit. He said we should study why people in the Bible were successful in their walk -and also study why others failed.
One of the successful ones was certainly Paul who followed the most successful One who has ever walked the planet.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you."

You Don't Know The Power Of A Doggie Biscuit

Wow, it's getting dangerous around here. Between bake sales and birthday celebrations, feasts at friend's houses and my own propensity to munch at home, it's time to get back to eating right and exercise. Think I'll write a song..."Don't Grow Weary In Eating Salad". Prayer for the day: "Lead us not into the cookie aisle at Ralphs but deliver us from junk food."

May Day

Well, it's May Day in Los Angeles. Hopefully this will be a peaceful one. But it amazes me that people think illegal immigrants should have the same rights as American citizens. In my mind this has nothing to do with racism. It has to do with obeying the laws of the land.
What is more frightening than that, however, is how many people believe themselves to be a citizen of heaven -and yet aren't willing to do what's required in order to live there. They rewrite the Book to allow themselves a loophole.
But the Creator of heaven itself has something to say about it.
Psalm 50:16-21 "But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son. These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face."
It's always best to find out what God would say rather than base our beliefs on our own feelings and interpretations. Those can change like the wind.