Happy Birthday Sheri!

Today is my sister Sheri's birthday. She is one of the most awesome people in the world. I lucked out in the sibling pool. Not so sure she did -with the little brother pool. But she has always been full of grace -even when I shot her. Wow. Think about that. How many sisters would keep that quiet for 10 years?
So glad we're related. It means she has to put up with me.
In fact, she has really spoiled me over the years. You would never see a cake like this one at her table. She does everything with excellence. More than that...she does it with love.
Hope you have an awesome birthday Sheri! I love you much!

Unshakable

My first week in the office at Canyon Hills was pretty cool. Pastor Wendell and Pastor Steve filmed segments for a new small group series they'd put together titled, "Unshakable". This study centers around the end times and a key scripture is Luke 21:31. "When you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near." Isn't it awesome to know that things are about to wrap up ...and we're on the winning side?
The DVD was beautifully produced by a man in the church who is a professional -and actually makes commercials for television.

Canyon Hills Assembly

Well, it's only been a week and I'm already in love with the whole church. lol My first day in the church office was last Tuesday. Executive Pastor Steve Vinson had said he'd like to start things out a little slower by just taking me to breakfast. When I arrived at the restaurant I discovered that the entire staff was also joining us -which was somewhere around 14 people. It was a little overwhelming as they put me at the head of the table. I'm sure there was some curiosity as to what the new guy would bring to the table -but I was met with smiles all around.

This past Sunday morning, Senior Pastor Wendell Vinson introduced me to the entire congregation and then had me go down the aisle to the foyer as he was dismissing everyone. He instructed them all to welcome me in. Was it ever a welcome! I was so encouraged by many who were very excited to get a choir singing on a regular basis again. I guess it's been a couple of years.
I can see I'm going to have to be very careful here when it comes to eating. When I first arrived at my apartment, the refrigerator and shelves were packed with food! The pastors had asked for a key to my apartment before I arrived. I was blown away by what they did. After church this past Sunday, the staff welcomed me for my first Sunday with a prime rib lunch.
Guess the gym better be one of my more frequent stops.

God Leads Us Along

I'm moving! After living in the Long Beach/Lakewood area for 25 years, I'm packing up my things and heading north. I'm very excited to say that Canyon Hills Assembly in Bakersfield has asked me to come on board. The pastors are Wendell and Lynda Vinson -who actually founded the church 25 years ago. Steven and Renee Vinson are the Executive Pastors. I actually worked with Renee's sister, Robin Garvin, for many years.
When I visited the church a few months back, I led them in the chorus of the hymn "God Leads Us Along":
Some through the waters, some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song
In the night season and all the day long

There have been moments in the past year when it was difficult to find a song to sing. But as tough as it got, I knew that God was orchestrating events to eventually compose a better symphony than I could've imagined. There were moments when I didn't have any answers at all. But we don't have to have all the answers when God leads us along. We've just got to follow Him.

Embrace The Adventure

Well, it's New Year's Eve. This day can be full of incredible anticipation for some -and apprehension for others -for what the new year will hold. Maybe these feelings get jumbled together for most and it's why we bring in the New Year with noise makers, just to let off some steam. Maybe we make the noise in the face of fear just to say, "Bring it on!" Maybe we're celebrating just having survived another year of life.
Last spring, I was in the middle of a pretty difficult time. It seemed that nothing was working out and discouragement was settling in. During that time, Aimana, Sindy and Taimoana were in town for a quick vacation. As they were packing for the airport, 5-year-old Taimoana noticed a little present someone had given me that hadn't been opened yet. He brought it to me and told me to open it. I was ironing a shirt and needing to leave for church so I told him I didn't have time right then. But this little guy persisted until I could resist no longer. When I opened it, I discovered that someone had given me a little plaque with these words on it:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


I recognized that God used little Taimoana to get my attention that day. This new year is a gift to us that is unopened as yet. As we open it, let's recognize that it is given to us from God Himself. He wants to give us a hope and a future. Don't focus too much on your feelings. They change like the seasons. Put your trust in the One who never fails, never lies, and never leaves or forsakes us. Then, embrace the adventure.

Car Dieu Est Si Grand

I'm so thankful to God for granting me my heart's desire for an adventure. Do you know that He's listening when you pray? He really is.
I've now posted a lot of pictures along with many of my blogs about my time in Tahiti this year. Now you can see I've got proof to back up what I've written! So you may want to take a look at some those.
I am humbled and incredibly grateful to the Jamet family- Yves and Mirella, Aimana and Sindy and Taimoana, Tama and Herehia and Hauareva, and Toimata for their incredible hospitality, generosity, sense of humor, and, most of all, their love. I feel that I have been grafted into their family. But that happened 11 years ago on my first trip to Tahiti.
I think the world could learn so much from Tahitians. They value people more than things. Their thoughts aren't fixed on how soon they can run out the door. They love people and their actions show it. They spend time just enjoying each other. That sounds like the Trinity to me.
Thank You, God, not just for the beauty of the islands, the delicious food, the exciting journeys, but for a place where I can see Your love overflowing from the hearts of Your people.

Youth Camp In Tahiti-Iti

Well, there was one last adventure for me in Tahiti. And if you can believe it, I wasn't even sure I wanted to go. The last time we'd been to this location, I'd cut my foot on corral and had to deal with the lemon. Also, it just seemed odd to go to the other side of the island to sleep in a tent the night before I was going to get on a plane to go home. But I was SO GLAD that I went! It's funny how I've desired the adventure and yet the predictable, routine, comfortable thing is still tempting. All through my time here I felt that God just kept whispering, "Embrace the adventure." So I did...one last time.
We drove until the road ended. Then we boarded a boat. When we arrived at the camp site, we set things up and then huddled under canvas as it rained for a few minutes. When the sun came out we had some free time just to kick a ball around. Then they divided the camp up into 4 different teams. That night they played game after game that involved learning other people's names. It was so cool -except that I still have an incredibly hard time with some of the Tahitian names. It was kind of a relief to hear a "Victor" and "Peter". It was amazing how quickly this group bonded together. They had my heart in no time.
The next day we had breakfast. It was fish, cooked on beach fires, and bread. There was a devotional and then we were off to hike in a valley. This hike included a stop at a burial site and an altar where human sacrifices were made many years ago. Later on, we rested at a beautiful place along a river where most of the Youth went swimming. I took a walk deeper into the woods -as I knew I'd be leaving soon. These woods were filled with beautiful green-moss-covered trees and sometimes vines and jungle-type terrain. The camp had an Indiana Jones theme and it couldn't have been in a better location. I half-expected a native to jump out with a spear.

What really struck me though is the difference in sound that day that one heard in the valley -compared to what must have been 200 years ago. I could imagine the screams of loved ones horrified with the sacrificial ritual. And then I thought of how awesome it is that today -laughter is heard there -from the children of God.
After a lunch of New Zealand corned beef with beans and lemon, we headed back to camp. It was time for me to go and suddenly I realized that Thierry Albert, the camp director, had gathered the whole camp together to say goodbye. They all started to sing a beautiful Tahitian song and I couldn't help but cry. Then they gathered around me and prayed. They followed us to the boat as I was saying my goodbyes to Toimata and Yves and Mirella. Then they waved as we pulled away from the dock. It was Mario's boat, the same one we'd taken to Hawaiki Nui, and suddenly he was putting my hands on the wheel. As I pulled the boat around the island, the Youth had run to the beach and were waving from there. I was glad to be distracted from the huge lump in my throat by the need to steer the boat.