The latest news from Family of Christ is that a bunch of us had lunch with John McCain and Misty May (Who won the gold medal for beach volleyball last week) on Sunday. We had a great time. We even watched a Diamondbacks game together. I had a bratwurst and then some Panda Express. Darla and the kids had pizza. The rest of the Family of Christ had all kinds of different foods and drinks. I didn't see what John and Misty were eating but I have a feeling they didn't stand in line to buy it. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to give John any advice on a running mate, and Misty wouldn't let me hold her gold medal. But it sure was a lot of fun being with them.
Now I have to admit that we didn't have a lot of conversation, actually we didn't have any at all. It is kind of hard to talk to someone when they are on the other side of the field or in a box suite. 20,000 other people kept getting in the way as well. But I saw them on the big screen in the stadium. John was there, well because he is from Phoenix and with the Democratic Convention this week, he might as well take a few days off. And Misty was there because her husband plays for the Florida Marlins who the Diamondbacks were playing.
Family of Christ's name appeared on the big screen as well during the game, so you could say that we did share the spotlight with them. Overall a great time was had by all.
Pastor Fred
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hey Let's do some Bible Study
Starting on Tuesday September 9th there will be a new Bible study called TUMBS. It is for whatever ails you. TUMBS stands for Tuesday Morning Bible clasS. We will be studying the book of Luke this year. The class starts at 9 a.m. with some coffee and refreshments and then the study will start at 9:15 a.m. and go until 10:15 a.m. Everyone including parents in the Learning center are invited to take part. It will be lots of fun. The book of Luke presents the life of Christ a easy to follow manner and has many of the good parables. So come and join us in Room 1.
Pastor Fred
Pastor Fred
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Where have I been?
That is what many people have been asking when they look at the blog online. What in the world have you been doing? Well I will have to admit not so much that I couldn't have updated this blog sooner. But lately yes I have been on the run. At the end of July I spent a week in Seward Nebraska. It sounded like a fun entertaining place so why not right? It is a corn lover's dream. Corn as far as you can see and cattle mooing in the background. Let me tell you it was the highlight of my summer. That is why they call me mister excitement! No actually I was there for a music and worship conference. It was great, 720 people gathered together to study music and liturgy and worship and 719 of them could sing and play. I sat in the audience. It was the best conference I have ever been too. Learned a ton and enjoyed it all. Then two days after getting home I headed up north for a Pastor's Retreat. That was fun too. Then I had a couple of days in the office and headed up to Lewiston Idaho to do a wedding. I am sure you have heard of Lewiston it is famous for....? Well anyway it is in Northern Idaho and the scenery is great, no corn fields there. Finally got back to Phoenix last night. I am tired, I just want to stay home for awhile, but this weekend we are headed back up north to install a guy in Payson. It never ends.
I learned some things on my trips though. The first one is that there is no good substitute for toothpaste. No matter how hard I plan I always forget something and the new airline restrictions don't help. So when I got to Seward I realized the next morning I had forgot my toothpaste. Well my roommate had already left so I couldn't ask to borrow his and I was going to be spending the day with over 700 people. Skipping brushing my teeth was not an option. So I headed to the bookstore and they didn't have any. So there I stood in the bathroom with my toothbrush but no paste. It was then that I saw the bar of soap I had just used in the shower. My mind went back to all those times I sat in a corner with one of those in my mouth because of some word I had said. I didn't remember it being very pleasant. But man not brushing my teeth, that thought I couldn't stand. So as I looked at it I thought well it is just soap right? And isn't toothpaste soap. Well.... So I ran my toothbrush across it several times closed my eyes and began to brush my teeth. The first 5 seconds weren't so bad but then the soap was all over my mouth and I think I swallowed some. Thankfully I was in the bathroom alone because within seconds I found my self on the floor gagging and then spitting everything out of my mouth into the sink. I was filling my mouth with water and doing everything I could to get it out. It took an hour or so before the taste of soap finally left my mouth. Again there is no good substitute for toothpaste.
Second lesson. You know that car insurance they always want you to take out on a rental car? Well not a bad idea. I have driven tons of rental cars and never had a problem and felt I had been flushing money down the drain buying that insurance. So when I arrived in Spokane this past week I turned down all the insurance. I mean what could possibly happen? Five miles from the airport on I-90 headed into Spokane a semi passed me and threw up a rock and hit the windshield dead center. Huge rock chip! I still am waiting for the bill on that. Buy the insurance!
The other thing I learned is that every place you have lived has certain things you always have to do when you return. Lewiston is a town of about 30,000 people with about another 15,000 across the river in Clarkston. Not very big compared to Fort Wayne or Phoenix. But it has two of the best restaurants I have ever been to. One is Fazzaries in Clarkston WA. Best pizza ever, bar none. And then Taco Time in Lewiston. Now I know they are a chain and I have ate at a great number of them. But the one in Lewiston is the best one in the country. It has even won awards to show it. No other Taco Time measures up. Then I found another little restaurant which I will return to some day. My buddy suggested we go eat breakfast at a place called the Bait Shop. Not exactly the most appealing sounding place to eat. So I reluctantly went. It is a fisherman's hang out with all kinds of fishing gear on the walls and most of the people in there looked like they spent all their time fishing. Sometimes they even put a gummy worm on your plate. Well I ordered breakfast and I have to tell you I have never tasted pancakes so good in my life. I think we spent close to two hours in there eating and talking. It is just a tiny run down looking place but man the food is out of this world!
So that is what I have been doing since April. Basically traveling and eating. I will try to be more regular here.
Pastor Fred
I learned some things on my trips though. The first one is that there is no good substitute for toothpaste. No matter how hard I plan I always forget something and the new airline restrictions don't help. So when I got to Seward I realized the next morning I had forgot my toothpaste. Well my roommate had already left so I couldn't ask to borrow his and I was going to be spending the day with over 700 people. Skipping brushing my teeth was not an option. So I headed to the bookstore and they didn't have any. So there I stood in the bathroom with my toothbrush but no paste. It was then that I saw the bar of soap I had just used in the shower. My mind went back to all those times I sat in a corner with one of those in my mouth because of some word I had said. I didn't remember it being very pleasant. But man not brushing my teeth, that thought I couldn't stand. So as I looked at it I thought well it is just soap right? And isn't toothpaste soap. Well.... So I ran my toothbrush across it several times closed my eyes and began to brush my teeth. The first 5 seconds weren't so bad but then the soap was all over my mouth and I think I swallowed some. Thankfully I was in the bathroom alone because within seconds I found my self on the floor gagging and then spitting everything out of my mouth into the sink. I was filling my mouth with water and doing everything I could to get it out. It took an hour or so before the taste of soap finally left my mouth. Again there is no good substitute for toothpaste.
Second lesson. You know that car insurance they always want you to take out on a rental car? Well not a bad idea. I have driven tons of rental cars and never had a problem and felt I had been flushing money down the drain buying that insurance. So when I arrived in Spokane this past week I turned down all the insurance. I mean what could possibly happen? Five miles from the airport on I-90 headed into Spokane a semi passed me and threw up a rock and hit the windshield dead center. Huge rock chip! I still am waiting for the bill on that. Buy the insurance!
The other thing I learned is that every place you have lived has certain things you always have to do when you return. Lewiston is a town of about 30,000 people with about another 15,000 across the river in Clarkston. Not very big compared to Fort Wayne or Phoenix. But it has two of the best restaurants I have ever been to. One is Fazzaries in Clarkston WA. Best pizza ever, bar none. And then Taco Time in Lewiston. Now I know they are a chain and I have ate at a great number of them. But the one in Lewiston is the best one in the country. It has even won awards to show it. No other Taco Time measures up. Then I found another little restaurant which I will return to some day. My buddy suggested we go eat breakfast at a place called the Bait Shop. Not exactly the most appealing sounding place to eat. So I reluctantly went. It is a fisherman's hang out with all kinds of fishing gear on the walls and most of the people in there looked like they spent all their time fishing. Sometimes they even put a gummy worm on your plate. Well I ordered breakfast and I have to tell you I have never tasted pancakes so good in my life. I think we spent close to two hours in there eating and talking. It is just a tiny run down looking place but man the food is out of this world!
So that is what I have been doing since April. Basically traveling and eating. I will try to be more regular here.
Pastor Fred
Monday, April 7, 2008
Living in a Kid's World
A funny thing happened this weekend, I realized I like living in a kid's world. We had a bunch of older family members visiting this week and then on Saturday we had a bunch more older ones show up at our house for a day long visit. Now that sounds like lots of fun at first, and they were all very nice, but they didn't fit into our kid's world. Now I not just referring here to our "Kid's" world but my kid's world as well. Let me explain. Years ago BK (before kids) we used to watch shows like CSI and Cold Case and Criminal Minds. We, or I in particular used to watch serious and sometimes action or violent movies, and it was quiet when we did these things. Our world was an adult world, where if there were children present, they were seen and not heard. Then the gumba's, the twins came along and everything suddenly changed.
Our world now is a kid's world. We do not watch CSI or Cold Case or Criminal Minds any longer. They are too dark and scary for the kids. We do not watch violent movies for the same reason. In fact we hardly watch TV at all any longer. When we do watch it is Sesame Street and Elmo and good cartoons. We also watch kid's movies, I can recite lines and songs from Madam Blueberry and Pooh. We still watch the news but we have to sit close so that we can hear it over their playing. We sing kids songs and we play kid's music. Our kids also have an electronic drum machine and a keyboard which is constantly being used. Our house is always full of music. We also spend a great deal of time playing outside in the yard or at the park. We ride bikes, we play on swings. In other words we live in a kid's world.
So it was hard this weekend to all of sudden be living in an adult world. I didn't much like it to be honest. They expected my kids to be quiet, they expected my kids not to play their keyboard and drum machine. They wanted to watch a serious movie, and be able to hear it. They didn't want the kids interrupting their conversations. The adults, as usual, made it all about what they wanted. At one point I took the kids and spent several hours playing with them instead of talking to the adults.
Needless to say, although the adults were nice and friendly, I was glad to see them pull out of my driveway so that I could go back to my kid's world. Today I will probably watch Madam Blueberry for the 157th time. I will probably read another kids book at bedtime. I will probably get in a tickling contest and lose. I will probably set up the bubble machine and listen to them hammer on the keyboard and dance around the room to their own beat. That's my kid's world and I love it. Someday I will return to the serious adult world and I will probably complain about other people's kids making to much noise, but for now turn up the music, put on Elmo and let the bubbles rise. Kids really know how to live.
Pastor Fred
Our world now is a kid's world. We do not watch CSI or Cold Case or Criminal Minds any longer. They are too dark and scary for the kids. We do not watch violent movies for the same reason. In fact we hardly watch TV at all any longer. When we do watch it is Sesame Street and Elmo and good cartoons. We also watch kid's movies, I can recite lines and songs from Madam Blueberry and Pooh. We still watch the news but we have to sit close so that we can hear it over their playing. We sing kids songs and we play kid's music. Our kids also have an electronic drum machine and a keyboard which is constantly being used. Our house is always full of music. We also spend a great deal of time playing outside in the yard or at the park. We ride bikes, we play on swings. In other words we live in a kid's world.
So it was hard this weekend to all of sudden be living in an adult world. I didn't much like it to be honest. They expected my kids to be quiet, they expected my kids not to play their keyboard and drum machine. They wanted to watch a serious movie, and be able to hear it. They didn't want the kids interrupting their conversations. The adults, as usual, made it all about what they wanted. At one point I took the kids and spent several hours playing with them instead of talking to the adults.
Needless to say, although the adults were nice and friendly, I was glad to see them pull out of my driveway so that I could go back to my kid's world. Today I will probably watch Madam Blueberry for the 157th time. I will probably read another kids book at bedtime. I will probably get in a tickling contest and lose. I will probably set up the bubble machine and listen to them hammer on the keyboard and dance around the room to their own beat. That's my kid's world and I love it. Someday I will return to the serious adult world and I will probably complain about other people's kids making to much noise, but for now turn up the music, put on Elmo and let the bubbles rise. Kids really know how to live.
Pastor Fred
Read Thru the Bible week 22
Here are the readings for this week
April 7 - Psalms 24, 25, 26 and John 10:22-42
April 8 - Psalms 27, 28, 29 and John 11:1-29
April 9 - Psalms 31, 35 and John 11:30-57
April 10 - Psalms 36, 37, 38 and John 12:1-26
April 11 - Psalms 39, 40, 41 and John 12:27-50
April 12 - Psalms 53, 55, 58 and John 13:1-20
April 13 - Psalms 61, 62, 65 and John 13:21-38
Pastor Fred
April 7 - Psalms 24, 25, 26 and John 10:22-42
April 8 - Psalms 27, 28, 29 and John 11:1-29
April 9 - Psalms 31, 35 and John 11:30-57
April 10 - Psalms 36, 37, 38 and John 12:1-26
April 11 - Psalms 39, 40, 41 and John 12:27-50
April 12 - Psalms 53, 55, 58 and John 13:1-20
April 13 - Psalms 61, 62, 65 and John 13:21-38
Pastor Fred
Monday, March 31, 2008
Adventures in Cardiology
For those of you who don't know I just spent an adventuristic weekend in Chandler Regional Hospital. I went in because I had some pain in my chest and some trouble breathing on Friday. I really didn't want to go in because I figured they would just tell me it was gas or my imagination. But it wouldn't stop so I went. When I arrived at the hospital and took a look at the ER I almost got back in my car and drove home. It was packed. But I discovered something during my visit that might be of use to some of you. If you ever have to go to ER for any reason and you want to avoid the long lines just walk up to the front and inform them that you are having problems with your heart. Let me tell they get all excited about that. You will be moved right to the front of the line. Then when you are getting taken care of you can just kind of mention your real problem and hey you are already there.
Well my little visit turned into several hours in ER and then getting checked into the hospital. The next day it resulted in a heart cauterization. Which is where they stick a tube up through your leg and into your heart and spray dye all over to see what your problem is. They didn't discover any blockage but they did discover some heart disease and some narrowing of the passages. I ended up not getting out of there until Sunday night. Needless to say I am now on several medications I can't even pronounce. They said the first week or so they would make me tired and dizzy. Like that would be any different from how I feel all the time now. They were right, I have spent most of today drifting in and out at my desk.
I am not exactly happy about all of this, especially when I saw the diet they want me to follow. It should have just said, "Eat Cardboard." Now I have to reorganized my life, because these pills have be taken at certain times under certain conditions and I have to be aware of certain side effects. I also have to pay close attention to my diabetes. So now I am making doctor's appointments and trying to figure my schedule for eating and I have to cut down on coffee, popcorn, salt, butter you name it. It is going to be a real pain.
The good news is I am still alive and it looks like I am going to keep breathing for some time. In the end I look at it as a God thing, because I had not been taking my meds as I should, and I had not been eating the right way. I was skipping breakfast, drinking to much coffee and pop and paying no attention to my sugar levels. Well now I don't have a choice. Or at least I don't have more than one good choice. Get my act in gear or die in my backyard clutching my chest. I think I will chose the first option. I can still drink a little coffee and most importantly I might just be around for my kids graduation from college.
So I would encourage all of who are not taking care of your health to start, because even spending three days in the hospital was hard, imagine spending weeks there. Plus if you don't take care of yourself you will find yourself facing all kinds of fun restrictions on your diet and taking all kinds of pills.
Pastor Fred
Well my little visit turned into several hours in ER and then getting checked into the hospital. The next day it resulted in a heart cauterization. Which is where they stick a tube up through your leg and into your heart and spray dye all over to see what your problem is. They didn't discover any blockage but they did discover some heart disease and some narrowing of the passages. I ended up not getting out of there until Sunday night. Needless to say I am now on several medications I can't even pronounce. They said the first week or so they would make me tired and dizzy. Like that would be any different from how I feel all the time now. They were right, I have spent most of today drifting in and out at my desk.
I am not exactly happy about all of this, especially when I saw the diet they want me to follow. It should have just said, "Eat Cardboard." Now I have to reorganized my life, because these pills have be taken at certain times under certain conditions and I have to be aware of certain side effects. I also have to pay close attention to my diabetes. So now I am making doctor's appointments and trying to figure my schedule for eating and I have to cut down on coffee, popcorn, salt, butter you name it. It is going to be a real pain.
The good news is I am still alive and it looks like I am going to keep breathing for some time. In the end I look at it as a God thing, because I had not been taking my meds as I should, and I had not been eating the right way. I was skipping breakfast, drinking to much coffee and pop and paying no attention to my sugar levels. Well now I don't have a choice. Or at least I don't have more than one good choice. Get my act in gear or die in my backyard clutching my chest. I think I will chose the first option. I can still drink a little coffee and most importantly I might just be around for my kids graduation from college.
So I would encourage all of who are not taking care of your health to start, because even spending three days in the hospital was hard, imagine spending weeks there. Plus if you don't take care of yourself you will find yourself facing all kinds of fun restrictions on your diet and taking all kinds of pills.
Pastor Fred
Reading thru the Bible week 21
Here are the readings for this week
March 31 - Psalms 4, 5, 6 and John 7:1-27
April 1 - Psalms 7, 8 and John 7:28-53
April 2 - Psalms 9, 11 and John 8:1-27
April 3 - Psalms 12, 13, 14 and John 8:28-59
April 4 - Psalms 15, 16 and John 9:1-23
April 5 - Psalms 17, 19 and John 9:24-41
April 6 - Psalms 20, 21, 22 and John 10:1-21
Pastor Fred
March 31 - Psalms 4, 5, 6 and John 7:1-27
April 1 - Psalms 7, 8 and John 7:28-53
April 2 - Psalms 9, 11 and John 8:1-27
April 3 - Psalms 12, 13, 14 and John 8:28-59
April 4 - Psalms 15, 16 and John 9:1-23
April 5 - Psalms 17, 19 and John 9:24-41
April 6 - Psalms 20, 21, 22 and John 10:1-21
Pastor Fred
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