The Friend Forum

Justin Bieber’s Faith and Challenges

2011-11-07T07:02:00.000-08:00

I must confess that I have never heard him sing or act, or do whatever he does, but I am encouraged by this discussion.

Justin Bieber’s Faith and Challenges

I'm back....

2011-09-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

After over a year on hiatus I'm back at the insistence of Seth Godin.

See Me On FACEBOOK!

2010-02-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

Today I am officially shutting down my blog. This is my last post. It has been fun, but it seems that interest is moving towards the social networking area and I will be focusing my attention there. Thank you to all who have followed. Feel free to contact me via email or become a friend on Facebook.

Human Trafficking in Cambodia

2010-02-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

A recent story in the Phnom Penh Post tells of a trial being held for several people involved in child abuse and human trafficking. The victim, an 11-year old girl was sold in 2008 for $400 and was regularly abused by her "owners". Hagar International rescued her and helped find a loving foster family. She is also in school now. It is estimated that around 28,000 children are working as domestic help in Phnom Penh. I am glad that these cases are being published so that the world can see what is going on and hopefully the Cambodian authorities will redouble their efforts to combat these crimes.

Read the story here.

Female Church Planters

2010-01-28T17:32:00.000-08:00

My good friend and colleague Rebecca Tucker is starting a conversation about female church planters. For the next 4 Saturdays she will post her thoughts on her blog. Here is the schedule:

jan 29: women church planters and networking
feb 5: women church planters and church growth
feb 12: women church planters and exclusion
feb 19: women church planters and loneliness

Please pass this on to church planters or other interested people. I think it will be a good conversation.

Read it here.

What Is Your "Ministry Age"?

2010-01-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are leaders in the church, Leadership Journal had an interesting survey to calculate your "ministry age"? I'm not sure how accurate it is, but my ministry age is 28. I love working with people who are between 18-35 years old and hope to do more of it in the future.

What is your ministry age?

Read about it and take the survey.

Pirated CD's in Cambodia?

2010-01-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, can you help me here? In my trips to Cambodia the only CD's, Software or Movies that I saw that I suspected were NOT pirated were a couple of Christian music CD's by local artists at the Christian Bookstore in Phnom Penh. That's why I am confused that the government crushed 400,000 pirated CD's recently. According to a news story:

Movie and music piracy is commonplace in Cambodia, and many shops openly sell copies of both foreign and local movies and CDs for between USD 1 and 2 apiece.

Here's the whole story.

Fun Christmas Video

2009-12-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the Holidays....

ME BE GONE from Two Rivers on Vimeo.

Triathlon for the Rest of Us

2009-12-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

If I start training now I think I might be able to enter this Triathlon in Emeryville (CA). It will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010. It is called the Shortest Triathlon Ever. The three events are:

100 yard Swim (in a heated swimming pool)
2.5 mile Bike (flat ride throughout Emeryville)
2.1 mile Run (flat course through Bat Street)

Read all about it.

PAINT Art

2009-12-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

My mother, Clarice found a new media for her her art. She has been using the PAINT program that comes with Windows. Pretty amazing. I tried it and wasn't nearly as creative. Here is some of her artwork.

Here is my favorite...

Anglican Mission in the Americas

2009-11-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

While visiting TJ in Wheaton, Illinois, we spent some time with his friend Jane Beal. She attends Church of the Resurrection nearby. I discovered that her church is associated with the Anglican Mission in the Americas, a Charismatic Anglican group that formed in 2000. They are under the oversight of The Anglican Province of Rwanda. Just this year Todd Hunter, former leader of the Vineyard and more recently of Alpha USA, became a Missionary Bishop in the Anglican Mission in the Americas. He heads up Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO), a church planting arm focused on starting Anglican churches in the Western US. Their goal is to start 100 new churches in 10 years, and then 100 more in the next 10 years.

Very interesting!

Looking Forward To A New Assignment

2009-11-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

I recently resigned as Pastor of Denair Friends Church and moved back to our house in the SF Bay Area two hours away. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve there for almost seven years. Pat and I made many friends in and outside of the church. We will miss everyone. I have been exploring several job and ministry opportunities and am excited and optimistic about our future.

Riding The Rails In Cambodia

2009-11-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

Something new to try on my next trip to Cambodia...

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Parts 7 & 8

2009-10-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

We have come the end of our series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I have learned so much from teaching this series!

In Part 7 we looked at Growing Into An Emotionally Healthy Adult. To become a mature adult we must examine our family of origin issues and our current state of emotional maturity. Most of us are afraid to delve into our past or critically look at our attitudes and behavior. But if we can do this it will start us on a path to freedom and inner peace beyond our imagination. After fearlessly looking into ourselves we are able to consider ways to move toward maturity. Four helpful steps include:

1. Take a Daily Temperature Reading. This helpful exercise helps to objectively analyze where you are in the process of maturity.

2. Allow Jesus to be Your Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:25-37). We get beat up just living in this world and are in need of a compassionate healer. This amazing Parable teaches us that Jesus wants to heal us and restore us to a place where we in turn can be the Good Samaritan to others in need of grace and compassion.

3. Practice His Presence in Our Daily Lives. Living a mature emotional and spiritual life involves connecting with our Creator on a regular basis. This connection bring refreshment and nourishment for the sometimes difficult journey of life.

4. Learn To Live With Others. Jesus invites us “to practice the presence of people” by loving them well. As we connect with God, we learn to be prayerfully present with people, thereby revealing to them how precious they are to God.

In Part 8 we looked at putting what we learned together to Go the Next Step and Develop a "Rule of Life". Together with the Daily Office and Sabbath, we form a plan to intentionally live out spiritual practices that help us mature spiritually. These practices are based on four areas of that the first church focused on. We see that in Acts 2:42-3:1 new followers of Christ:

Learned From the Apostles Teaching
Shared Their Lives and Possessions
Ate Together
Prayed Regularly

Here is an example of how we might put this rule of life into practice.

Thank You! Larry & Mileta

2009-10-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Northern California Friends Churches enjoyed a time of honoring Larry and Mileta Kinser at Fresno Friends Church. Larry's position as Director of Church Growth and Health for Evangelical Friends Church Southwest was recently eliminated after eight years.

Many people spoke about the positive and encouraging role Larry played in their lives. Larry's compassion, wisdom, and input will be greatly missed in our churches.

See more photos on my Facebook page.

Cambodia is a Nuke Free Zone

2009-10-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Cambodian National Assembly approved a law today that would ban nuclear weapons, bio-chemical weapons, radioactive weapons and chemical weapons.

"This law bans on producing, recycling, transferring, transporting the kinds of these weapons in the country, and we will create authority for controlling and investigating the chemical substances as well as a laboratory for observing these substances in the country," said Tea Banh, deputy prime minister and minister of national defense. "We do not want to see these substances destroying our people's heath and lives," he added.

"We need peace and good environment in the country and we experienced the disaster of the weapons in the world," said Oeung Noeng, chairman of the committee of national defense, interior, investigation and clearance of the National Assembly..."

What a great example to the world. Iran, are you listening?

Read about it here.

Luke Warm & Loving It

2009-10-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Tyla H. for posting this video of a Francis Chan sermon on Facebook. This is really an important message for us all.

Want to Write a Book

2009-10-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in writing a book, watch this video of Seth Godi n.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Part 6

2009-10-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have been personally challenged by the subjects of yesterday's sermon, Part 6 in our study on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Discovering the Rhythm of the Daily Office and Sabbath. As we become more emotionally healthy we can begin to move to a spiritually maturing process that includes time spent once or in several sessions a day connecting with God personally. This is what came to be called the Daily Office.

We also talked about the legitimacy of the Sabbath in the church today. It is really important to stop, rest and worship God. Finding a 24-hour period once a week to do this is quite a challenge.

Here is a great starter guide for the Daily Office.

Read more about the idea of Sabbath here.

Midtown Friends Launches

2009-10-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

The formal launch of Midtown Friends Community in Sacramento went very well last night. Many people helped and some new contacts were made. You can see some pictures here.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Parts 4 & 5

2009-09-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

In Part 4 we discussed Journey Through The Wall. This is a stage in the Christian discipleship process where we move from Learning and Doing to Being. This usually occurs when we are confronted with a crisis. We make a choice to trust God or to stay in our comfort zone, falling back on how we have always done things. Life is a series of changes and we can fight the change or embrace it. When we embrace change and put our faith in God's will for both our lives and for the world, we begin to focus on a life of transformation. This is a life of self sacrifice and closely following not just the teachings of Jesus, but the person of Jesus. We will begin to become like Him in our thinking and behavior. When we are at the wall of life's disappointments and challenges we can stay there staring at it or practice spiritual disciplines like Silence, Prayer and Spiritual Reading to move us beyond the wall to a life of Awareness, Forgiveness and Acceptance. Our will becomes one with God's will. You can read more about it here.

In Part 5 we discussed Enlarging Our Soul Through Grief and Loss. Every person will go through loss through life. Some will experience greater losses than others. Embracing loss while trusting in God helps us to grow and become emotionally and spiritually mature. Here is a short list of ways to grow through loss:
1. Listen (to the interruption of loss)
2. Learn to Fall (and fail)
3. Allow The Breaking Of Self-Will
4. Find The Place Of Deep Love And Letting Go
5. Empty The Heart Of Junk – Making More Space For God
6. Pray - The Center Of Discipleship

You can read more about it here.

Larry Kinser

2009-09-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

Bruce Butler, Pastor of Glendora Friends Church wrote a great post about Larry Kinser, Director of Church Health and Growth for the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest who just left us due to budget constraints. Larry will be missed.

The Northern California Friends Churches will honor Larry and Mileta at Fresno Friends Church, Saturday, October 17 at noon. Everyone is welcome.

Best New Church In Midtown

2009-09-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

According to the Sacramento News & Review, Midtown Friends Community is the Best New Church In Midtown. Here is what they said about it:

There’s a bunch of “church planting” going on in the area, but usually we hear about the latest megachurch (you know, the one with the awesome sound system and Starbucks coffee?). But the newest church in Midtown represents a fairly small denomination. Midtown Friends Community is affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest, and the bottom line on this Christian denomination is its adherence to the Letter of James: “Faith without works is dead.” It seeks to feed the hungry, free the enslaved, comfort the sick and make art. This ain’t your missionary aunt’s church. Its first big event was a “peace fair” in Fremont Park, and assisting Food Not Bombs is a regular part of its Sundays. Give it a try. It’s about as far from “mega” anything as you can get. 1812 J Street, Suite 16; (916) 761-4260; www.midtownfriends.org.

Cyclos in Cambodia

2009-09-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

Seen in the Phnom Penh Post:

The number of cyclos found in Cambodia has halved in the past 5 years, prompting advocates to call for public support of the dwindling transportation method. A survey by the Cyclo Centre found only 1,500 cyclos in the country this year, compared with 3,000 in 2004. Economic growth in Cambodia has driven people towards motor vehicles, and made it increasingly difficult for those who drive the foot-powered rickshaws to earn a living. “We are very concerned about the disappearance of cyclos in Cambodia,” said Nov Sarany, a coordinator with the Cyclo Centre.

Child Labor in Cambodia

2009-09-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

The latest US Department of Labor Report about child labor in other countries just came out. Cambodia is on the list of the "Worst Forms of Child Labor". Here is a part of the report:

Children in Cambodia work in exploitive conditions on commercial rubber and tobacco plantations, in salt production, in fish processing, as porters, in brick making, in the service sector, and as garbage pickers. They also work in occupations determined by the Government to be hazardous, including processing sea products, including shrimp; breaking, quarrying, or collecting stones; working in gem and coal mining; working in garment factories; working in restaurants; and making handicrafts. Children work as domestic servants; most child domestics are girls, 15 to 17 years, who work between 6 and 16 hours per day.

Cambodia is a source and destination country for trafficking in children. Cambodian girls are trafficked to Thailand for factory and domestic work and may be forced into prostitution. Cambodian children are trafficked to Thailand and Vietnam for begging, selling candy and flowers on the street, and shining shoes. In 2008, the IOM [International Organization for Migration] identified 112 Cambodian trafficking victims from Thailand who were mostly children. Girls are trafficked from Vietnam to Cambodia for prostitution. Girls are trafficked internally from rural to urban areas for prostitution. Cambodia is a destination country for foreign child sex tourists, and there are increasing reports of Asian men traveling to Cambodia to have sex with virgin girls.

In defense of the government, with the help of the International Community, they are trying to deal with these issues, but it is a huge problem. When I was there recently I did see a lot of children pushing what appeared to be garbage or recycling carts in Phnom Penh.

Read the report (see page 36)

Mailing Drugs From Cambodia

2009-09-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Another Note to Self: Do not mail any drugs from Cambodia (well at least don't send 10,000 Codeine and Valium pills!)

A Danish woman’s appeal against her 15 year sentence for drug smuggling in Cambodia was rejected earlier today. She was sending the prescription medications (10,000 pills) to her son. Her family claims she had no idea that it was illegal.

Read about it.

Midtown Friends Opens October 4!

2009-09-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Midtown Friends Community is having a public opening as a new church Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. They will meet at Fremont Park, Q street and 15th Street in Sacramento.

Everyone is invited for dinner, music, poetry, conversation, art, and good times.
3 pm - Drum circle, collaborative art, and outdoor fun
4.30 pm - Dinner
5.30 pm - Church service

Happy Labor Day?

2009-09-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

The Modesto Bee is reporting that Stanislaus County had a 16.3% unemployment rate in July, higher than the California average of 11.9%. Experts are saying that it may be 2013 or 2014 before things get back to where they were before the recession. The Contra Costa County unemployment rate for the same time period was 11%.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Part 3

2009-09-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we talked about “Going Back in Order to Go Forward”, the third installment in the sermon series Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Joseph was a man from a very dysfunctional family as we see in the book of Genesis. However, he was able to overcome all the trauma he suffered and actually help his family in time of need. We see this in Genesis 50:15-21.

The key verse is found in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

We can look at Joseph as a great example of how we might work through our own issues related to our family of origin.

Here Are Three Steps To Working Through Family Issues:

1. Recognize the Iceberg in You from Your Family

We must be brutally honest and examine the good and bad of our past. Many times we were taught life lessons either through our families or society in general, that as we get older have kept us from becoming emotionally mature adults. These could include how we deal with money, conflict, sex, loss, anger, relationships, success and emotions.

2. Discern The Good God Intends “In, Through And, In Spite Of,”

Your Family And Past After recognizing these unhealthy life lesions, we can look to Scripture to help us find a more healthy approach to life. We see that God has great plans for us in Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28, and Proverbs 19:21.

3. Make The Decision To Do The Hard Work Of Discipleship

The path to emotional and spiritual maturity can be difficult but in the end will bring about a change in perspective and ultimately result in freedom to live out God’s plan.

The Challenge for all of us – courageously look at our past and begin dealing with immature thinking and actions while working toward a Biblical worldview and lifestyle to include healthy relationships.

Phnom Penh Dump

2009-08-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

Something we didn't see in Cambodia. Many families live at the dump on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

See the photos.

Back from Cambodia

2009-08-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Cambodia with the NorCal Friends Team. We had an amazing trip.

I don't have time to document it all now, but here is a link to some photos to get you started.

How To Study The Bible

2009-07-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

My son, TJ, just started a blog.

How To Study The Bible

Friends Church Missions

2009-07-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

To see the new EFCSW Mission Mobilizer Update click here.

This Is Why I Blog

2009-07-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm still learning and having a lot of fun doing it. Keep reading, it can only get better!

See Seth Godin's other short, very informative videos.

Brad Boydston Update

2009-07-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't heard, Brad Boydston (former Covenant Pastor in Turlock) is in the beginning stages of starting a new church in Laveen, AZ, a "village" in the Phoenix area. It is going to be called "MasterPiece Church". He posted an interesting and informative update on his Blog.

Cambodia Miss Landmine Contest

2009-07-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

The Phnom Penh Post is reporting..."The second annual Miss Landmine beauty pageant, a controversial event that debuted in Angola last year, will open in Cambodia next month, with organizers saying they hope the event will raise awareness about the continuing risk of land mines around the globe."

Some people think that is humiliating for the female victims, but I think will be good to get the word out about the devastation of land mines not just in Cambodia, but in other parts of the world as well.

Read the article

In other Cambodia News...
Over 100 international and domestic pressure groups told Prime Minister Hun Sen and Health Minister Mam Bunheng in a letter they were "deeply disturbed" by the government's treatment of 40 HIV-affected families.Over the past two months the government has evicted the families from Phnom Penh to live in metal sheds without running water or adequate sanitation at Tuol Sambo, an area 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the capital, it said.

How very sad!

Read the article

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Part 2

2009-07-28T09:31:00.001-07:00

Our series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality continued Sunday in Part 2 we looked at Becoming Your Authentic Self. The idea is: Know Yourself that You May Know God. Unfortunately many of us perpetuate a false self that is based upon expectations of others. We also formulate unhealthy expectations that come from a wrong idea of morality and spirituality.

The following are symptoms of a False Self:

I say “yes” when I really mean “no.”
I get depressed when people are upset with me.
I have a need to be approved by others to feel good about myself.
I act nice on the outside, but inside “I can’t stand you!”
I often remain silent in order to “keep the peace”.
I believe that if I make mistakes, I myself am a failure.
I criticize others in order to feel better about myself.
I avoid looking weak or foolish for not having the answer.
I have to be doing something exceptional to feel alive.
I have to be needed to feel alive.
I am fearful and can’t take risks.
I do what others want so they don’t get mad at me.
I use knowledge and competence to cover my feelings of inadequacy.
I want my children to behave well so others will think I am a good parent.
I compare myself a lot to other people.

Looking at David's reaction to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, we saw that David had some significant obstacles to becoming the person God wanted him to be, nothing less than his authentic self. Through perseverance and the ability to stay true to himself, David overcame (a nice way of saying killed) Goliath. We also can overcome the obstacles to becoming our authentic self if we practice the following:

Pay Attention to Your Interior in Silence and Solitude
Find Trusted Companions
Move Out of Your Comfort Zone
Pray for Courage

This is only the beginning of a lifelong process of self-awareness, which will bring us into a closer relationship with God and others.

Durian

2009-07-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for Durian I found some at the New Cambodian Market in Stockton. Only $1.99/pound. I took a picture of it with my cell phone this afternoon.

This is by far the worst smelling fruit I have ever experienced. It is one thing that I don't think I could even taste. It didn't smell to bad in the store, probably because it was refrigerated.

Maybe I'll see a bunch of these when I go to Cambodia in a couple of weeks.

Snake Bite in Cambodia

2009-07-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

Note to self: Do not wear flip flops while outside in Cambodia.

A nine year old american girl was biten on the toe by a poisonous snake recently while playing outside her home in Phnom Penh. After identifying the type of snake, she was given anti-venom and is doing okay.

Read about it here.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Series

2009-07-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started a new sermon series at Denair Friends Church. We will be taking the next couple of months to explore Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. This is not original to me. Pastor Pete Scazzero implemented the ideas at New Life Fellowship Church in Elmhurst (Queens), New York and he wrote two books on the subject, The Emotionally Healthy Church and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Emtionally Healthy Spirituality explores the areas of Emotional Health and Contemplative Spirituality. We cannot be spiritually mature unless we are emotionally healthy. Once we are emotionally healthy we can look at spiritual practices that will help us both relate to God and to others in a more meaningful way.

Emotional Health is concerned with:

naming, recognizing, and managing our own feelings
identifying with and having active compassion for others
initiating and maintaining close and meaningful relationships
breaking free from self-destructive patterns
being aware of how our past impacts our present
developing the capacity to express our thoughts and feelings clearly, both verbally and nonverbally
respecting and loving others without having to change them
asking for what we need, want, or prefer clearly, directly, and respectfully
accurately self-assessing our strengths, limits, and weaknesses and freely sharing them with others
learning the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspectives of others
distinguishing and appropriately expressing our sexuality and sensuality
grieving well

Contemplative Spirituality (or simply being with God) focuses on classic Christian practices and concerns such as:

awakening and surrendering to God's love in any and every situation
positioning ourselves to hear God and remember his presence in all we do
communing with God, allowing him to fully indwell the depth of our being
practicing silence, solitude, and a life of unceasing prayer
resting attentively in the presence of God
understanding our earthly life as a journey of transformation toward ever-increasing union with God
finding the true essence of who we are in God
loving others out of a life of love for God
developing a balanced, harmonious rhythm of life that enables us to be aware of the sacred in all of life
adapting historic practices of spirituality that are applicable today
living in committed community that passionately loves Jesus above all else

Yesterday we looked at The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality.

Here is a video explanation of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality:

Great articles and resources can be seen here.

Kasey's Blogging Again

2009-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

Kasey Fisher is blogging again. She re-named her blog "Genuine". I hope she continues her blog when she starts college. It will be interesting and inspiring.

Read it here.

Are You A Geek?

2009-07-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

I thought I was somewhat of a Geek, but may not be according to Wired.com. They list 100 Essential Skills for Geeks. Here are the first 20:

Properly secure a wireless router.
Crack the WEP key on a wireless router.
Leech Wifi from your neighbor.
Screw with Wifi leeches.
Setup and use a VPN.
Work from home or a coffee shop as effectively as you do at the office.
Wire your own home with Ethernet cable.
Turn a web camera into security camera.
Use your 3G phone as a Wi-Fi access point.
Understand what “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1″ means.

Identify key-loggers.
Properly connect a TV, Tivo, XBox, Wii, and Apple TV so they all work together with the one remote.
Program a universal remote.
Swap out the battery on your iPod/iPhone.
Benchmark Your Computer
Identify all computer components on sight.
Know which parts to order from NewEgg.com, and how to assemble them into a working PC.
Troubleshoot any computer/gadget problem, over the phone.
Use any piece of technology intuitively, without instruction or prior knowledge.
How to irrecoverably protect data.

See them all here.

President Obama Found a Church

2009-07-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't heard, the Obama family have made a decision on which church they will attend in the DC area. They will be attending Evergreen Chapel, a non denominational church which meets at Camp David in Maryland. The Pastor is a Navy Chaplain, Lt. Carey Cash, the great-nephew of Johnny Cash who is a Southern Baptist. George Bush and his family also attended this church while in office. Good choice - his worship will stay out of the limelight.

Read more about it.

Iraq

2009-06-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

Just got an email this morning from my son, Senior Airman Bryant Friend. He is on his way to Iraq for a 6 month tour. Our prayers are with you Bry and with Ying waiting your safe return.

Mission Seminar This Saturday

2009-06-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

This Saturday we are sponsoring this Seminar at Denair Friends Church. Everyone is welcome. If you have any questions, you can call the church (209) 632-2000.

A group of 7 people from Northern CA Friends churches are going to Cambodia from August 3-17. This will serve as one of our pre-trip training meetings. Her is a picture of the group.

Tim (me), Clint, Andy, Adam, Alison, Nick and Kacey.

Brad Boydston

2009-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Brad Boydston, former Pastor of Cornerstone Covenant Church in Turlock has finished his 3-year assignment at the Pacific Islands Bible College (PBIC). He will be living in the Phoenix area for a time until he moves on to his next ministry venue. Brad produces one of the few blogs I read every day.

First Swine Flu Death in CA

2009-06-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

The first Swine Flu death in California occurred in Contra Costa County. A 9-year-old girl from Concord died on May 29. Since she also had developed a secondary bacterial infection tests were not conclusive that she died solely due to Swine Flu.

My wife, Pat retired from Contra Costa Public Health Department. If she were still there she would have been helping coordinate the Press and answering the many phone calls from the media and the public.

Read about it here.

Read updated information from the Health Department about Swine Flu.

Cambodian "Day of Anger"

2009-05-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

On May 20 over 1,000 Cambodians gathered at one of the Khmer Rouge's notorious killing fields to observe an annual "Day of Anger" and remember the almost 2 million people killed during the regime's 1975-79 rule. A crowd of government officials, Buddhist monks, survivors of the regime and victims' families watched high school students re-enact scenes of torture and execution at the Choeng Ek killing fields, where up to 15,000 men, women and children were murdered and buried in mass graves.

Watch a video here.

Cohabitation

2009-05-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about living together before marriage, you might want to read a new book, LIVING TOGETHER: MYTHS, RISKS & ANSWERS.

I like to try everything out before I buy or make a decision about it. According to this book and other studies this is not a good idea in regard to marriage. It is counter intuitive - living together before marriage actually increases your chances of divorce!

FACTS ABOUT COHABITATION

Nearly 6 million couples are currently cohabiting.
Cohabitation has increased 10 fold since 1970 when only 500,000 couples cohabited.
60-75% of couples in their first marriages are cohabiting and 80-85% in remarriages cohabit before their wedding.
Most studies clearly find that cohabitation before marriages decreases marital satisfaction and increases divorce rate.
There is a 50% increase in the divorce rate if a couple cohabits before marriage.
About half (55%) of cohabiting couples get married within 5 years of living together, 40% breakup and 10% stay together without getting married.
About 40% of cohabiting women have children with their partner, many of which are unplanned pregnancies.
It is predicted that 40% of all children will at some point live in a cohabiting household.
Almost two-thirds of teenagers believe (66% boys; 60% girls) that it is a good idea to live together before marriage.

Michelle's Musings

2009-05-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

I just noticed that Michelle Murray has a new Blog site.

Read Michelle's Musings.

Jesus Music

2009-05-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

The CGCC Jesus Music set is now complete. The band did an awesome job.

Listen and download here.

Lonnie Frisbee Documentary

2009-05-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

I just watched a documentary about Lonnie Frisbee. He was a key figure in the formation of both the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard Church movements, but without credit. He died of AIDS in 1993. This video gives a very good background into the early days of the Jesus Movement in California. Beware - if you have a narrow view of Christianity, you will be challenged.

You can get the video on Netflix or buy it on Amazon.com. See also www.lonniefrisbee.com.

39 Years Ago

2009-05-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

Sing with me....

Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming,
We're finally on our own,
this summer I hear the drumming,
4 dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it,
soldiers are gunning us down,
should of been done long ago.
What if you knew her,
and found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

39 years ago today, 4 Kent State students were shot and killed by the National Guard during an anti-war protest. Read about it.

Trash to Treasure

2009-05-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Plastic bags are really a blight on a community when not disposed of properly. And they do not bio-degrade. A woman from New Zealand decided to do something about it, at least in Cambodia. She formed a company, ReloopDesigns to make products out of this trash. From their website:

ReloopDesigns are handmade from hygienically processed recycled plastic bags collected from the fields and waterways of Kampot, Cambodia. Every element in the creation of these products is helping improve livelihoods by providing fair-wage income through bag collection, yarn production, teaching skills and environmental clean-up. Each item is unique in coloring and patina, reflecting the nuances of weathered plastic. Our mission is to create beautiful designs that address the critical global issues of environmental pollution and sustainable development.

CNN Report on Cambodia

2009-05-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

CNN aired a report on the current state of the Khmer Rouge Trials in Cambodia over the weekend. It is a very good look at some of the history of the Khmer Rouge and what is going on today to bring to justice those who participated in the genocide.

Watch Part 1

Watch Part 2

Watch Part 3

New Diet for Techies

2009-04-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

I bet you haven't heard of the Camera-Phone Diet. According to RealAge.com:

When people in a small study snapped a picture of everything they ate for 1 week, something interesting happened. They took better stock of their meals -- and ate less or ate more healthfully because of it.

Definitely something to try. By the way, my "Real Age" is: 46.5.

President Obama and Abortion

2009-04-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

According to Jim Wallis, the Obama Administration is committed to drastically reducing the number of Abortions in the US. Wallis is a member of the president’s faith advisory council. He gives Obama high marks for his first 100 days in office.

See the interview Wallis had with Religion and Ethics Newsweekly.

TESOL Intensive Course

2009-04-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Youth With A Mission in Pennsylvania is offering an Intensive 4 week TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Course. There are several upcoming dates.

Here is how their website explains it:

Our Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) course includes four weeks of intensive training in basic theories and methods of teaching English, intercultural communication for teachers, classroom management, how to work with different learning styles, testing, principles of language acquisition, as well as the sounds and grammar of English. An integral part of the training is the opportunity to practice teach on campus during the course.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will receive a TESOL certificate and supporting documents from the Institute for the Nations, Lebanon PA. These will become the key for opening opportunities to teach English in many settings, worldwide.

Read more here.

Gr8 Illustrations

2009-04-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

I really like Nate William's illustrations. Need a background for twitter or your phone? Check out his website.

Rwanda

2009-04-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a few weeks. Got bogged down preparing for Easter and had a visit from my son, TJ, who lives in Wheaton, IL, working on an MA at (you guessed it) Wheaton College. Then we had some other visitors, Toni & Alice, for a few days. Good times.

This month marks the 15th Anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. I just finished a brand new book about it, Mirror to the Church - Resurrecting Faith after Genocide in Rwanda. I highly recommend this book. Father Katongloe explains how a group people could kill almost a million neighbors in just 100 days. Then he shares some hope for the future.

Khmer Rouge Trials to Finally Begin

2009-03-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Duch, the Warden of the main Khmer Rouge prison, named S-21 or Tuol Sleng, where as many as 16,000 men, women and children are believed to have been sent to their deaths after undergoing torture, is finally going on trial, tomorrow. He converted to Christianity and changed his name. He wants to make things right. There are only five defendants to be tried. It is speculated that there should be a lot more, but arresting them would be "politically awkward" since many are loyal to Prime Minister Hun Sen. According to one article....

Duch is the only one of the defendants to express remorse for his actions."Duch acknowledges the facts he's being charged with," his French lawyer, Francois Roux, said last month. "Duch wishes to ask forgiveness from the victims but also from the Cambodian people. He will do so publicly. This is the very least he owes the victims."Roux said Sunday that Duch was tense on the eve of going to court, but also looking forward to publicly presenting his side of the story after 10 years in jail awaiting trial.

The Anglican Church In Second Life

2009-03-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

In June 2007 Mark Brown started the Anglican Church in Second Life. It has grown substantially. According to his blog....

...we offer 6 services each week, catering for the major time zones. A Bible study is also offered plus a very active discussion group. There are also hundreds of encounters around the Cathedral each week. The group has grown to more than 550 members and is made up of people from more than 20 nations. It is now led by a leadership team of 9...

According to their website, Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its Residents. From the moment you enter Second Life, you'll discover a fast-growing digital world filled with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity.

You can listen to one of Mark Brown's sermons here.

Hagar International

2009-03-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

I was recently introduced to Hagar International. This Swiss based non-profit has been in Cambodia since 1994 helping women and children who have been affected by Human Trafficking and Abuse. They have a shelter, training programs and several business where they employ women. Recently the ministry has expanded to India, Afghanistan and Vietnam. I am very impressed. You can read more about it here.

Do you have a heart for Cambodia and would like to work with this organization? They are looking for a Director for the Cambodia operation. See it here.

Looking for a gift for that special person? You can buy their products on-line.

Leadership

2009-03-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

Seth Godin has some great advice for Leaders:

All around you, people are telling you two things:
1. whatever you want, forget it, it's impossible, and
2. sit still, preserve resources, lay low.

And yet, the people who are succeeding, creating change and (not coincidentally) are happier aren't listening to either of these pieces of advice.

Read his complete blog post.

Church Break-In

2009-03-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our church was broken into over the weekend. Several areas were vandalized and some sound equipment was taken. I am thankful that the damage was somewhat minor. It could have been much worse.

I was so blessed by the reaction of some of the churches in our community. I have gotten several calls of support. The College Ministry at Crossroads Church in Turlock and Connecting Point Nazarene Church in Denair both offered to help in any way needed. The Volleyball group that meets on Wednesday night also offered assistance.

Thanks to all in our church who have been working on the cleanup and to those in our community who have offered encouragement and support.

I saw this interesting graffiti on a bench outside of the entrance to the church. "Lord forgive me for my sins / but my enemies forgot where I've been":

Cambodia For Sale

2009-03-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

According to Global Witness, good land occupied by poor Cambodians is being taken by force by the rich and politically connected.

Cambodia today is a country for sale. Having made their fortunes from logging much of the country’s forest resources, Cambodia’s elite have diversified their commercial interests to encompass other forms of state assets. These include land, fisheries, tropical islands and beaches, minerals and petroleum. The country is rapidly being parcelled up and sold off. Over the past 15 years, 45 per cent of the country’s land has been purchased by private interests. The economic wisdom of the sell-off has yet to be proven. The social and environmental consequences have already been devastating.

Watch a very sad video showing poor residents being evicted.

Flight 1549 Video

2009-03-03T08:16:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Brad Boydston for sharing this on his blog. Amazing video shows the calm and quick thinking of Captain Sullenberger.

Work Quality vs. Quantity

2009-02-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Smarterware.org. Looks like something to strive for.

QUALITY vs quantity, UX process. Check email ONLY:
10AM
1PM
4PM

Send any time
Set email to check every 3 hours.
NO email on evenings.
NO email on weekends.
EMERGENCY? = Use phone.

FOCUS 1-3 Activities max/day
LOG 1-3 Succinct status bullets every day on team wiki

MINIMIZE chat
MAXIMIZE single-tasking

OUT by 5:30PM
~No excuses~

Textual Harassment

2009-02-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

I don't have this problem yet, because I'm still learning how to text.

Cambodian Khmer Rouge Trials

2009-02-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

I have been watching the preparation for the Cambodian Khmer Rouge Trials for quite some time. There have been allegations of corruption and wasting money donated by other countries. According to the Phnom Penh Post there is a possibility that the whole process may melt down and go into "bankruptcy" due to these allegations and the lack of money from the Cambodians.

Read more about it.

There is a very interesting article about Duch, the first defendant being tried, in the premier issue of the Purpose Driven Connection Magazine. He was...

"the warden of the Tuol Sleng, a former high school he helped convert into a center for mass interrogation and torture, where he then meticulously supervised and documented the rituals of death. Men and women were chained together in a row, sometimes 100 at a time, and forced into cells on the second floor of the school, a claustrophobic torture that led many to leap to their deaths when the leg chains were unbolted. The torture and the 17,000 deaths were documented—and discovered once the Khmer Rouge were forced from power."

According to journalist Mary Murphy, Duch (whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, later changed to Hang Pin) had a life changing experience and converted to Christianity. In 1996, he became a Pastor and just three years later was arrested for war crimes and has been awaiting trail ever since. He has confessed to the atrocities and says he will testify and tell the truth.

Read the full article here.

FEATS

2009-02-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

This innovative approach to Theological and Practical Ministry Training (for all levels) is available to Northern California Friends. Advantages of this system:

BEGIN WHERE YOU ARE
GROW IN 15 IDENTIFIED LEADERSHIP PRACTICES
STRENGTHEN YOUR GRASP OF BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
SET A COURSE OF LIFE-LONG PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Applications are being taken now for the next Module, the Gospel of Luke. The training includes three interactive learning sessions on Saturdays, April 25, May 30 and June 27, 2009.

Registration Deadline: April 1, 2009
Cost: $300

See www.friendschurchsw.org for more information and applications.

NorCal Friends Serve Day

2009-02-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to all from each of the seven Friends churches, who participated in our NoCal Serve Day last Saturday. It was a great success in serving the Midtown Sacramento community, unconditionally, without strings attached. There were also several significant conversations with people interested in exploring Midtown Friends Community (Church). Midtown Friends are "cultivating, living, and celebrating, life with Jesus together." This picture is of the team I was on. We helped clean up the Rose Garden at McKinley Park. There were serveral teams serving all over Midtown.

Stolen Bikes

2009-02-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

Lance Armstrong's custom-made $10,000 bike was stolen in Sacramento last Saturday night or early Sunday morning, not far from Midtown Friends Pastor Rebecca Tucker's apartment. She has suffered two burglaries to her car parked near her apartment since October. The first time her Laptop was stolen. Another road bike was stolen at the same time from the garage of one of our church members in Denair. I wonder if there is any connection?

There is a reward for the return of Armstrong's bike. Read more.

Cambodia Buddhists Meet With Hindus

2009-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

Recently Buddhist and Hindu clergy met in Cambodia to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern.

In a pledge at the three-day conference, titled "Giving Global Voice to Eastern Wisdom", nearly 100 Hindu and Buddhist leaders from India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Cambodia vowed to cooperate to promote international peace in a world of "greed and self-ignorance" and where Eastern ideals were seen to be "marginalised" by the West.

Of concern was the role of women in their respective religions:

"In our religion, women are not given a voice," Jetunama Tenzin Palmo, an ordained Buddhist nun of British origin who has spent the last 25 years in India, told the audience. "Women comprise half of the one billion Buddhists and Hindus in the world, but we have a very inferior place compared to men. We have a long way to go before women are respected in the spiritual world," she told the Post.

Also troubling to them was the influence of Christianity:

Omalpe Sobhita Thero, a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, lashed out at Christian missionaries who, he said, "come in and take our land and ruin our traditions and religions". "Together, Buddhism and Hinduism must collaborate and stand against Western Christianity," he added...

Thoughts on Ted Hagard

2009-01-31T08:52:00.001-08:00

Ted Haggard is trying to re-invent himself. There is a lot of buzz and more allegations of inappropriate behavior. Of all the articles I have read so far Patton Dodd's article in slate.com is the best; The Ted Haggard Dilemma - Can a fallen pastor ever redeem himself?

Most people who fail need only redeem themselves with their most immediate friends and family. They can ask forgiveness of every person they've wounded. How could Haggard ask forgiveness of 30 million—or even the 14,000 members of his former church? Sitting across from Oprah is no substitute for sitting across from those you've hurt. But he can go away quietly, do the work of atonement, and let tales of his renewed life spring up naturally...

Counseling Technique

2009-01-28T13:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Brad Boydston for sharing this Video....extremely effective counseling methodology.

GodBook

2009-01-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

God Tube is changing to GodBook. They are trying to make it more of an online community for Christians. Read more here.

People and Places

2009-01-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

Bob Adhikary will be speaking at Citrus Heights Friends Church on Wednesday and Thursday January 28 & 29 @ 7 PM. If at all possible you should try to attend. Revival seems to follow Bob whenever he speaks. There was an extraordinary spiritual awakening at Barclay College when he spoke there in September. Read about it here and here. He is a Missionary with Evangelical Friends Mission and is currently on furlough in California. Let me know if you are interested.

Andrea Sward is doing well. She was scheduled to have surgery on her vocal chords yesterday. Haven't heard the outcome yet. Check out the Sward Update.

Denise made it to Cambodia. Read about her adventures and ministry on her blog.

Inaugural Invocation

2009-01-20T16:23:00.000-08:00

Rick Warren did an outstanding job giving the Inaugural Invocation today.

"Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet and every one of our freely elected leaders...."

President Obama is going to need the attributes that Warren mentioned in the prayer. We all need to pray for him - he has a very difficult job ahead of him.

Read the full prayer here.

Pics From Japan

2009-01-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day in Japan. I had a great time. I really enjoyed my time with Bryant and Candy. We were able to take in a few sites also. Japan is an amazing country. I took several hundred photos but only put a few on the slide show below. I will arrive in California the same day I depart.

Hello From Japan!

2009-01-07T22:31:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Japan yesterday to visit my son Bryant and his wife Candy. After an uneventfull, but long plane ride I was met by Bryant at the Narita Airport. Bryant is stationed at Yokota Air Base, outside of Tokyo. This was his first time driving to the Airport and he only got lost once getting there. However, we had a much different trip returning to his apartment. The 3 hour trip took us 6 hours. The freeways in Tokyo are really confusing. We had a lot of fun getting lost. The funniest part was ending up in a residential area and going to a Police Station to ask for directions. Six officers of various ranks, ages and genders were all very eager to help. The only problem was that they didn't speak English. And Bryant hardly knows any Japanese. Even though I was exhausted from the long day, it was very funny and we had a many good laughs.

Christian Response To Gaza War

2008-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

It is hard for us in the USA just watching the TV news to really understand what is going on in Israel and Gaza. There is important dialogue occurring "under the radar" between Palestinian Christians and Messianic Israeli Jews. I am encouraged by the level of civility of the discussions (especially comments to the letter below) on one Internet site. Academic Dean of Bethlehem Bible College Rev. Yohanna Katanacho, Ph.D. writes:

I challenge you during these harsh times to consider not only your responsibility before your country but also your responsibility before the Lord, before the people of Gaza, and before the Palestinian church. I challenge you to adopt a theology of peace rather than justify a theology of war. Will your relationship with the prince of peace make your response different from the Israeli army in Gaza? If not then how will you look me in the eyes next time we meet and shake my hands while the hands of your army are still wet with the blood of my people!? As for me, I cannot accept spilling innocent blood on any side, but what about you? How can the Messiah bring us together if you are supporting the continuation of bloodshed to my people?

Read the letter and comments here.

Merry Christmas! Humorous Version

2008-12-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Brad Boydston's Blog. I had to post it.....Merry Christmas to all.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T16:37:00.000-08:00

Pat and I wish you Peace, Love, Joy, and Freedom from Anger and Bitterness.

Denise Has A Blog

2008-12-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

Denise Beech will be leaving for Cambodia on January 18, returning on February 2, continuing her hygiene training ministry. She has started up her blog; so we can follow her adventures. Here is the link.

Putting It All Together

2008-12-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

What a great time we had at our church Christmas Party and Sunday morning service! We were blessed with a host of international guests.

On Saturday night we met about 30 fellow believers from Micronesia. Four are graduates from Pacific Islands Bible College (PIBC). Former Covenant Pastor from Turlock, Brad Boydston is a Missionary working at that campus in Guam. The group was from All Nations Community Church in Pasadena. Pastor Paul Otoko is also the leader of Indigenous Servants International. This service group was helping Herb Brussow take care of some things on his property. They also held a special celebration at his house on Sunday afternoon. Here is a photo of the group singing for us on Saturday night.

Dr. James Butare was also in the area as part of the celebration at the Brussows. He spoke to us on Sunday morning. He sure is busy! He is a member of Wycliffe Australia and teaches and mentors students at William Carey International University. He also has a ministry to his native country Rwanda, translating a series of Christian study guides for local churches. Besides that he has founded Cornerstone Vocational Institute, a school for disadvantaged children in Uganda.

No Bail Out for Turlock Auto Plaza

2008-12-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

I saw this in the Modesto Bee today! "Five car dealerships in the Turlock Auto Plaza will close, sell the last of their inventory and lay off 42 employees during the next three weeks." Too bad. I guess they couldn't wait for the Auto Industry government bailout.

There is some good news from Cambodia....

Moscow has agreed to cancel most of Cambodia's $1.5 billion debt owed to Russia since the 1980s. Read more.

International donors have pledged $900 million in aid to Cambodia for 2009, a hefty increase on the $600 million that has been offered in the past. Read more.

For those who are looking for a spouse, the ban of foreigners marrying Cambodians instituted in March has been lifted. According to an article I read, this fact has not been widely publicized, so I am doing my part to help. Read more.

Baby Maria Mae Betts Laid To Rest

2008-12-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

Only two people attended the public memorial service last Thursday at the Ceres cemetery for baby Maria Mae Betts. Her mother is charged with murdering her and leaving her body in a dumpster in Turlock. I wish I would have known about it, I would have liked to attend. Read more.

Missions Stuff

2008-12-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Fourteen members of the the First United Methodist Church of Turlock are going to Ghana to help build a school (read more about it). Looks like Pastor Dave Thompson's dream is coming true...

I dream of a church where out of a deep loving relationship with Jesus that; there would be passion for meeting the needs of others in the world close at home and abroad; where justice and mercy would drive effort and prayer.

Crime is UP in Denair

2008-11-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Crime is UP in Denair. On Tuesday, November 18 at about 7:30 PM, during a Bible Study at the Friends Parsonage, unknown subjects stole one of two giant pumpkins from the front porch. A few days later graffiti was seen on the wall of the Boy Scout Hall across the street form the Parsonage. Our Worship Leader and Community Activist, Clint tried to clean it up.

Siem Reap Airways International of Cambodia was recently banned from flying to a European Union Country. "The airline does not operate in compliance with the Cambodian safety regulations nor does it meet the standards of [International Civil Aviation Organization] ICAO..." Several other airlines are also banned including Air Koryo from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Air West from Sudan and Ariana Afghan Airlines from Afghanistan. Read more here.

A short time later Siem Reap Airways temporarily suspended all operations including flights between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Read more here.

How do Friends churches make congregational and other group decisions? There is a good explanation on the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest website. I hadn't noticed it before. Very informative.

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Buy a pair of shoes and a pair gets donated to a child in a developing country.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Where will the Turlock Homeless sleep this winter?
There has been a lot of confusion but a recent Modesto Bee article cleared it all up. Apparently, there are three options:
1. We Care - 30 men can stay at a refurbished Hotel near United Samaritans on Broadway.
2. Motel Vouchers - Modesto-based Community Housing and Shelter Services will give out Motel vouchers to families.
3. Turlock Gospel Mission - Area churches will house Homeless on a rotating basis.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward, Secretary of State

Pre-Thanksgiving Meal

2008-11-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

We had an great weekend at Denair Friends Church. A wonderful dinner and program Saturday night and an inspiring Worship Service with Kathy Peak on Sunday Morning.

This Saturday @ 5 PM we are partnering with Iglesia Del Valle Central to host a Thanksgiving Meal for our neighbors.

Everyone is welcome.

I really like Beth Moore's little book, Praying God's Word Day by Day. I read today's devotion and prayer while drinking a cup of tea.

God never meant for us to sip His Spirit like a proper cup of tea. He meant for us to lap up His life with unquenchable thirst.

Lord, I know what it is to be in need, and what it is to have plenty. I want to learn the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through You, Lord who gives me strength (Phil. 4:12-13)

Lord, You beckon me in Your Word to come to You when I'm thirsty, to come to the waters; I can come to You when I have no money. I can come, buy and eat! Why do I spend money and labor for things that don't satisfy? Your Word tells me to listen to You and eat what is good, and my soul, will delight in the richest of fare (Isa. 55:1-2).

Why did early Christians remodel or build separate structures for worship instead of continuing to use private houses or public spaces?
Probably for the same reasons we do today. As the church grew, it needed to accommodate a joint assembly. Special functions, such as daily Bible teaching, baptisms, and the distribution of gifts to the poor, required readily available facilities. Special buildings also gave the church a visible sign of permanence. Read more at Christian History

In our recent travels, Pat and I have seen a lot of people talking on a cell phone while driving. Maybe they don't care because the fine is only $20. The Modesto Bee is reporting that the cell phone violator must also pay court costs of $83, bringing the cost of a call while driving to $103. Don't say I didn't warn you.

In other local Law Enforcement news, the City of Turlock recently upgraded to "Electronic Handheld Citation Writers", making it easier for "Meter Maids" to write Parking Tickets. This new efficiency should give them time to write more citations. The City needs the money as they look at ways to balance the budget.

The Denair Dispatch Goes Digital...well sort of...seen on the front page of the November 12 edition....Read the story here.

Hymns and Things

2008-11-10T09:00:00.001-08:00

Apparently, the words of the Hymn I referred to on Sunday is not theologically correct.

But I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day.

It should read:

But I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which He's committed
Unto me against that day.

That's what happens when you research things on the Internet. I discovered that the hymn was written by Daniel Whittle in 1883, a former Major in the Civil War. After the war he became an evangelist at the urging of D.L. Moody. He authored several other popular hymns. Listen to it here.

A turf battle broke out at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on Sunday between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks. The riot police had to be called in. I didn't know that there six Christian groups that each have control over a different part of what some believe is the holiest Christian site in the world. The fight was just another skirmish going back over 100 years. The Jerusalem Post wrote "...a ladder placed on a ledge over the entrance sometime in the 19th century has remained there ever since because of a dispute over who has the authority to take it down." Watch the video here.

Move over Oprah. Plans are being made for a new daytime TV talk show hosted by T. D. Jakes, starting in early 2009 on CBS. It will be produced by Dr. Phil's son, Jay McGraw. I hope it is better than the daytime TV show "The Doctors" that McGraw currently produces. Seen on Monday Morning Insight. More here.

Very sad. The body of a newborn baby was found in a dumpster near SaveMart on Lander in Turlock by a dumpster diver. Police are trying to locate the mother. Read about it here and here. Every report about this tragedy explained the Safely Surrendered Baby Law enacted in 2001. An unwanted baby can be brought to one of several sites in a city without the parent being prosecuted for child abandonment. It would be interesting to see how successful this law has been. My guess is that a mother this desperate is not in her right mind and is not thinking logically. She would most likely be to ashamed and afraid to interact with authorities.

Rob Bell's latest Nooma video, Tomatoes, is very good; maybe one of his best. Watch it here.

Online Bible Study Sites

2008-11-03T18:48:00.001-08:00

I was asked for a list of online resources for Bible Study and research. While doing this exercise I realized that I don't use very many specific Bible research sites. I have found that if you use Google or Yahoo search or wikipedia you can find most of the information you need. As always you must check the source of the information before using it. There is also an interesting trend in study Bibles. When you buy the Bible you get a code to access the notes, maps and other information online. I saw this for the new New Living Translation and English Standard Version Study Bibles. Both of these Study Bibles have had high reviews. Here is my short list of the Bible specific research sites that I use.

http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.blueletterbible.org/
http://www.ccel.org/
http://net.bible.org/home.php

The first Home for the Elderly recently opened in Cambodia. Traditionally, the elderly have been taken care of by their children and grandchildren. I suppose that as a country develops, young people become too busy working and have less time to care for ailing parents and relatives. Read more here

Electric and gas utility rates are on the rise in our area according to the Modesto Bee. Next year residential electric rates will rise 15%. Gas rate have already risen and will be 11% higher in the winter. Time to light a fire in the fireplace....oh wait, the no burn days are increasing this winter so you won't be able to have a fire as often. Maybe we can move to Hawaii.

I saw this strange, new type of bike, the EliptiGO, when I was in the Bay Area recently. Still a prototype, but it sure looked interesting. I talked to the founder of the company but I did not get to ride it. You can see a video and read more at www.elliptigo.com.

Note to self: Everything you post on the Internet will be stored forever on some server. So, be careful when you make comments on a blog, myspace, facebook or other social media sites. British Airlines is looking to fire employees who wrote derogatory comments for all (including their bosses!) to read.

"British Airways check-in staff based at Gatwick have posted messages saying that travellers are 'smelly' and that operations at Heathrow's Terminal 5 are 'shambolic'." Read more here.

Decency and Grace

2008-10-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

I still can't get over the short video clip I showed in Church Sunday morning. People are longing to experience decency and grace in the workplace and in their everyday lives. As we live in the Light of Jesus we will exhibit these qualities and motivate others to explore the Light. You can watch it here.

Last night's episode of the Amazing Race TV show took place in Cambodia. In case you missed it you can watch the entire episode here. It was pretty interesting. The race took place in Siem Reap. Tina got lost in the Angkor Wat Temple complex. The last time I went to Cambodia, I was able to visit this area. Believe me it would be very easy to get mixed up and lost in those buildings and rooms. As the host mentioned at the beginning, Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex in the world! It is beautiful and overwhelming. Here is Pastor Tweed more and I with the locals...

Seen last week in the Modesto Bee: "The San Joaquin Valley has one of the largest Latino populations in the country -- and it's growing rapidly, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report released Thursday." I know this is no big revelation or surprise, but I believe a call for the church to stand up and take notice and respond.

Mission OUT Denair is meeting this coming Saturday, November 1 @ 9:30 AM. Everyone is invited to come and help us distribute coats to the children.

Why should we plant churches? Bob Roberts suggests that it shouldn't be about Evangelism, but about making disciples expanding the Kingdom of God. He thinks that “church” must become a force for good and transformation, not just a Sunday event. Other interesting thoughts...

Here’s what I’ve learned from my friends around the world, most have no beef with Jesus. They like him and his message, even if they disagree with me about who he is. Most people around the world like it when people try to follow Jesus, especially those who call themselves such. Most people around the world like it when we try to serve them in the name of Jesus. It’s our “religious colonialism” they don’t care for. Soooo, you say, how would the rest of the world feel about churches that “emerge” from people living the Jesus life, in their context, and serving others, in their community? That’s not what they see. What they see is people showing up to start churches, convert people, and get them to change their religion.

The Global financial crisis may be a good thing for the church. I have been saying this for awhile but I found someone else who could explain the reasoning more succinctly. Pete Wilson, Pastors at Cross Point Church in Nashville explains it this way. In the midst of these events we as followers of Jesus can:

1. Model a lifestyle free from panic. See Matthew 6:25-27.

2. We can help people who are in trouble financially. There has been an increased need for financially assistance. Even at our church, we have gotten more calls for help in the last several weeks.

Midtown Friends Church

2008-10-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Things are moving forward quickly for the NorCal Friends Church plant in the Sacramento area. In less than a month, Lead Pastor, Rebecca Tucker has already gathered six people who are interested in becoming part of this new church! To keep up with her progress, see the Midtown Friends website.

A group of rabbis, politicians, philanthropists and right-wing activists gathered recently in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City to celebrate the reopening of a synagogue located about 100 meters from the Temple Mount. Read about it. There is a group in Israel working to prepare the way for the re-building of a new Temple. I'm sure they were extremely excited about this.

I am having a hard time not giving my opinion on who to vote for in the Presidential Race, because I have good friends on both sides. I think ABC's John Stossel has it right in his analysis. Both candidates are making promises that they will not be able to keep. While the President of the United States is powerful and has global influence, he cannot determine how financial markets will act, create jobs, stop wars, change the course of geopolitics, etc. Each US citizen has the responsibility to set the course for their own life. It is individuals and small groups that can make a huge difference in the world. I am not leaving it up to the President to determine my future.

An interesting race to watch: Measure K in San Francisco. Voters will decide whether or not to stop prosecuting prostitution in the city. While a California city cannot "de-criminalize" it, the police can be required not to enforce prostitution laws.

Cambodia and Thai soldiers are fighting on the border over which country should control the ancient Buddhist Temple at Preah Vihear. Last week three Cambodian soldiers were killed and businesses near the border have been affected. It looks like China is going to sponsor talks between Thai and Cambodian officials to try to end the crisis. Read more here.

This story illustrates how small the world is and how interrelated we are. Last week a Guatemalan Friends Missionary to Cambodia sent an email to the US asking for prayer for this crisis between Cambodia and Thailand. In turn these two countries are getting help from China to help them negotiate a settlement.

Tribes

2008-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning we talked about the women caught in adultery (John 8) being forgiven and set free to live out the lifestyle of Jesus. It is important to keep in mind that this lifestyle does not necessarily lead to self-fulfillment. Rather, Jesus calls people top die to "self" and live in honesty, humility, compassion and service. This type of life is not accomplished by means of hard work or a strong will, but through an ongoing, open and mutual relationship with Jesus.

I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (ESV)

The Modesto Gospel Mission is turning 60 soon. The Modesto Bee wrote a v ery p os iti v e article about them today. MGM has been at the forefront of ministry to the poor and homeless in our region. Please continue to pray for the fledgling Turlock Gospel Mission (TGM) and the Homeless residents in our more imediate area. The city of Turlock has been unable to come up with a solution to house those who have to sleep outside in the cold weather. It looks like it is up to the Churches and those who have compassion for the poor to work with TGM on this growing need.

Christians continue to be severely persecuted in Iraq. It is being reported that Christians in Mosul, just north of Bagdad are especially vulnerable. 930 families have fled to surrounding villages in recent days. The Rev. Canon Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad stated that 89 members of his church have been murdered. Read more here and here.

I just received an advanced copy of Seth Godin's new book, Tribes, subtitled We Need You to Lead Us. People have always lived in Tribes. We long for a place of camaraderie, acceptance and safety. A tribe is a group of people, self-selected, often with a leader, all with a common purpose. According to Godin, you may be a pastor or director or mom, but what you really do is this: You lead a tribe. You can read more about leading tribes here. Seth Godin has the most read business blog on the Internet. He is popular because he writes about life as much as business. Read his blog.

Friends Missionary to Cambodia, Michelle Murray wrote this in an email I received on Sunday:

This next week I have helped to organize the details for a Writer’s workshop. We have a Christian Publishing company here called Fount of Wisdom and they decided they were going to have to promote/teach writing so that they can encourage Cambodian writers. Right now most Christian books are being translated from English, not the same world view, etc… Please pray for the 15 students who will be attending the 3 day workshop on devotional writing, then there will be monthly follow up for 4 months to read, edit and encourage them to continue on this craft of writing. As I pursue more and more writing myself I am excited and privileged to join in this pursuit.

This is so cool! What a great ministry - to influence the Khmer culture in a positive way through writing and encouraging others to write. See Michelle's recent newsletter here.

Mission OUT Denair is meeting this coming Saturday, October 18th @ 9:30 AM. Everyone is invited to come and see and experience what God is doing in our community.

Short Term Missions

2008-10-06T09:51:00.001-07:00

The Barna Group recently did a survey on the impact of Short Term Missions. The study only dealt with the impact of those from the US that travel abroad or domestically to serve others. Much research still needs to be done on how short term trips can be more effective in reaching others outside of our culture with the Gospel message while being careful to not hinder to the work being done by career missionaries and local believers. According the the survey most Short Term trips are a life-changing experience....(read more)

The label "life-changing" is pasted on many things, but the description fits most short-term service trips. Only one-quarter of those who have participated on such a trip said it was "just an experience," while a majority said it changed their life in some way. The most common areas of personal growth that people recall - even years later - include becoming more aware of other people’s struggles (25%), learning more about poverty, justice, or the world (16%), increasing compassion (11%), deepening or enriching their faith (9%), broadening their spiritual understanding (9%), and boosting their financial generosity (5%). Others mentioned the experience helped them feel more fulfilled, become more grateful, develop new friends, and pray more.

Bob Roberts has some interesting thoughts on the Church in America. Interesting analysis. (read his blog)

The real “emerging church” not the post-Western, postmodern, but as Fareed Zacharias would say, the “Post-American” church has already shifted it’s spiritual currency and is booming. The problem is, there are many pockets of western religious imperialism that continue to dictate what Christianity looks like - and from a primarily Western format. In the West, we all admit we don’t even have a good handle on what the “church” looks like - but we have no hesitation in exporting our past expressions despite our current frustrations or even failures for that matter.

The Guardian Angels are coming to Turlock on Friday, October 10th for several days. Scout patrols will begin at 8 pm on Friday night, throughout Various Turlock Neighborhoods. I was just wondering why? From my experience there is relatively no crime here, accept for car theft. Try living in the shadow of Richmond, CA where Pat and I spent many years. Richmond is the 11th most dangerous city in the nation, Oakland is 8th. (read more)

Disclaimer: The above opinion is from someone who when advised not to by local Israeli's, took a stroll through one of the Muslim sections of Jerusalem one night this summer.

I am still thinking about our experiences last Saturday. Just about two minutes from the church by car, yet a thousand miles away in culture and language. I could easily imagine myself in Mexico as I sat listening to Pastor Enrique sharing with our Spanish-speaking neighbor Joel. Please pray with me that God would raise up bi-lingual servants to help us reach this 25% of our neighbors. We don't have to go to Mexico, it is right here among us.

This is why Pat doesn't want me to get a motorcycle. A terrible accident occurred last week on I99 in Modesto. The motorcycle driver was killed. It highlights how dangerous our roadways can be. Be careful driving out there. Read about it in the Modesto Bee.

Fireproof Your Marriage

2008-09-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

The NorCal Missions Mobilizer meeting last Saturday was a big success. About 35 people from NorCal Friends churches met at Sacramento Friends Church. Scott Sward shared about Short-Term Missions. Others, including Denise shared about their experiences reaching our communities and the world. EFCSW is constantly updating their website; the section on Missions is very informative.

Several of us attended a Marriage Seminar Monday night. We heard from Bill and Pam Farre l. It was very informative and entertaining. Here is something I picked up regarding communication. This will work in any relationship.

Four Steps to Being a Good Listener
1. Repeat Key Phrases
2. Rephrase (What I am hearing you say is...)
3. Regroup (Clarify what the person said - am I in the ballpark...?)
4. Reconnect (Try to compare what was said to something else-Is it a little like....?)

They also put a plug in for the movie Fireproof, in Theaters now. I have heard from others that it is a must see. Here is the trailer.

There is so much information and dis-information about the US economic situation and the "Bail-Out", it is hard to know what would be the correct action to take. I don't normally listen to Rush Limbaugh but I happened to hear him Monday and he seemed to be the only one making any sense. Unfortunately his "sense" is that the government bail-out will actually do more harm than good.

Happy Rosh Hashana! (Jewish New Year)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 or by the Jewish Calendar, 1 Tishrei 5769

Cambodia's rating dropped further in 2007 Corruption Report. That's too bad. Read more.

CAMBODIA'S annual corruption rating has plummeted, according to an international transparency index.The ratings, released by Transparency International (TI) in Berlin Tuesday, ranked Cambodia the 14th-most corrupt country in the world, five positions worse than its 2007 rating, and the most corrupt country in Asia after Myanmar."In the poorest countries, corruption levels can mean the difference between life and death, when money for hospitals or clean water is in play," TI said at the report launch.

This coming Saturday, October 4 @ 9:30 AM, is a special Mission OUT Denair. We will be meeting with a group from the Hispanic Church that meets at Monte Vista Chapel. They are considering partnering with us to reach the Spanish speaking population in Denair. Everyone is invited!

The Shack

2008-09-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Several of us heard William "Paul" Young, author of The Shack, in Pleasanton on Saturday night. Paul talked about the 11 year journey that led to writing the book. For me the most important take away was a new way of looking at God. We tend to see our Christian life from the standpoint of rules and behavior. If we live a good life as described in the Bible, God will like us and we will get to go to Heaven. Unfortunately we can't live up to the rules so we live in a constant state of guilt and shame. What has been missing in my life is a belief that God loves me just the way I am. For too long I have seen God as waiting for me to mess up, so he can tell me about how bad I am and that I don't measure up.

For Paul, we can live in freedom when we see that God is good and He is involved. That is to say that God loves us beyond our imagination and always wants what is best for us and He is involved not only in our daily lives, but He is involved in the all the is going on in the world.

You can hear the message here.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

NorCal Friends Church Planting hired a Church Planter! On October 1, Becky Tucker is moving to Sacramento from Seattle. She is looking at starting a church in the Mid-Town section of Sacramento. Please keep her in your prayers. She will be visiting each of the six Northern CA Friends Churches to share the vision. Stay tuned for more information. Find out more about her here.

Street crime is up in Phnom Penh. Ladies, be careful when carrying your purse while riding on a moto.

Read about it in the Phnom Penh Post.

Profile of the average bag snatcher

According to Chris Chipp, country manager of G4S Security Services, the bag snatchers are typically young Cambodian males between the ages of 17-23. Usually there are two or three of them on one moto. Some-times they work in pairs and ride two motos, each with a couple of men on them. Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth says, "The perpetrators are usually seen wearing student uniforms and driving brand-new motorbikes." As a result, said Chipp, the task of finding the perpetrators is like ”looking for a needle in a haystack”. Women travelling on motos should take precautions and tuck their handbags between themselves and their driver. Do not sling handbags over your shoulder as, if they are stolen, you risk being pulled off the bike.

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” ~ Henri Nouwen