Photo a Day ~ July

I finally decided to give the Photo a Day Challenge a try!  To make my pictures a little more interesting, I downloaded a camera app for my iPhone.  After looking at a bunch, I selected Camera Awesome.  It has lots of cool filters, presets, textures, and more, to "awesomize" every photo.  And it was FREE.  We'll just see how awesomized my pictures can become!  This is also a challenge to me to take more pictures ~ I spent a week at camp and didn't take a single one.

Anyone want to join me?  It's a great mid-summer slump buster.  I'm giving you a couple days to think about it.  It starts on Sunday ~ get your camera ready!

Original post here.  How to play here.

Plan B

While I was training for my first marathon, I read about having a "Plan B."  If the day wasn't going right, if weather was crazy, or if a sudden illness hit, maybe my time goal might not happen, but "Plan B" would mean finishing.  I thought that was a good idea.  When I knew hitting a sub 4 hour wasn't going to happen, I was still determined to finish, no matter how long it took.  Plan A was actually to finish strong and injury free, no time assigned to it.  So Plan B meant stick with Plan A!

Bro. Kerr preached an excellent message on Thursday night about things that tears cannot fix.  Decisions that take us away from God, that lead down paths of destruction instead of righteousness.  He said even if a person makes it back to God, no amount of tears of repentance can restore what was willingly given away.  Sin will leave scars.  He said some of you are already planning on backsliding and then coming back to God, but it will never be the same.  More than once he said, "Backsliding is not cool!"

On Friday night, Bro. Kerr talked about a young lady who walked away from God because she didn't find a husband as quickly as she wanted.  She had a "Plan B" in mind.  If God didn't provide, she would walk away.  She had already decided that backsliding was an option.

I have lived this way my entire life and I don't plan to change now.  I don't have a Plan B when it comes to my salvation.  There is only one way and I'm sticking to it.  It doesn't matter if my day isn't going right, if storms come, or illness strikes, Plan B is to stick with Plan A!

Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

Humility

On Friday night of camp, Bro. Kerr made a comment about humility.  He said, "When you start thinking you are humble, you are NOT humble."  Well let me tell you, if you have trouble keeping your pride in check, I have one suggestion for you:

Become a Musician!!

Being a musician will keep you humble.  Here's my latest "humbling."

I had to rearrange musicians for Friday night's service.  Bro. DeAro was the worship leader, so I had Sis. DeAro play the organ.  Pastor White was the service leader, so I played the piano to be ready just in case he needed a chorus.  Keep in mind, Sis. DeAro and I played together Friday morning, too, without any problems.

We started service and our lead praise singer started with the wrong song.  We were going to sing "We've Come to Magnify the Lord" and they sang, "I Came to Magnify the Lord."  Same theme, no biggie.  Except one song is in E minor and the other is in E flat.  I went to E flat, but we seemed to limp through that song.

The second song was in the key of G.  Doesn't get any more basic than that.  "Look What the Lord has Done."  I hit a G chord and knew immediately that something was wrong.  I looked at Sis. DeAro, "Are you in G?"  "Yes."  Well, one of us was not in G!

I quickly transposed the keyboard down a half step.  It sounded right part of the time, but there were times when it didn't!  If I kept my hands near middle C, it seemed okay.  But when I played lower notes on the keyboard, it seemed off.   Ugh!  It was a tough song service.

I was thrilled to move out of the way when the choir came up.  But poor Les, he had been praise singing and didn't know what was going on.  When he started playing his bass for choir, he was out of tune (the organ and keyboard were close because the keyboard was still on transpose.)

Apparently, due to excess moisture in the air near the ocean, the organ got out of tune some time on Friday.  Unfortunately, it was not a full half step off, but somewhere between a half and a quarter step. There were quite a few humble musicians on the platform that night.  So if pride is something you struggle with, start taking music lessons, the day will come when your pride will be knocked off the platform!

How about it fellow musicians ~ care to share a humbling story of your own?

Pacific Coast Camp 2012

We had an awesome camp this year!  I know I say it every year, but it's true.  It's a great camp.  We have a great group children and young people who come together to have fun and get a touch from God.

Every service was truly anointed.  Bro. John Lambeth was during the day and Bro.Scott Kerr was at night.  I think I got the titles for most of the messages correct.  Bro. Lambeth gives some very unusual ones!  You just had to be there...

Monday night: "Greater than John the Baptist"  (that's us - the Bride!)
Tuesday morning: "Going Deeper"
Tuesday night: "The Response Determines the Result"
Wednesday morning: "Kill the White Man"
Wednesday night: "Can an Ethiopian Change His Skin"  (I don't think Bro. Kerr ever gave a title that night, but this was the essence of his message from Jeremiah 13:23)
Thursday morning: "Hot Dog Distraction"
Thursday night: "Some Things Tears Can't Fix"
Friday morning: Bro. Lambeth followed up on Thursday night's fabulous message (which will get its own post) with some advice.
Friday night: "The Devil Doesn't Give Up, but I Don't Either"

My soul was fed all week!  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be involved in this great camp.  The Steering Committee does a tremendous job.  We travel from all over California and it comes together in a great way.  We even had a youth group from Conyers, Georgia come this year!

My body was fed all week as well.  Lunch with great friends every day and after service fellowship each night.  I'm a little afraid to step on the scale!!

I'll always believe in Youth Camp!

18 Years

18 years have passed in the blink of an eye.  18 years since I talked to my brother, Rod.  18 years since his voice was silenced in this life.  18 years since he felt any pain.  18 years since the horrible disease of hemophilia was finally removed from his body, his limbs are now strong and whole.

I was only 30 years old on that June afternoon when we received the call.  The call I was not expecting because I had been praying, fasting, and believing for a miracle.  I just didn't know at the time how beautifully God answered those prayers.

So many memories come when I think of Rod.  How he loved life!  He loved God and people.  He loved singing and acting.  He was a tease and could make me so mad at times, then crack me up in the next breath.

 Lately I've thought a lot about heaven.  I'm ready for the great reunion with so many that have gone ahead.  What a day that will be!

Load 'Em Up!

It's Youth Camp time!  Today is the first day of Pacific Coast Camp in Ventura.  Les and I will be heading over there later today for a great time.  As I was thinking about it this morning, I realized today is also my spiritual birthday.  On June 18, 1974, on the first night of Youth Camp, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost for the very first time!

I have written many posts about camp since I started blogging.  I just love going!  I loved it as a 10 year old, meeting new friends, eating junk from the snack bar, learning new things in classes, and being touched by God in the altar.

I loved it as a 25 year old, meeting the love of my life, eating junk from the snack bar, learning new things in classes, and being touched by God in the altar.

And I love it as a 48 year old, seeing old friends, eating junk from the snack bar, learning new things in classes, and praying with young people as they are also touched by God in the altar.

Come join us if you can!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

You've always been a steady one to lean upon!

I love you very much!

Hello After Goodbye

I know I've been an absentee blogger this week.  It has not been intentional, I just haven't had it in me to write much.

This week our church has been preparing for the memorial service for one of our own.  Bro. Nembro Tarazon was a great man.  He loved his family and his church.  He would help anyone at anytime.  He loved God!  He settled it many years ago and it didn't change.  He led his family in serving God.

He had a quirky sense of humor that often left you wondering - did he really just say that?  One time he left an "anonymous" comment on a Friday Foodie post that said, "Here is a link for inspiration to eat healthy...http://thisiswhyyourrefat.com"  Wait?  He thinks I'm fat?  After talking to his wife about it, then scolding him while he laughed, he left another comment - "thanks for letting the French fries out of the bag, PAL... LOL"

We will miss him around Victory Tabernacle.  It won't be the same.  But we don't sorrow for him - he made it!  It just gives us one more person to look for when we get around the throne.

To his precious family, I am praying for you daily.  I love each of you.  There is a hello waiting some beautiful morning.

There is a hello after goodbye, a blessed reunion, promised in time

We will be with them far longer than we were without

No doubt, no more tears in our eyes

In that beautiful, wonderful, hello after goodbye

Obedience and Submission

Yesterday on Classic Mary Moments, Mary wrote about the subject of submission. I was thinking about that post later in the day. The idea of submitting to another person is not one we like to easily swallow. But the fact of the matter is, our fallen human nature doesn't want to submit to God either! It is only in dying to self on a daily basis that we will when the battle of obedience and submission.

This little story is humorous, but it illustrates the point perfectly.

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids.  After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.  And the first thing He said to them was: "Don't."

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit?  We got forbidden fruit?"

"Hey, Eve . . .we got forbidden fruit."

"NO WAY."

"Don't eat that fruit ! said God.

"Why?"

"Because I'm your Father and I said so!" said God, wondering why He hadn't stopped after making the elephants.

A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.

"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the First Parent asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?"

"I dunno," Eve answered.

"She started it!" Adam said.

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Did NOT !!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.  Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

But there is a reassurance in this story.

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.  If God had trouble handling children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

Indiana Bible Quizzing District Finals

Our niece, Hannah, just finished her third year of Bible Quizzing.  We are so proud of her!  She has chosen to stop at district finals each of last two years, no matter if her team qualified for nationals.  It gives her a chance to enjoy her summer after working so hard for so many months!  Here is the recap from the tournament from her dad, Lance:

Yesterday was our Indiana Junior Quiz State Finals.  10 teams participated, with 4 of them being from Calvary.

Hannah had decided that she didn't want to quiz past this weekend.  Though she likely would have been placed on the top Calvary Junior team, her decision meant that she was put on another team.

Her first quiz was against Lawrence, a team that had beaten our top Calvary team in the previous tournament.  Hannah got 2 ten pointers and 2 twenty pointers and only trailed 65-60 going into the 30 point questions.  Unfortunately, Lawrence's top quizzer nailed #13 and #14 to seal the win. 

In the Loser's Bracket, Hannah quizzed Indianapolis Bible Church, who was second in last year's Finals.  Hannah got a ten pointer and 3 twenties to take a 70-40 lead going into the 30 pointers.  Bible Church's captain got #13 and #14, making the score 100-70 with one question to go.  The last question was a quotation question - Hannah's favorite type question.  She nailed it to tie the score and send the quiz into overtime.  Both she and the Bible Church captain had five correct, leaving them each with only one to quiz out.  Fortunately, the Bible Church captain misquoted while responding to question #16, giving Hannah a 100-90 lead with two to go.  Hannah got #17, earning the 10 point bonus for quizzing out and sealing the win even though the Bible Church captain would go on to get #18. Hannah's 130 point total meant she now was in position to make all-tournament team, if she could win a second quiz required to qualify. 

Her next quiz was against New Whiteland. Hannah got questions #1, #6, and #7 to make the score 40-40.  New Whiteland missed the next two, but then got two questions to take a 60-40 lead with 4 questions left.  Hannah got #12 to tie the score.  New Whiteland missed a cross-reference question on #13 to nose Hannah back ahead 60-45.  Hannah got the four-part question #14 to ice the win by a final score of 90-75.

That put her up against Greenwood, a team that had won every Indiana tournament during the year.  They have two very good quizzers who are fast on the buzzer.  Hannah's lack of buzzer speed was exposed as the two Greenwood quizzers buzzed in ahead of her on all of the first 12 questions, with one quizzer quizzing out and the other getting 5 correct.  Trailing 160-0, Hannah came to life, getting a four-part question #13.  And then after the other Greenwood quizzer quizzed out on #14, Hannah got the last question of her tournament - a quotation question - to give her 60 points despite only answering two questions in the quiz.  

For her 4 quizzes in the tournament, Hannah answered 17 questions without missing any.  She averaged 85 points per quiz, finishing 4th on the all-tournament team.

Our top Calvary team won the tournament, going undefeated in 5 quizzes.  Greenwood ended up second and another one of our Calvary teams finished third.  Lawrence was fourth, and Hannah's team finished fifth.

For the year, Hannah memorized 202 verses of Pentecostal Doctrine.  She has learned 590 verses the last three years - memorizing and reviewing daily for 21 out of the last 30 months.  As you all know, I could not be prouder of her accomplishment.  The hundreds of hours I have spent studying with her will be some of the most cherished memories of my life.

As in past years, we'll let her make the decision if she wants to quiz again next year, in what would be her last as a Junior... we'll see in November.

Hannah is an 11 year old quizzer, I don't know how old those giants are! The age limit is 12.

The Pace Team

During my marathon there were several runners who were part of a Pace Team.  Each member was assigned a finishing time.  If you wanted to finish in 4 hours and 10 minutes, you ran with the 4:10 pacer.  Les was at the finish line and he said each pacer came in exactly on time.  I would love to be a good enough runner to be a pacer!

I'm sure each of the pacers could have finished in a faster time on their own, but they put their own ambitions aside for the sake of others.  Runners who stayed with them were able to meet their finishing goals.

I couldn't help but compare that to real life.  We're all running, trying to finish.  There are times we are pace setters and other times we're hoping to stay on pace.  With each trial we make it through, there are lessons we've learned.  Lessons we can pass on to others who may face the same situation down the road.

Once our eyes are opened to victories of all sizes, we can see them more easily in ourselves and in everyone else. There is no better feeling than to acknowledge someone else's milestones, especially the little ones that they haven't thought to celebrate. Remind them. 
~Kristin Armstrong, MILEstones, Mile Markers, Runner's

It would be very selfish of us to not share our experiences with someone who is facing the same path.  It would also be very foolish to ignore the words of wisdom from someone who has already been there and done that.

Just as there were many runners who were faster than me, there were runners who were slower.  I was passed by many and passed many.  It wasn't unusual to pass the same person as they took a walk break, then be passed by them while I took a walk break.  Those who offered a kind word of encouragement, a smile, or a "we're almost there," gave me hope that the journey was going to be worth it.

"Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too."
~ Richard O'Brien 

Are you in need of some pacing today?  Look to those wiser than you, those who are further down the road.  If your journey has been long and your pace steady, don't forget those who are coming up behind you.

Missions Week 2012

Last week was Missions Week at Victory Tabernacle.  This is always a great time.  Wednesday night was our Home Missions night.  This year we had Pastor Andrew Masley and his family from Pomona. God has done great things for them!  Bro. Masley told of many miracles that God has performed, allowing him to start up a work in a city desperately in need of God.

Missionaries Tom and Sandra Bracken were with us on Sunday.  What great people of God!  As Les was helping Bro. Bracken get a slide presentation set up before service, I got to visit with Sis. Bracken for a while.  She felt called the mission field as a child and grew up living for God and waiting on Him.  She told me when she was 16 she started praying earnestly for her future husband.  What she didn't know at the time was God was working in the hearts of several US Navy Seals, bringing the gospel to them in San Diego.  Bro. Bracken was one of those US Navy Seals!  They have now been in Taiwan for over 30 years and God has done great things through them.

This picture is  for the Bracken's sweet daughter-in-law, Tiffany.  Wish you could have been here, too!

You know, there is still a lost and dying world out there, desperately in need of a Savior.  We're not all called to go to a foreign field, but we are called to work the field around us.  It wasn't a foreign missionary that led Bro. Bracken to the truth, it was one of his friends, another US Navy Seal.  That hungry soul on the job or at school may be the one God uses to reach a nation.  I want to make every week "Missions Week" in my life.

I Did It!

It was tough, but not impossible.  There were moments of doubt, but I overcame.  It seemed to take forever, but when the finish line came into view, a huge surge of adrenaline hit and I sprinted across the line!  My first marathon, in the books.

I kinda think that's how we're going to feel when we get to heaven, don't you?  Only on a much grander scale!