• One “More” Year?
Maybe it is just another new year to you, but not to me! I get very reflective during this time. I find myself reviewing my year and thinking about what was missing and what could have made a difference. I then begin formulating thoughts about what my future year might look like if I set my sights and plans differently. I find myself praying about possible new ventures and goals. Sometimes God put things on my heart to trust Him for and I find myself writing things down, just to see what it looks like on paper. I tend to look for annual and quarterly and monthly goals at this time. I review all the significant areas of my life and try to assess what I can do to advance any cause that has occupied my thinking. Or I ask is there anything new that I should be concentrating on or is there anything that I need to be eliminating in the future. It might be a little early to reveal what I am currently thinking, but there are some things ahead for me to consider more carefully. There are some things I wish to accomplish in ministry and in my family.
The twists and turns of the last few months have effected us all. I know it has been for me. I am resolving to be more intentional, more frugal, more strategic, more giving, more disciplined, more loving, more creative, more healthy and more invested in my protege’s.
You might say, this year will be one “more” year.
• The Shack Book
Just finished reading The Shack. Incredible read. Although this book is fiction, the author has incredible insights into the inner workings pain and suffering combined with insights into the theology of the Trinity. Although it could be super analyized, it is a novel, after all. It did challenge me and caused me to go deeper into my awareness of God working all around me.
The story is about….
• When the Angels Came…
With all the trauma in Tijuana these days with drug related killings, not as many came South from the U.S. for Christmas this year. The migrant farmer workers from Oaxaca thought no one would come this year. The laborers hazard a make-shift life, while working in the fields South of Ensenada in the farm camps in San Telmos. However, the Bread of Life Church from Torrance organized another annual Mission trip anyway, just to minister to these hard working people. In cooperation with the 4 Christ Mission from San Diego, some 40 plus persons from several Southern California Churches, loaded a great white bus the weekend before Christmas.
We became the “only Christmas” for these families…
• Movie: Tale of Despereaux
I read a good review of the Tale of Despereaux on Kidology.com and decided to act upon the recommendation of Nancy Keith. I took my Grandson Benjamin who is now six. It was a good time, as we enjoyed the film over a bag of popcorn. He followed the plot pretty well, and because I read the review, I was able to orient him to the story, without giving away the ending. He laughed many times, as did many children in the theater. There were a few predictable chases scenes, but understandable stereotypes for rodents. The best part for me was just doing something special for my grandson. The movie is about “forgiveness.”
If you are interested in the review that I looked at, go to http://www.kidology.org
• Kidology Coaching Lessons
“Check your schedule…or you might end up driving in the rain at 7:15 in the morning for absolutely no reason! After starting my nifty new Organization System, courtesy of Coach Barney, I figured out one flaw…on my part. If I don’t check it, it won’t work. So, there I was last Monday, during the first really strong rain storm of the season. I picked up my mom, and started off towards Anaheim. After driving half way there…
• Riddle #9, What Am I?
Can you riddle me this?
Look at me! Red, round and cheesy,
Not fancy, but I am just plain old “easy!”
Once a stranger for the procrastinator,
Now I am that talking congratulator.
I sit around a lot, but I am no slob.
I am the hit, of every completed job.
Once a novice for the “bottom line,”
Now I’m just the recorder of “you’re doing fine!”
I am the ultimate-praise button, hon
No one there, but I say “well done.”
What am I?
I am a __________________
Submit your answer in the comment box, winners will be notified there.
I will be sending a nice prize to the first ten who answers this riddle correctly.
• Indonesian-Family Camp
Our Thanksgiving was really different this year. Some of my family went to Sacramento for a couple of days, while I stayed back and attended the Indonesian Retreat at Rancho Capistrano. It is a beautiful place near San Juan Capistrano, just below Orange County. The conference/retreat center is owned by Crystal Cathedral This annual All-Church Family Retreat is sponsored by The Indonesian Evangelical Church from Azusa, California.
My assignment was to plan the fourteen hours for the children to compliment the concurrent adult program. So our task was to convert this child-care model to an exciting time of ministry for over 25 children. To accomplish this, I hired two of my favorite protege’s and …
• Kidology Coaching Update
Coaching Update: We now have NINE on-line mentoring relationships. This last week with nine protege’s I believe I have turned a corner with our on-line leadership training ministry. Having spent nearly four years writing the curriculum for this program, it is now bearing a kind of tangible fruit that is being helpful on several levels.
There was some doubt about…
• Dale Salwak with LAFCM
It was another great evening of learning and fellowship in the art of gospel illusion. Dale Salwak was our guest lecturer. Dale was immensely helpful to our October Meeting of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians. Above you will see most of Club leadership posing with Dale Salwak. From left to right is Joe Marotta (Vice President), Dale Salwak, Shawn Lindstrom (Librarian), Michael LaFond (President), and Robert Miller (Treasurer). It was another great evening of learning some more professionalism for our craft.
• Closing the Office
We began the new year downsizing the office by removing all our creative products, manufacturing, distribution to Kid Helpers Resources, Inc. As the year wore on our office was becoming just a storage unit. So after several months of struggle with it, it was finally decided to close the office after 36 years in the same place. So I kind of “dropped out” for a solid four weeks to make the move. It was not easy. I would sure rather move someone else, than move my own things. My ministry collection was 40 (plus) years old, so moving and sorting through my accumulation sure brought back the memories. All I had to do was just pick something up and the memories would come.
Then the question would follow…
