Trick or Treat...

Tonight was Taco Tuesday. Every week (at least that is the goal), Christel and I will meet up with Taylor, our daughter and her husband, David, and Hillary if she is available and we make tacos, or if time is pressing we eat out. We have been doing that since Taylor and David got married in December last year. Great way to keep in touch, especially during a pregnancy.

We met tonight at their new house and watched the Halloweeners trick or treat. First off, I am not a fan of Halloween. I have heard too many stories of the "dark side" of Halloween and what it does to a friend to sit back and enjoy it. I do eat the mini-Snicker and Baby Ruth bars.

Kids came up to the front door all dressed up in their ghoulish costumes except one kid who was dressed up in a carpenter's outfit. In fact he looked a lot like David, except he had a bag of candy. All the kids have been well trained to say "Trick or Treat," but very few of them said, "thank you." The little ones in the gorilla, Tinkerbell, butterfly, nurse, pirate, green hulk, hippie, costumes were very cute and one little cute-cute was adorable as King Kong, the dad had on a matching masks, but was wearing slippers. NO CANDY FOR HIM! Right after the little Kong came a group of high schoolers. TOO OLD. Come on! Get a job and buy the candy yourself. Grow up!

Churches crack me up because they think that they shouldn't celebrate Halloween but then they really do. I think that just because you are changing the name of Halloween to A Harvest Festival that it is still celebrating Halloween. There is candy, costumes, etc? Halloween. Doing something on October 31? Halloween. Reality Houses instead of a Haunted House, where they do tableaus of suicide, smoking pot, dirty dancing, abortions, traffic accidents, hell, etc... still Halloween and it freaks the kids out which makes it very Halloween maybe even more Halloween that Halloween. Next thing you know we will be doing something in the spring to celebrate the Spring Equinox fertility rites.

Ummm. Ignoring it is a good way of not celebrating it. Or what the heck celebrate it.

I live in a Reality House. It freaks me out. Come to my house and look in the bathroom and see where the hot water heater leaked and damaged the carpets and one wall. See where I have been waiting for plumbers and carpet people for the past few weeks trying to get them to come out when they said they would; then go into the garage and see my Montero, the SUV from hell with a blown engine; go out into the backyard and listen to our neighbors playing teenie-bopper music all day and night long (stop the madness!!); look in the living room and see Sierra the Golden Retriever, who we are going to have to put to sleep pretty soon because of bad kidneys and losing her hearing (or is that me?) and not to mention the cat that drools; Look on the desk and see the bills for the Montero, hell car, from two years ago and last summer. Then enter the twilight zone of light bulbs that burn out for no reason, milk cartons being put back in the refrigerator empty, toilet seats being left up, socks mysteriously missing from the dryer, and my wife coming into the living room and finding me fast asleep on my barkalounger with Die Hard 3 on the TV turned up at full volume. It gets curiouser and curiouser.

I really didn't have anything to say, just wanted to vent a little about Halloween and work off sugar high from the nine Snickers that I ate...

The Alternative...

The lies...

Time...

...to lose weight.

I would love to lose the weight again. I did it about five years ago. It took a lot of mind over pancake batter and other delicious treats. It was then that I hurt my back. And my stamina was greater and now it seems weak and discouraged. I eat as a way to enjoy life during stressful times. I like to cook and then eat that which I like to cook. It is great for conversations. But the short stick is that it is not good for my health and my mental health.

I would desire your prayers as I begin to ask the giver of Life to give me the mind and heart to tackle this feat.

I do love peanut M&Ms...

David and Taylor's new house...

This is the house that David built...

There is something about being at the right place, at the right time, with a camera...

Napa was good to us...

We had a great, quiet, few days in Napa. We were able to spend some time with Simon and Natasha, read some novels, be quiet, eat some great soups. No cars to worry about, issues that warranted our attention other than where do we want to eat. We ate at ZuZu's, a downtown tapas restaurant; La Taquiza, for some great fish tacos; Angèle and Napa General Store, two nice restaurants within the Napa River Inn, the hotel where we stayed. We had French Onion soup and a potatoe and turnip soup which were very good at Angèle and a vermicelli and meat salad at the Napa General Store.

A few days away can clean out many cobwebs, change some attitudes and decisions, and hopefully give us some perspective to that which lies ahead.

Mellow, very mellow...

On a holiday...

Christel and I are taking a few days in Napa after a couple of ugly weeks...

A Surprising...

I spoke at a men's conferences this weekend, for 1st Presbyterian Church, San Luis Obispo and Community Presbyterian Church, Cambria, at a conference center called Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria. Small intimate group of men, mostly engineers and other highly developed left side of the brain and what I also found was a highly developed heart.

I loved these guys and they loved me. Not sure they knew what to do with me at first but conversations around the dining table and to and from the meeting rooms were soul quenching. I am always anxious at men's conferences, might be because of some past issues and scars, but each time I gather and allow myself to be vulnerable I find them willing to open up and give me a place in their circle. I heard some of their wonderful stories during the small group times which followed my talks.

These were good men, many retired, ready to laugh, ready to hang out, and very open to the spirit.

I thought I would love to hang out in their churches, then realized that I am sure there are some excellent men at my church, if I would just give them a chance.

It was especially great to see Brian, Scott, and Josh from CalPoly, who I got to serve with this summer. They came to the conference as gave me a lot of encouragement. They are always a blessing to me in their encouragement, hard work, they're funny and extremely bright. Deep faith and love for the Savior and the church. Thanks for being there guys and for the photo...

Just bought a pickup...

I had to buy a new car after my Montero Mitsubishi bit the dust. So I bought a pickup. 1996 Ford F150, no bells, no whistle, just AC, AM/FM. Very spartan...

Update: Nellie...

Nellie got a good word from the lab stating that her numbers are back in a safe zone, regarding non-clotting. Her spirits seemed better today.

Thankful, very thankful.

Incredible...

I just got back from a Jonny Lang concert in Fresno. It was very good. Very good. I thought I would be the oldest guy there, but there were mostly people my age. Blues brings out the older ex-hippies. There were people that I use to see when i was going to BB King, Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and many other concerts during the 70's. Haven't been to too many since. Don't care too much for crowds. I should go more. I do go to operas and stage shows with Christel. But this was great blues.

Jonny Lang is about 25, been playing professionally since he was 14. He is very good. He is also living a life of faith and his new songs reflect this journey. A great article in Christianity Today here.

The ticket was a gift from my good friend, Dan Kimball. Thank you my friend for a night I will remember for a long time. Incredible...

Still pray for Nellie...

Nellie's recovery from an out-patient surgery a few weeks back has not been as good as we had hoped. She hasn't been feeling well and they are still trying to get her blood levels right with Coumadin, an anticoagulant drug, to keep her from causing more blood clots.

For the inquiring mind, her physician is in contact with her, as is the Coumadin Clinic. They don't seem to be overly concerned but they are staying alerted.

Nellie is ready to get back to work and play and is a bit frustrated. We miss her around the watercooler...

Good music...

Every once in a while someone comes out with an album that is very unique and impressive. Sting's new album, Songs from the Labyrinth, is one. I know it isn't Rod Stewart doing some of the oldies, well maybe it is because it is music from 16th century composer John Dowland, one of the first singer/songwriter. Sting, along with Edin Karamazov, play the lute and sings some incredible lute-song melodies. Check it out. Interestingly, it came out on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

It is soothing, I need soothing...

Vicarious pride...

I am as stoked when someone leaves a season at Calvin Crest to become a chef as when they become a reverend. Josh Haas was part of the first generation CommonFIRE folk who was influenced by Sean Oldroyd to fine culinary arts. I remember my first staff interview with Haas and falling in love with him when I asked him what he wanted to be doing in five year and he said he wanted to open a bakery. Well, he did was written up in the The Fresno Bee as he has a number of times this past year or so. He is well thought of in the area and we are all very proud of him. Congrats Haas!

The article on Josh is no longer available from The Fresno Bee...

Hat tip to Jamie for the heads up on the article. Who, by-the-way, celebrated her proverbial 29th birthday yesterday up in our neck of the woods around the teppan yaki table at Oka's. I crashed the party and had a great time. Laughter I haven't had in quite a while. Thanks Brad for footing the bill. It was a healing and a filling.

I hope this doesn't get lost in the male...

My wife, Christel, told me a while back that the blog is likened to the city gates of old. In old Hebrew days the men would stand around the gates of the city talking, bragging, making business deals, getting and giving advice, etc. while the women were probably home working and raising the kids. (Not a slam, just the facts) It was how business was conducted then. Thoughts developed and executed. Partnerships and friendship nurtured as well as arguments and disagreements. Things started there. Conversations continued on the walk home in quiet and in thought.

How do we begin something new? A quiet conversation which leads to contemplation, which leads to rumination, which hopefully leads to action. This past month of deep introspection and pain has led me to some thinking and conversations and I am hoping some actions. I have bitched a lot about the church being dead and hung up on consumerism but I really haven't done much to change anything around me. I run a christian program but do I do anything personally. I have a new fire in my belly. A calling or is it a conviction?

I am challenged to begin a practice of reaching out to the neighbors in need around us. I am thinking about including summer program as well as CommonFIRE. Nothing huge, just asking what do they need done. Give one hour to spell a single mom from her kids, tutor, give piano or art lessons, sweep, bake two loaves of bread and give them one or both, take out the garbage, go shopping for them, sit and listen to them, bring some tea or cold water, advocate for them with a landlord, etc.

Can I challenge you to do this with me? No Bible studies, no taking them to church, nothing like that unless they ask. Simply meet their needs. Bring salvation to them for an hour. Develop an hour towards eternity. Don't preach, love. Don't expect anything in return, freely give. Don't make this a church thing, make it a personal relationship with Jesus gone public. From the Spirit into the Flesh (yes, Bill, we call that incarnation ministry).

Time to move away from the gates boys and girls and into the neighborhood... or should I say into the Kingdom.

Sign of the times...

I am working on my budget and it asks a lot from me.

I put a sign on the door that said,

CAUTION:
I am using the left side of my brain...

How then shall we live...

I will tell you I haven't been impressed with anyone as I have been last week with the Amish people of Lancaster, PA. A group of people who through major decisions to live a life that is following the teachings of Jesus.

An excerpt from a web page on the Amish beliefs...

"I understand your belief in nonresistance and pacifism. Does this principal extend to personal situations where you are confronted with imminent evil - say a known murderer confronting you and your family in your home? Can you use force to preserve your life in this situation? To what extent? What is the Biblical basis for your position?"

"Both Amish and Mennonites are committed to a lifestyle of peace and non-violence. Yes, this pervades every aspect of life. However, no one can predict with certainty how anyone would really react to an absolutely unprecedented crisis such as described above. Emotions as well as thoughts are involved and the situation is personalized. Having said this, we would hope that as people who have practiced a lifestyle of peace, we would not resort to force and violence in a crisis situation such as the one described.
We must briefly make several points:

There is no assurance that use of force would save my life or the life of my family if confronted by an attacker.
We could recall many accounts of unhoped for deliverances, whether by mediation, nature, or divine Providence, when Christians refused to use force when confronted by an attacker.
If the result is death at the hands of the attacker, so be it; death is not threatening to us as Christians. Hopefully the attacker will have at least had a glimpse of the love of Christ in our nonviolent response.
The Christian does not choose a nonviolent approach to conflict because of assurance it will always work; rather the Christian chooses this approach because of his/her commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.
The analogy to war in the situation described above tends to break down when we think of the vast preparations for war -- accumulation of weapons, training of the military, etc. War is planned and seldom is aggression so clearly defined with the defense staying on its home turf.
Some of the Biblical references for peace and non-resistance are: Matthew 5:38-48; John 18:36; Romans 12:18-21; and I Corinthians 6:18."

The Christian does not choose a nonviolent approach to conflict because of assurance it will always work; rather the Christian chooses this approach because of his/her commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. I don't hear this from anyone! Anyone!!

This is having deep stirrings in my soul.

A driver's license...

This week my youngest daughter Hillary got her driver's license. She waited until she was eighteen and passed with flying colors. She has more confidence today than she did at 16 which, I think, was why she waited.

As a dad, I realize that I am finishing up a lot of duties with Hillary getting a driver's license. I took all the kids to the DMV to get them and sat in the waiting room while the DMV guy, who rarely smiled, got in our car and took them through the paces.The kids left a awkward smile, showing a mixture of fear, grief, confidence, and a certain look in their eyes like "this is the beginning of freedom! They would come back in with a muted smile and look at me and I would give them an inquiring glance and they would nod so as not to get too excited for such an austere place. But when we walked outside with the paper declaration of freedom we would hug and the smile would explode on their faces as sigh of relief came from their DNA, "they passed!!!" I would take them back to school and they would then want to borrow the car for whatever was happening that night.

She was the last one. Next time I am waiting like that at the DMV will probably to see if Christel or I pass the driver's test because we are too old and starting to get confused on the road and are seeing a lot of people giving us the finger.

A Thursday with Nellie...

I called a little meeting yesterday with the Cosbies, Piñas, and McKenzies and was delighted to see Nellie for an hour. When she walked in she looked great but as the hour wore on the idea tired her out. It was great to see her out of the hospital and at 5000 feet. For the inquiring mind, she was well cared for and was laying down on the couch during most of the meeting...

Let's take this to the next step...

If you are a Calvin Crest Alumni will you write me a quick email and tell me about the community of Calvin Crest from your perspective. Don't talk about the people as individuals but the community. I am not asking for an endorsement, because I know there are people out there who would never do that, I am only asking about the gestalt* of the community. Capiche?

IF you are not an alumni but have heard something about the community you can write too.

This is important to me RIGHT NOW and I will tell you about it soon. But RIGHT NOW it would be good for you to tell US.

My email is progdir@sti.net


* gestalt |gəˈ sh tält; -ˈ sh tôlt| (also Gestalt) noun ( pl. -stalten |-ˈ sh tältn; -ˈ sh tôltn|or -stalts) Psychology an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.

Rain...

October greets us
With a soft kiss and hug
Autumn colors begin