Although I’ve been fishing since I was a kid and always an avid fisherman, the last couple of years prior to moving up here to Northern California (NorCal), I had pretty much lost interest in freshwater fishing. Plus I had only been able to do a half dozen or so Saltwater trips. But! Since arriving here in NorCal I have a new found passion for freshwater fishing.

It would be an understatement to say we have a lot of water to be fished… I have started a fishing blog to log my fishing adventures. I still have some older content to add from trips I have already done and will be updating often.

Please log onto NorCal Angler, feel free to comment on posts and subscribe to the news feed at the top right or via the “eNews & Updates”. You will receive notice every-time new content is added.

I hope you will enjoy the stories and adventures.

Take care,
Steve

In years past, because of the locations/neighborhoods we have lived in, we have never been able to go trick or treating in our own neighborhood… We had an awesome Halloween this year… The kids had a fall festival and parade at their school, and for the first time, we were able to go trick or treating in our own neighborhood with some of our neighbors! The pictures tell a story all their own…

Trick or Treat!

“How could I have even hoped for forgiveness…” What a relief, to find out; “I am far worse than I could’ve imagined, but far more loved than I could’ve hoped for.”

Shortly after moving in and meeting some of our neighbors, we were told about the 4th of July block party. 

It all starts about Noonish.., It’s not like the street gets a whole lot of through traffic anyways, but the street gets blocked off at each end with official street signs; “ROAD CLOSED”. How cool is that. Everyone starts setting up chairs, tables, etc. very laid back and casual. We arrived around 2ish and the party was in full swing. We were immediately welcomed and within minutes we were handed icy cold drinks and signed up for a team on some lawn game. 

The kids also had plenty of stuff to do and friends to play with. They had a HUGE jumpy, a dunk tank, and full run up and down the street. Egg & water balloon toss, plenty of snacks to munch on and we ended up eating sometime around 4:30 – 5ish

Needless to say, everyone had an awesome time… Meeting all of the neighbors, getting to know them and visa versa, food, drinks and good times!

Enjoy some pics.

Yes, thats right! You are allowed to swim in the lakes in Nor Cal! Imagine that! FINALLY! A place we can swim in fresh water less than 10 Min’s from our house. You can even ride horses around the lake and take them for a swim too… You know Jessica just loved this!!!

It had been a little windy that day on the lake, hence the darker water near the shore. But usually the water is very clear.

The kids and I enjoyed the water swimming & fishing while Rochelle enjoyed the peaceful breeze, watching the horses and us playing in the water from the back of the Van. Oh did I mention, Rochelle took these shots from the back of the Van! Thats right we drove right down on the beach. How cool is that?!

Warning: When you come and visit us, you may not want to leave! Nor Cal is a well kept secret.

Man I miss being a kid sometimes. Think of how we might make a buck knowing what we do as adults… Na, come to think of it, that would probably ruin it. As I drove in the driveway, coming home from work, they even sold me a cup!

The boys had our friend Gideon for a sleep over last night and I took the opportunity to take all three boys out for a ride today. Andrew is doing great on his new mountain bike that he got for Christmas and Gideon had just recently learned how to ride with out training wheels. Zack had almost mastered riding with out training wheels about a month ago when he had an unrelated fall off the kitchen chair and cracked his collar bone. So, for now he has to ride in the trailer. He should be back up riding in no time. Towards the end of the ride, Andrew & Gideon were tracking along pretty good down a little hill, when Gideon must have hit some sand and went down. I missed the actual crash itself, but I was only a few feet in front of him and I sure heard it! Man, he had a good crash! He’s was fine, just a little shaken up. I think that was his first “good” crash!.. and he has a couple scrapes on his cheek and chin to prove it! Way to go buddy! He was a champ and I was able to convince him to get back on his bike and ride most of the way back to the car. Wasn’t soon after heading home, he and Andrew konked out! What an awesome Ride! Enjoy some pics.

Quote from the Acts 29 website. “Acts 29 Network exists to start churches that plant churches. God is significantly using our network to influence and shape the church planting culture through both rock-solid theology and contextualizing the gospel. We will not waver on either of these commitments. We won’t water down our theology to reach more people and we won’t attack the culture in the name of Christianity. We are planting churches that are missionaries in their respective communities sent by Christ with the gospel (John 20:21). It is our desire to plant 1,000 new churches in the next 20 years. We desire to make your dream of planting a gospel-driven church come true. We count it an honor to partner with you and to serve you.

Scott Thomas
Acts 29 Network Director”

end of quote

My church, Kaleo is is part of Acts 29 and supports it in anyway we can. The post I saw on the Acts 29 website this morning truly saddens me.

I was not raised in a Christian home and only came to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ about seven years ago. The actions displayed in the post by the the Missouri SBC is one of the things that kept me away for so many years. Not necessarily the drinking part, (because when I became a Christian I didn’t drink anyways, but thats another story) but the decision they made to “dis-fellowship”, “cut-off” any Acts 29 churches. John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
I’m sorry my MSBC brothers, but their is no love in your decision, it’s all law! Again, this what the unbelieving world simple finds unbelievable and rejects.

When is the church going to stop focusing on “our witness” and go back to focus on Christ’s witness and what he has already done for us. Thats the Gospel! Thats our mission! A heart (motivation) transformation, not moral reformation.

I agree with what Pastor Scott Thomas, says at the end of his post.

Please read the whole post here: “Acts 29 is Kicked out of Missouri – Show Me the Love!”

We made it! Untouched by the Fire Storm 2007. Unfortunately we cannot say the same for everyone else. Its times like these that really cause me to reflect on shear awesomeness, and complexity of Gods sovereignty. You would think that most people would be asking in times like this, “why”… But I did not really hear any of that. I only heard about how devastating the fires are, how sad people were to lose there homes and everything in them, and the politicians all stroking each other on how great a job they all did. etc. I certainly don’t want to sound as if I don’t care of to dismiss other emotions… And I do think that over all we have come along way since the Cedar Fire. I am somewhat encouraged for a moment by all the people helping other people, Christians, Non-Christians, Mormons, etc… But by what motivation? And still, I hear no talk about why,.. well except the extreme left chanting “global warming!”, etc. They’ve certainly missed it as well.

Tom, one of the pastors at our church spent some time down at Qualcomm during the evacuation. Take a look at a short article he wrote;

The clowns entertained the children with silly antics and hopeful stories of happy endings and colorful baubles. The music blared hip hop while youths and the “not so youths” collapsed in a heap on the mat spinning, popping, and breaking. There was as much food as you could care to take in and just as much fizzy pop to wash it down with. There were celebrities stained with polish as their brightly shining faces lit up the glass, and there were saddle shoed politicians singing praises with their sunny lyrics. Josh Becket had just thrown the first pitch in the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies as excited fans hurried to find a seat. But this is not the queue outside Fenway Park, brimming with anticipation of the culmination of “America’s Pastime”; no, the World Series was on the 60 inch plasma big screen housed in news trucks within San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, and the entertainment was in response to the 2007 Southern California Firestorm. Read the rest here