I’LL HAVE A BLOODY MARY, A STEAK SANDWICH AAAND A STEAK SANDWICH
Easier than writing lots of individual emailsArchive for August, 2006
FRIENDS ON THE BLOGROLL
My Blog-roll has turned into a grown-up version of Myspace…the networking abounds. If you haven’t checked it out lately, you might want to. I’ve added many people in the last week…Brian Howard, Tim & Chie Burns, The Murrays, The Crotts, The DeSotos, Abby Lange (she’s married now)…I didn’t hyper link, cuz…well, check the blogroll!
If you have a blog…let me know…
ODE TO PEROXIDE
Well, I finished my very first bottle of hydrogen peroxide..for oral hygiene. Feedback=the one day I went without it, my mouth felt unacceptable…like ’sweaters on my teeth’ as Holly would say. So, for a veritable cornucopia of reasons, peroxide is my new proven favorite tool…I wonder if it would make Oprah’s favorites…’Look under your seats-you all are receiving a 32 oz. bottle of peroxide’…the crowd’s high pitched squeal ensues and then it cuts to commercial…
GOODBYE TO THE HAGENS & HAPPY EARLY B-DAY TO KERRY
God is kind…He’s allowed me to know and share in life with outstanding people. As life progresses and friends follow Him where He leads, it means there are lots of goodbyes in life. Last night 8/29/06 around 6pm, in a huge U-haul with all the kids in tow, the Hagens drove off to San Diego to start a new chapter in their lives. I have had the privilege of sharing much of the last 10 years or so coming in and out of each other’s lives and am bummed that they won’t be ‘in the area’ for a chance meeting at Peets or a BBQ at the park or a church service (either COC or CCC). But, I am incredibly excited for what God has in store for them…because I know they will seek and find it! If you think of it, please pray for them.
While we’re talking about good friends who have moved away to pursue God’s will…Kerry Drew’s B-day is tomorrow…if you want to wish her a South African birthday, click here 
DID YOU MISS THE DVD FROM UGANDA DISCOVERY NIGHT?
Adam has outdone himself and made the 8:33 minute DVD of their Uganda trip available for viewing on his blog (click here) !!!!
This is the same DVD that was shown at Discovery Night. Good Job AP!
MINUTE TO MINUTE
You just never know what life will bring…from joy to sadness and back again. I was JUST about to write a post on how great the Discovery Night went last night at Church of the Canyons when I received an email from my aunt that our cousin Pete collapsed during a gig last night and is in the hospital for his heart. You just never know what life will bring from one minute to the next minute. I may or may not know you, but if you’re a sincere pray-er, will you please pray for Pete? And will you Praise God for the 100+ turnout at Discovery night?
Thanx
THIS ONE’S FOR TODD BOLEN
So, I was reading Todd’s Blog and thought , “These you’ve been tagged things are rarely interesting, However, once again, Todd defies the norm”. I read his answers with great interest and agreement. So, you can imagine my great surprise and honor when Todd wanted to hear mine…in the company of giants like EWZ and Gunner (and 2 guys other that I don’t know). So, while I usually ignore these requests, there are only a few people for whom I’d cave…this one’s for you Todd, because I respect you immensely!
1. One book that changed your life: The Minister As Shepherd by Charles Jefferson and Spiritual depression by Martin Lloyd jones
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: I’ve never heard of this, but I agree with Todd ‘C.S. Lewis, Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces (hard to find!, but some used here)’…my answer would be ‘anything by C.S.Lewis’
4. One book that made you laugh: Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
5. One book that made you cry: A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken
6. One book you wish had been written: The Life of Christ, by Douglas Bookman, True Women’s Ministry by by Betty Price, The Memoirs of a Top Producing Agent by Sonja Lindvall
7. One book you wish had never been written: The Book of Mormon
8. One book you’re currently reading: Seeing With New Eyes by David Powilson
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: God in the Shadows: Evil in God’s World by Brian Morley
WHAT MADE JESUS LAUGH?
Seriously. I’m pretty sure humor has been around since the beginning (the one that had no beginning and has no end). The trinity has perfect communion within itself, does it involve humor? I bet Adam laughed at certain animals as he was naming them…hello, a platypus? Moses probably had a few chuckles at the ridiculousness of wandering…for 40 years! Paul was pretty sarcastic at times. But what might have made the Son of God laugh? C.W. Smith used to say, ‘Where the Bible does not stipulate, we dare not Read the rest of this entry »
DISCOVERY NIGHT-AUGUST 27…WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE!
As you probably know, Adam Powell, Eric Margrave & Jeff Lewis went to Uganda in June and discovered more than they expected! Come, hear, and see their life-affecting discoveries through video, testimony and Q&A!
WHERE: Church of the Canyons 28050 Sand Canyon Rd, Canyon Country 91387
WHEN: Sunday August 27th at 6:30-7:30pm
Please join us and feel free to invite anyone that you think might be interested in learning about this country, this people, and the God who cares for them!
ONE IN A MILLION KIDS
This last weekend I ‘kid-sat’ with some friends of mine (see picture) while the parents traveled to a wedding. 
One senior, one freshman and one 6th grader…one weekend. All those horror stories in movies or on the news of kids defiantly breaking curfew, drinking, driving, etc…and it all falling on the shoulders of the babysitter…none of that happened!
As I expected, they were great. We had fun too and if the 6th grader could be issued a driver’s license, they really wouldn’t need me at all. She’s already an amazing admin assistant: answering phones, taking factual messages, relaying the factual messages, coordinating with the boys, coordinating with the parents (hers and the friends), doing the dishes, watering the plants, manning all the remotes…yeah, if she wants a job in highschool, employers will be vying for her!
“A TIME TO BE BORN, A TIME TO DIE”
If you know me, you probably know how much I love the book of Ecclesiastes…it’s a bottomline book ending in, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
In theory and in practice, today is a mournful day for my family. 
On this day in 1997 our family matriarch, my grandmother, Pattycake, died suddenly of a brain aneurism whilst pumping gas into her silver Volvo.
Today, August 15th is also the birthday of my aunt Alicia. She killed herself last year just after murdering her 5 year old daughter. Alicia would have been 41 today.
What a bizarre example of life and death…41 years ago a delightful baby girl was born and proceeded to live a tormented life. 9 years ago, on the same day, the woman who Read the rest of this entry »
IF NORMAN ROCKWELL WAS A CHRISTIAN
I always have thoughts rattling about and I think ‘oh, i should blog about that’ and then another minute passes and there’s a new topic or experience.
Last Sunday night, our church had our annual outdoor baptism. Seriously, it’s a fine picture of Christ’s power to change lives…the public witness of His grace is altogether encouraging and remarkable!
BEFORE baptism, while at lunch, something happened that makes me smile every time I think of it. To everyone else it probably just looked like a bunch of people eating lunch outside at Baja…and we were. Let me set the stage…at many different tables, the following were in attendance: the Margraves, Brad, Adam, myself, Holly, Siona, Jeff Lewis, Daren, Greg, the Hornings…I think that was everyone. Additionally, since the Horning kids are all old enough to divide and conquer, all 4 sat at different tables from their parents…John chose mine! At my table was Daren, Jeff, John and myself. 
We had engaging conversation about many things…John’s new love for ice-skating (ever since Julianne’s birthday skate party), Daren’s desire to teach him ice hockey, a recent invitation I received to a costume party…you know, the usual. When I stood back and took it all in, I had a moment of peaceful gratitude…this is what living in a community of believers is all about…fellowship and enjoyment in Christ (and Baja Fresh). As Daren and I began a new topic, John let out the loudest, longest man-belch I’d ever heard from him. He then monotonally yelled ‘Excuse Me’ and then burst into roarious laughter. The grown ups at our table started in with the obligatory, ‘John, is that acceptable behavior?’ routine (whilst trying not to laugh) and he replied with, “I said ‘Excuse Me’ and I didn’t mean to do it, so if I didn’t mean to then it’s not wrong.”
Yep, this is the stuff that Normal Rockwell moments are made of. I love that, some day, I will get to tell that story to some girl that’s in love with John…ahhhh, the body of Christ…
EJ IS REALLY GETTING MARRIED
I’m sure you’ve heard by now….Miss Erin Johnston is getting married in Septemeber 2006. Click here to go to their site…
ANDREA KOLSTAD…another FAVORITE HUMAN
Well, I guess these last few posts would indicate that God has blessed me with amazing friends. Friends who have contributed Christ’s love and example to me…here’s another one. Andrea Kolstad is like Jai…a refreshment to one’s soul. MAN, I love her (and her husband, Caleb…she was the Hotchkiss RD and we worked together)! While I don’t have all their daughter’s details…here’s a family photo…again, I have jealousy of this little girl and the parents that she gets to grow up with!
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE ‘SOLVEIG’?
OK, so, Jai Anderson is one of my ALL-TIME favorite humans ever. She has an eye for life that is infectious and charming, yet realistic and, at times, haunting. Her depth, her laugh, her sincerity…all flowing from the fount of her love for Christ…man, what a pure joy! To my glee, there is more Jai DNA on the earth now…please welcome Solveig Kailen Anderson to this world…Sten writes, “Solveig Kailen Anderson decided to join our family Wednesday morning. She is very cute!! Solveig was born at 7:56am, weighed 6lbs. 11oz. and was 19 inches. She and Jai are doing wonderfully well! Thank you for all the love and prayers.” Seriously, Jai & Sten are parents now. WHat?!?!?!?!?! Can you imagine how fun it will be to be that little girl?
MALIA SCORED! WELCOME HOME!
Brian & Lanisa Keith are so good to know-You’re fortunate if you do. They care about you and more importnantly they care about God, His will, His people, His Son, His hope. Now there is someone in their life who will constantly receive their care…they just adopted Malia. If you want to see an encouraging story of God’s grace and His adoption of us, check out Malia’s site…adoption timeline, videos, great pics….it was so encouraging and I could not contain my tears of joy. I even had a moment of jealousy that Malia is getting to have them for parents! By the way, Malia has just been adopted into a highly talented & artistic family. Lanisa sang at Church of the Canyons 2006 Team India Benefit concert this year. …if you want to catch a moment of Lanisa’s gorgeous voice, she’s singing the 2nd song on Malia’s ’coming home’ video.
FLAT PANEL LOVE
As I have progressed in technology, there are a few things that have been on a wish list…designed to make life (personal/business) more effective. I’ve aqcuired and learned several of them so far, but here are the remaining wish list items. I’ve perused Ebay & Craig’s List and Adam Powell has researched other on-line data for me (thanx AP), but I do like the idea of connections & networking if at all possible (i.e. the Sweazy purple couch), so I thought I’d post here too. If you or anyone you know is selling, donating, upgrading, etc. any of the following items, please connect us. Here is what I’m in the market for:
1) A flat panel monitor for my desktop (but want it to quickly become part of a docking station for..)
2) A laptop that’s really good & a docking station
3) An Ipod (I’m actually intimidated by this one, but think it would encourage my ‘in-car Worship Team rehearsals’ if all my music was centrally located. I’ll learn)
3) The new Treo 700
Soooo, let’s see what we come up with…who knows who…who will be randomly remembered that they’re getting rid of x, y, & z
ROLL CALL…WHO WANTS TO BE INVOLVED-UGANDA?
Ok, I have zillions of thoughts swirling about my brain all the time…the futility of car washes…the immensity of the need for Christ…how did they figure out Splenda…how is Michelle Spansel always so calm…I wonder what happned to that stuffed animal that I rubbed it’s ears off when I was a wee one…that can all happen in about 12 seconds.
The big pondering for this whole minute is…’seriously, who’s in’? When I say ‘IN’ that can mean a lot of things…staying here and giving money/being advisors/praying, going there and living, whatever.
The main ideas that seems to be on the table are 1) Start a church and address the biggest need of biblical teaching/pastoral training 2) An ABEX idea…an extension campus in Africa deisgned to serve the locals while giving practical experience and exposure to college students about the reality of need (for Christ, church, aid, etc.) in the world.
Soooo, this is not a shameless appeal for comments. This is not a binding agreement. This is not a guilt trip. Nope, this is just a genuine roll call to see ..who is desirous and feels maybe led to be doing/being something (as a team) to Uganda, Africa? Who has really prayed, researched, received counsel, considered the cost? I think I have some idea, but I’m casting the net farther to see…
