A Ride with the boys

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.

This is what the unbelieving world, simple finds unbelievable…

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!”

FIRESTORM 2007 (why?)

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

San Diego Fire Update #2

Fortunately for us, the fire to the north did turn south east a bit, but did not really go too far and fire crews are setting back fires to control them from going any further.  The fires south of us are really too far to reach us. Unfortunatly when the winds changed, the fires turned back on themselves and burnt through areas that were not already burned. Turned toward what we call Rancho San Diego and the Jamul area. Some friends of Rochelles mom lived in Jamul and lost there home.

Nothing has really changed for us. Still keeping the kids inside, etc. The winds have died down a lot, which good for the fire fighters. But that means the air is worse today. The fires are not anywhere near us at this point. If you want to see a fairly good updated map, check this out.

Thats all for now.

San Diego Fire Update

12:36 PM PST

The fires are burning to the north and south east of us and there has only been a little talk on the news of evacuation of our area. (Lakeside)
If the fires to the north of continue south, I’m sure we may be next to evacuate. Although we are not in any immediate danger, as you can see from the attached map (above), we are on the edge of one the evacuation areas. We are actively monitoring the news as to any changes. Although, most of the attention on the news, as it should be, has been on the areas currently in immediate danger we do not get too much updated info on our immediate neighborhood (Lakeside) The areas that have been evacuated have been notified by reverse 911 calls. So, if we get one of those, we are out of here.
I will try to update as often.

If you are interested in local San Diego news:
http://www.fox6.com
http://www.cbs8.com
http://www.10news.com

Steve

Gospel Hospitality – Making Room

A few weeks back we went on a camping trip (see picks here). We missed Sundays’ message preached by Drew, an elder at our Church. What a great message…

Please take the time and listen to the whole message here.

Christians should regard hospitality to strangers as an expression of the gospel. This sermon examines how and why we should show hospitality to others. It is a call to our community to open our lives and make room for people different than us. The New Testament portrays Jesus as a gracious host, welcoming children and prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners in his presence. History reveals the importance of hospitality to the spread and credibility of the gospel. If we seek to not just build a church, but change a city, this is one aspect that needs to be in place.