Revolutionary Grace

We hit a bit of a snag in our efforts to gather information for my son's paper on Espionage during the Revolutionary War. In all of our zealous research, we had not collected information from one of the required resources: a newspaper. Yup, that's right. He is required to find an article from a daily/weekly news publication that discusses events that occurred over 200 years ago!

Thank goodness we celebrate Independence Day! I found an article - from a newspaper - that discussed historic places from the time of the Revolutionary War. I knew he could grab a quote or two from an article like that! One hitch: to print the article, I would have to PAY. The cheapest rate I could find was a 1 week "trial" membership to the newspaper archives for $24.95. For ONE article? They have GOT to be kidding, right?

Instead, I took the information I could find for free - the name of the paper, publication date and location of the article in the newspaper - and hopped on down to my local public library. I love that place! As it turned out, our local library branch did not have a hard copy of that article, but they did subscribe to a newspaper research archive online. Guess what? The librarian found the article for me, printed it and placed it in my grateful hands. No charge. After I thanked her for all her help she said, "You are welcome! Don't you just love the library?!" I told her that I did, indeed!

On the way home, I realized what a sweet picture of God's grace I had just experienced. There was something I needed and that item came at a price. I received the object of my desire because someone else made the effort and paid the price on my behalf (Yes, I know our tax dollars pay for the libraries! Work with me here!!). I especially loved the joy the librarian showed at being able to give me what I desired. Seriously, she was happier than I was!

I'm not sure if I have ever considered how much God loves to bestow Grace upon us. I know He blesses us with Grace because he loves us, but I didn't think much about the possibility that he loves the act of bestowing His Grace to us. Does that make sense? I have a picture in my mind of God getting a big handful of Grace and placing it in my hands, me thanking Him and God replying, "You are welcome! Don't you just love Me?"

Father, I do, INDEED!!

East to West - Casting Crowns

I picked up my copy of Casting Crowns: The Altar and the Door today. I am SO loving the walk the Lord and I are on together these days! I had to share this song with you. I pray it blesses you as it has me!

Laughter in the Learning

When my daughter and I walked out of the gym at 6:15am this morning, it was already muggy and hot. The sun was barely up! I started in on my regular whine..."It's sooooo hot! I can't believe...." and I stopped. Instead, I scrambled for something to praise God for. With as much gratitude I could muster, I spontaneously uttered:

"I'm alive, there are trees and I hear a bird!" It was effective. My daughter, who was in the process of quenching her thirst at that precise moment, ended up baptizing the parking lot. That made us both laugh so hard we couldn't walk straight!

For us, joy came in the morning!

Better Days

After my little fiasco yesterday, I ran straight to the words God has given us to live by and flopped in bed with the book of James. I got right down to business and humbled myself in Chapter 3 - no point prolonging the inevitable, right? There was plenty to be humbled by, as you likely know. If you aren't familiar with the book of James, I beg you to take the time to read it. It isn't a big book in the Bible; it is only five chapters long. The wisdom crammed into those five chapters, though, boggles my mind!

Anyway, I was doing my best to accept God's gift of forgiveness and wondering what He would do to change my heart when I reached verse 17: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

This verse comes immediately after the passage reminding us to control our tongues. Coincidence? I think not. How would we change the world around us if our speech was "first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere!" More specifically, how much more effective would my testimony be if people met a woman who lived by these guidelines?

Lord, thank you. Thank you for first holding up a mirror to my behavior, then immediately showing me a way to change what I see into a better reflection of you. I ask for that wisdom that comes from heaven; not that I may be glorified, but that You may be glorified through the change in me. I am amazed by you. amen.

I am praising God that He never leaves me or forsakes me!

Two Steps Forward...

I took a step back in my pursuit of constant praise today. Phoey. I made an uncharitable comment about a company I have been in a love/hate relationship with since my husband and I owned our first home. I said it to my husband, not knowing a representative of the company was also on the phone with us. Of course, that shouldn't matter. I should say nothing about them or an individual in private that I wouldn't say to them directly.

But it goes further than that. If I believe God like I say I do, I should speak in the manner He calls me to in His word, shouldn't I?!

Psalm 19:14 reminds me to, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

The words of my mouth weren't pleasing to Him. They were temporarily pleasing to me, until I actually heard myself speak that way. Of course, when my husband said, "Hon, they are on the phone with us right now," it certainly did not contribute to a sense of satisfaction in being able to vent my frustrations.

So now I'm one step back, but I'm not giving up. God's grace can cover a multitude of sins, even ones I emit of my own free will from my giant mouth.

Merciful Father, I've messed up. I used my mouth as a weapon today and offended someone. My testimony for You has been damaged by my thoughtless behavior. I am sorry. The one I have ultimately sinned against is You. I hate that you had to be nailed to a cross because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I know you are faithful to forgive, although I'll never fully grasp why you would love me enough to forgive me of my petty stuff. Lord, right now I repent of this sin and ask for your forgiveness. In faith I thank you for forgiving me and I thank you for loving me, warts and all. With fear and reverence, I ask you to change me. I want to be a woman who can control my tongue. I want the words of my mouth, -ALL the words of my mouth- to be pleasing in Your sight. You are my best friend. amen

Bittersweet Goodbye

I have served in the Nursery all summer during the Sunday School hour to give the regular worker the summer off. This morning was the last day of being able to offer that service to my sister in Christ. I will still work in the nursery on the occasional Sunday during worship; we all take turns at our church!

But it won't be the same.

I'll miss the way Ellie comes in and heads straight for the table, ready for a few fish crackers to start her day...and the way she loves to dance to "Shackles!" I'll miss Trystine's lilting voice and ever-ready giggle; she always seems downright giddy to be there! I'll miss Jack's unending curiosity at every nook and cranny in the nursery rooms. I don't think there is a square inch in that building he doesn't know about! I'll miss Esther's generosity; whether it is bringing blocks to someone who is building a tower, feeding Jonathan fish crackers or bringing me baby dolls to hold..I guess I look like I need to hold someone a lot! I'll miss the way Jonathan adds sound effects to everything he does, along with some healthy laughs! I'll miss Holly's wide-eyed wonder as she walks through the rooms, observing everyone and enjoying how much fun they have! I'll miss that feeling of accomplishment when a child who began the summer wary of me and even a little scared now runs up to me on Sunday morning with a smile and a hello!

I will continue to see these precious little ones every Sunday and even hang out in the nursery with them from time to time.

But it won't be the same.

Fabulous Friday

It looks like it is going to be another scorcher today, but I don't mind. I woke up with my two dogs staring at me from beside the bed, tails wagging, thrilled I opened my eyes and could finally greet them with a few scratches under their chins. I had clean water to bathe in and drink, clean clothes to wear, and clean cheeks to kiss when I met up with my teenagers for a quick gab session before we each headed out to work/school.

Traffic was light, McD's still has their giant Diet Coke for 69 cents, my coworkers have already made me laugh three times and there is a lovely breeze coming through the door.

I have friends who trust me enough to share their prayer needs with me. I have had meetings that could have been acrimonious, but turned out to be a delight. I mean it: a delight! The Lord has placed me in a position to serve him that may be challenging, but He is right here beside me, no matter the outcome.

And it's Friday!

I Love my Savior!

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - Psalm 106:1

Constant Praise

Let me say up front that I LOVE the library! I love doing research there. I feel like a detective digging up long lost secrets. Last night we were gathering information for a report my son needs to do on espionage during the Revolutionary War. Isn't that a FUN topic? So, we hit the card catalog, er, resource computer and found a long list of books to find. Then we went to the second level of the library and checked out encyclopedias and periodicals for more stuff. Seriously, I was in my element, grabbing books off shelves that pointed me to other books that pointed me to magazines, etc., etc. I felt like I was in a literary version of CSI! My son and I were a vision to behold, I'm sure. We were sweating, photocopying and trying to get the research done in time to get home and watch Glory Road before bedtime! He enjoys this stuff, too, although not as much as me. But when we'd find something cool, I could see in his eyes that all the effort was worth it.

While we were there, we saw another mother/son team engaging in the same activity. They didn't seem to be having as much of a good time as we were, though. At first I was judgemental. Here they were with an opportunity to spend some quality time together and they were definitely not enjoying themselves. Instead I witnessed boredom, frustration and impatience. Tsk, tsk.

On the way home, though, the Lord brought to mind times when I was in their position. Sometimes I am required to participate in activities I do not enjoy. How do I behave in those situations? I act bored, frustrated and impatient. I have even snapped at my kids. I definitely do not have the market cornered on correct behavior.

I remembered a verse in Hebrews and looked it up when I got home:

Through him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips that give thanks to his name. - Hebrews 13:15.

I dug a little deeper with my research and it brought even more clarity to how I need to conduct myself, even when I don't particularly like what I'm doing. Here's one resource I used to gather information if you are like me and want to look it up for yourself. Because this is getting a little long, I'll try to summarize what I learned by paraphrasing. Here's Hebrews 13:15, sav (Soozanne's Abridge Version):

Because we have Jesus to help us, we, both individually and collectively, can and should audibly offer ongoing gratitude and praise to God in all situations and circumstances. Not because the situations are great, but because God is so great. It is sometimes hard to do that, but the gift of Jesus makes it possible for us to do it whether it is difficult or not.

I don't do that. Yes, I do that sometimes. I could probably make the case that I do it most of the time. I don't do it all the time. I know I wasn't offering praise to God when I was stuck in traffic yesterday, when no one liked the dinner I fixed last night or when I found the hole the cat tore in the window screen. Hebrews 13:15 doesn't leave wiggle room for a most-of-the-time kind of praise, though.

It is easy to praise God when I like the portion of the path He and I are walking on. Praise is even more significant, though, when that path becomes muddy, rocky or simply uninteresting and I continue to praise Him. That's the real thing.

So, the next time I am faced with a task I don't like, I will be mindful of the praise I need to offer in the midst of it. What I am already realizing is the one who will benefit most from maintaining such a positive attitude is me. God is so generous in all things, isn't he!

Sappy Mommy

Ponytails, fingernails and new shoes;

Haircuts, Backpack guts and Scout dues...

Those were the days and the ways that

Used to be.

College talk, purity walk and cell calls;
Presidential leadership and firewalls...

Light the horizon of what we've

Yet to see.

From holding hands, squeezing tight, sunglasses hiding tears,

To driving through, quick goodbyes, barely changing gears.

Babies grow up, this much is true, but I'm not sure Mommies ever do.

All of this rambling just to record how very much I love you.

....gosh. All that's missing is "Butterfly Kisses" playing in the background!! Get a grip, Soozanne! It's just the first day of school, for pity's sake!!!

Exactly Who's In Charge Here??

AP "A committee in northern Idaho that reviews school library books will recommend that high school students be allowed to check out two novels without first receiving permission from parents, some of whom find the books offensive."

Just another example of how other people, who don't love your child, want to usurp parental authority. Why do they have such a need to supersede a parent's right to protect their child from inappropriate material? If a person outside the educational community tried that, they'd be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or something like that. Who gave educators the right to make decisions that affect our children? There are some pretty fine teachers out there who are doing a great job, but dolts like these make them all look bad.

It Only Takes a Spark

The Zaca Fire has been burning west of Kern County since July 4. So far, more than 143,000 acres have burned. They aren't expecting the fire to be contained until some time in September; it is burning in an area that hasn't burned in over 100 years, so there's a lot of fuel lying around. Until then, there is an unhealthy air advisory. This photo was taken right outside my front door tonight at around 6:00pm. There have been 29 injuries, some from a helicopter that went down, but thank God no deaths. No major structures have been burned. Cost to fight this fire so far? Over $76 million. What started this? One spark from a power tool.

I have no spiritual truth to glean from this, except the obvious. On my quick trip to the coast earlier this week, we drove past some firefighter camps along the highway. These guys are living in tents, risking their lives to bring this crazy fire under control. Pray for them and their families. Pray for people living in this area with breathing problems. This smoke is starting to affect even those of us who are relatively healthy. Thanks.

Tripping 'em up: or, Sorry, My Bad!

I am the reigning Queen of Procrastination. Here is the proof:

My son has asked that he be allowed to keep his hair "long-ish." I consented; after all, he's 13. My only rule was that his hair could never cover his eyes - I cannot stand not seeing my baby's eyes. He said, "That's cool," then said I could trim his hair whenever I thought it got too long. Great plan, right? It would have been, if it wasn't for that pesky matter of following-through. From the photo you can easily surmise that I dropped the ball on this one. I knew it was getting longer, but it's so hot, I need to to laundry, we need to go back-to-school shopping, blah, blah, blah; excuses, excuses. The result of my procrastination? The rule I placed in my son's lap was broken.

The situation was corrected this afternoon after work. I can now easily see my boy's eyes and he likes his new 'do. I kept it a little shaggy like he seems to want it now, but it is now short enough that he won't be sent home on the first day of school (yes, they have rules about hair length).

After reflecting on this situation a bit, I am more than a little embarrassed. I placed a requirement on my son that, in reality, was my responsibility. Yes, he could have reminded me about the need for a haircut, but short of chasing me around with scissors and a comb (which would be a risky move for many reasons), what else could he do? This time it was something relatively benign. Seriously, haircut, schmaircut; not the hill I want to die on, you know? But it does make me wonder about expectations I place on others that are at least partially out of their control. How often do I hold others accountable for things that are -to some degree- also my responsibility? It brings me back to the days when my parents told me to be careful when I point my finger at someone because that leaves three more fingers pointing back at me!

Just a little something I want to keep in mind the next time I see a little sawdust and decide to get fired up about it...

And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? Luke 6:41, NLT

Ahhhhhh....

SUNSET

Pismo Beach, California, August 14, 2007

It simply doesn't get any prettier than this on this side of Heaven.

His Abundant Grace

After enduring a very difficult week, my daughter and I decided to get out of Dodge. We made plans to meet my little sister (one of my favorite people) and her daughter (one of my daughter's favorite people) for a little back-to-school shopping adventure. The two of us had a couple of hours to visit before we got there, something that is becoming ever more rare now that she has an active social life. I was reminded of how much I really like the person she is and the woman she is becoming; I am blessed and thanked God right then for the gift of Rachel.

As we got closer to our destination, I asked her to pull out the map she downloaded from the internet and give me directions to the outlet mall where we were going to spend our day. Long story short, we ended up parked on a dead-end road in front of an industrial park! The comedy of errors which led us there left us laughing so hard we couldn't call anyone for help if we wanted to! After I caught my breath, called my sister and found my way to our destination, I thanked God for the gift of Laughter.

We completed our shopping mission successfully. All the jeans, capris, tops and the rest were ensconced safely in our trunk. My niece, Rachel's cousin, came home with us in our car so she could spend a few days with her cuz before school begins. As they visited in the back seat, sharing giggles and ringtones, I reflected on our busy day and how much I enjoyed the company of my sister. I took a moment and thanked God for the gift of Family.

We were home for only a few minutes when my daughter's boyfriend came by to pick her up so they could join his family in celebrating a 2-year-old's birthday. The first thing he said was his other sister-in-law was on her way to the hospital to have their much anticipated first child, so that part of the family would be missing from the festivities that evening. We were all giddy with excitement and expectation for this new precious baby, now on its way. Elijah was gracious enough to be born in time for the announcement of his birth at church Sunday morning. I have been able to see pictures of him already. He is pink and handsome with a full head of hair. His mouth, fingers and chubby cheeks are perfect. With tears in my eyes, I thanked God for the gift of New Life.

We worship a generous and loving God. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

-Psalm 57:9-11

Longing for...

A simpler time...

...when hot, sticky days are spent splashing in ponds and searching for shade.

...when families gather over big plates of watermelon, fried chicken and homemade biscuits.

...when evenings are filled with great story-telling, laughter and games.

...when laundry and lawn mowing are social activities.

...when lemonade is actually made from juicy, fresh, yellow lemons.

...when young girls glean incredible wisdom at their elder's knees.

...when little boys don't die.

The sad truth is, no matter how rosy we try to paint the picture, there has never been such a time. Since Adam and Eve introduced sin into this world we have lived with hurt, pain and loss. Yet, I still long for these simple, unspoiled things. When my daughter was small, she longed for us to live in a castle where everyone we loved could live with us all the time. There were times when we had to leave special people, either for a short time or through death. She truly mourned over the loss of their presence in her life and would again lament the lack of a castle big enough for all of us to be together forever. At 16-years-old, she still would love for her dream to come to fruition; so would I.

She and I have placed our hope in something we have never seen, never experienced. But, somehow, we can't let go of our desires. I have to believe it is because God placed that longing in us for a reason. He has given us an idea, a dream, of what Heaven might just be like. At least, He has given us enough desire that we have something to look forward to...even when we face some pretty difficult days.

Today I will attend the funeral of a precious little boy, killed by a man driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs. Today one of my daughter's best friends is moving away. Rachel has already called me once today. She started to make up a reason, but she really just wanted to feel connected to someone. I could hear that longing in her voice. Then she asked me how I was doing. She could hear that longing in my voice, too.

Someday...

... we will live in a castle with everyone we love.

... we will splash in the purest water and feast at a table set for multitudes.

... everything will be a social activity.

... laughter and joy will be as much a part of us as the air we breathe.

... little girls will have all the wisdom they ever need.

.. little boys will never die...

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” Revelation 20:3-5

...longing for the day.....

A Wikipedia Bible?

Finally, we can write the Bible the way we want it to be!!

"WikiGodsWord.Org is a wiki - meaning that anyone can create an account and edit almost any page. If you see an error on a page, you can correct it instantly. Or,if you want to add new content, you don't need to ask for permission first - you just go ahead and create it."

Facing Tragedy

Intellectually, I understand that in this world we will have trouble. I fully accept that God has overcome this world that brings us trouble. I trust He is bigger than any pain, loss, injury or anything else we will ever encounter.

At least, I believe this until I actually have to put my belief into practice. Then we enter a whole new ball game; especially when children are involved. Hey, strike me with lightning, turn all my friends against me, fill me with illness. Just don't do it to my child or someone else's, Lord.

A few years ago, such a tragedy struck my church family. We watched, prayed and believed God for a miracle, but a little 9-year-old boy fought and lost a 2 year battle with brain cancer. The night he slipped into his final coma I told God if He didn't heal this boy, I would never speak to him again. Instead of healing him, he ended this baby's suffering by taking him home to heaven. Please don't talk about "ultimate healing." I hate the term because it belittles my heart's cry for this little boy. It might bring comfort to others, but for me it is just word manipulation. God knew the healing I prayed for and wasn't the "ultimate" kind. I honored my promise and didn't speak to God for a very long time. How could this God who formed the Heavens and Earth, who gave us life simply with His breath, who parted the Red Sea, who placed a child into the womb of a virgin, who raised Lazarus from the dead, who created multiple languages in an instant, how could he let an innocent boy suffer and die? I know disease and death is the result of the sin we introduced to this planet of our own free will as human beings. I accept this. It is the suffering that I could not -would not- forgive God for allowing to happen to this boy. He can do anything, yet He stayed silent. So, I gave Him the silent treatment right back. I didn't talk to Him, I didn't read my Bible. I showed up at church because it was the right thing to do, but I was an empty shell.

The problem arose when I couldn't NOT talk to Him anymore. He has always been the one I turned to; I had nowhere else to go. So, I started chewing Him out. I accused Him of every mean thing I could come up with and a couple I had only read about. For weeks every word I uttered to Him was filled with rage and sarcasm. Guess what? He didn't strike me dead and I was not able to unseat Him from His throne. When I ran out of mean things to say, I ended up at the same place where I started. In this world we will have trouble, I had watched the worst trouble I had ever witnessed unfold in my own church family. The part B of that verse was what I could not accept. Has He, really, overcome the world? If so, He didn't take the rest of us along for the ride, that's for sure.

That's when Jesus did what he always does. In His infinite mercy, he stepped into my pain and threw me a rope. I am a great book lover and find myself wandering through book stores whenever I am in need of comfort (or entertainment). During one of my wanderings, I saw a tiny book on a shelf. All I could see was the spine, so how I was drawn to it is a divine mystery. I pulled it off the shelf, bought it and took it home. It was like God was holding up a light on all the pain I had poured out to Him. I sobbed reading the first couple of chapters. This book lovingly walked me through every ugly, self-serving thought I had allowed to have free reign of my mind for months. It told the story of a grieving man who could find no way out of his pain. True to His character, God showed up and walked this man through a path of healing that gave him a reason to hope again. As I read, I found myself walking down the same path as the main character. I could feel the Lord's compassion as the writer was able to craft a story with words that finally gave me a reason to open my heart to Jesus again.

What amazes me is He found me at my lowest point and used the only thing He knew would reach me, the written word. I had turned away from scripture, wouldn't seek wise counsel, and had shut myself off from the Holy Spirit. But I need to read like some people need water. He knows that about me and met my need at the only place I would receive it. Even when I didn't think I could ever speak lovingly to Him again, He took the time to find a way to reach me, to speak to me, to help me find my way out of a very dark place. He restored my hope when I thought there was no hope.

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope." I Thess. 4:13

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11, read the whole chapter.

Over the course of the past few days, more tragedy has unfolded around me. It has also unfolded around friends I have only recently met. It is unfolding around the world constantly. It can be very easy to become discouraged. This time, I am holding tight to the hope I have in Christ. I may never know why suffering and death have to occur to the innocent, but I trust God's Word. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He never leaves or forsakes the suffering, either. He has firsthand experience with suffering, too. The boy who died three years ago and the boy who died Sunday are both celebrating in Heaven. I know Jesus never left their side. I won't pretend to understand the pain of parents having their babies ripped away from them, but I trust God will walk them through this minefield of grief and meet them wherever He needs to meet them to get them safely to the other side. He is faithful. I'll keep holding on.

A Life Cut Short

Please continue to pray for this family.

LIFE CUT SHORT

Local teen called 'gift' to family, friends dies in collision near Shafter
BY JENNY SHEARER, Californian staff writer

e-mail: jshearer@bakersfield.com Monday, Aug 6 2007 10:10 PM

Loved ones of a teenager killed in a car crash Sunday are remembering him as someone who excelled in school and sports and was a great friend and spiritual example to others.

Photos:

Photo by PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BELLUE FAMILY
Brock Bellue, left, poses with his cousins this year.

Photo by PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BELLUE FAMILY
Brock Bellue with his father, Chris, on a family vacation in 2006.

"The world lost an angel yesterday," Courtney Tobias said Monday about her nephew Brock Christian Bellue. "He just was a gift."
Brock, 13, died in a car accident Sunday on Lerdo Highway at Magnolia Avenue near Shafter, the California Highway Patrol reported. He was riding in the back seat of a sport utility vehicle that was hit by a pickup.
The pickup's driver, Gordon D. Tutton, 60, of Wasco, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
Tutton has faced prior charges of selling marijuana, drug possession and DUI, according to Kern County Superior Court records. In 1989, Tutton was sentenced to two years and one month in prison for second-degree burglary, according to court records.
The Cadillac Escalade rolled several times and Brock was ejected from the back seat. He was not wearing a seat belt, the CHP said. Everyone else in the vehicle was buckled in.
Brock's mother, Kellie Roland, was driving and suffered moderate injuries. She was being treated at Kern Medical Center.
One of Brock's friends, Jordan Root, was in the car and suffered minor injuries.
Brock was born on Feb. 1, 1994.
"Everybody loved Brock," said his grandmother, Nancy Bellue of Bakersfield. He was a soft-spoken, pleasant boy who had endured some health problems.
"Sometimes life isn't that easy, but he seems to have won the hearts of so many age groups because he was so easygoing," Bellue said.
Brock liked to play golf and shot an 88 on a course in Avila Beach during the weekend.
Bellue thinks Brock's deceased grandfather, Arnold Kirschemann, a talented golfer, must have put a golf club in Brock's bassinet.
The red-haired, blue-eyed boy with freckles attended Heritage Christian Schools since preschool.
A stellar student and multisport athlete, Brock loved the Los Angeles Lakers. Bellue has a picture of him smiling broadly while standing next to former Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal.
A school administrator said Brock lived his faith and was respected by his peers.
"He carried a great Christian heart and attitude about himself," said Kent McClain, superintendent at Heritage.
School starts Aug. 20 and McClain believes Brock's death will draw the close-knit school together.
The boy had a sweet disposition, loved ones said. Nancy Bellue said when Brock was about 3 years old, they were in the car together on a brisk sunny morning after a spring rain.
Brock looked up at the sky and said, "'Oh, the clouds have made room for the sky,'" Bellue remembered.
The boy was "elated to see all the blue breaking through the clouds," she said Monday. "Now he's up there."
Brock is survived by his father, Chris Bellue; mother Kellie Roland; stepfather Stephen Roland; siblings Steven and Reagan Roland and Gabrielle Bellue; grandparents Nancy and Bob Bellue; grandmother Joy Kirschemann; numerous aunts and uncles; and 16 cousins.
Funeral arrangements are pending.

A Parent's Worst Nightmare...Please Pray

The 13-year-old son of my coworker was killed this weekend. I just found out when I came into the office this morning. Please pray for Chris, the teen's dad, and their family. Pray for wisdom in how to help Chris through this time. My son is 13, also. This hits way too close to home for me. Thank you for your prayers. ~Suzanne

Young teen killed in drunken driving crash near Shafter

The Bakersfield Californian Monday, Aug 6 2007 7:43 AM
Last Updated: Monday, Aug 6 2007 7:50 AM

A 13-year-old Bakersfield boy was killed Sunday in a drunken driving crash at 6 p.m. near Shafter, the Kern County Coroner's staff reported.

Brock Christian Bellue was a rear seat passenger in a 2003 Cadillac sports utility vehicle which was broadsided by a 1984 Ford pickup truck at Lerdo Highway and Magnolia Avenue, the staff said.

Bellue was the only one in the crash not wearing a seat belt and he was ejected as the Cadillac overturned several times, California Highway Patrol officers said.

He died an hour later in the emergency room at Kern Medical Center.

The pickup was driven by Gordon D. Tutton, 60, of Wasco, who was arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving, officers said.

He was going north on Magnolia Avenue at about 40 to 45 mph, failed to stop at a stop sign at Lerdo Highway and broadsided the Cadillac as its driver, Kellie Roland, 40, of Bakersfield, was going about 70 mph east on Lerdo Highway, officers said.

Roland suffered moderate injuries, while another passenger, Jordan C. Root, 14, suffered minor injuries, officers reported.

Tutton and his passenger, Shalie Cole, 21, of Bakersfield both suffered minor injuries.

Sunday Recreation

Here's a video my son shot of me hangin' wit my peeps at the local skate park after church today:



Or just follow this link.

Okay, I'm just funnin. Isn't that funny??!

Random Saturday Thoughts

None of these are worth an entire blog entry, but I wanted to share, so here they are:

-We saw the Bourne Ultimatum yesterday. Awesome! The PG-13 rating is definitely for violence, but IT ROCKED!! I don't know if the story was that great, but the action didn't stop from the minute the movie began.

-My daughter comes home today from Youth Camp. I've only talked to her a couple of times since she's been away, but I sense she has a lot to share with me. Why can't adults be as open to scriptural teaching as teens? These kids come home changed. If adults went, they would spend the next week critiquing the speakers. You know it's true!

-My son is almost as tall as me. At 5'3", I knew it would happen eventually. The daughter outpaced me years ago, but he's my baby! Don't tell him I said that!

-I wonder if God made women because the idea of having only a guy to talk to for eternity was unbearable. I have spent the last week interacting with mostly men and I have had my fill of them. God bless them; just keep them away from me for awhile!

-I have decided what I hate most about doing laundry is not the washing and drying; it's the folding and putting away. It never ends! And, why is it that when I finally decide we'll never find the other sock and throw the one I have away...the missing one turns up? There are alternatives to throwing them away, though.

-I am beginning to understand why some people think parenting children when they are toddlers is easier than parenting them when they are teens. When they're small, all we need to do is hold them and love them to make things better (bless God, my kids were healthy, so chronic illness wasn't something I had to get through or I'd have different thoughts on this isue). Once they get older, hurts aren't as matter-of-factly dealt with. Kisses don't always make these more mature boo-boos go away. Plus, it is challenging to adjust to the fact that we are not the center of their worlds anymore. We're a significant part of their lives, but so are other things. That's healthy, but sometimes I miss all the attention. Of course, if you asked me when they were elementary schoolers, I would have told you I was looking forward to a time when they wouldn't need me so much.

-I love Starbucks Passion Iced Tea...sweetened with Splenda, of course! As a non-Coffee drinker, I love having a cold alternative to chai, which is also good, but calorie-laden!

-I just got a new CD in the mail by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. If you are looking for some great instrumental music, this one's for you!

I'm going to spend a couple of hours with my boy. It will be our last time alone, without the daughter, for awhile. I love having alone time with my kids! Enjoy your Saturday!

Geocaching

My 13-year-old son has a private blog where he records his thoughts to share with only his closest friends...and his mom. I check in occasionally and this morning I found an entry that I knew I had to post here. My family and I have found a great pastime to share with each other. It is called Geocaching. You go online and find coordinates for a "hidden treasure" and use a handheld GPS device to find it. It is seriously fun and addictive. The caches are everywhere; we've found them in small tourist spots and in remote mountain locations. I hear there are even a couple on Mt. Everest! I wish I could describe the excitement we all feel when we find one of these caches. I have wanted to blog about it myself for some time, but always get distracted. My son beat me to the punch! With his permission, I am sharing his blog entry here. My technogeeky, 13-year-old goes by "Elmer" online, although that isn't his real name. He is such a crackup!

Here are a couple of links to more information Geocaching that can be found online, although there are many more. Use goodsearch as your search engine and have fun!

Geocaching.com

Wikipedia Geocaching Entry

Geocaching Webring

And now, without further ado, my son's blog:

I just thought I'd tell you a little bit about Geocaching. Geocaching is a family game. In this game you, not the computer, are the search engine.

There are boxes with at least a pen and piece of paper inside them. The paper is for you to "log" your visit. Also, in some caches there are little trinkets such as quarters, kid's meal toys, $3 bills, etcetera. You bring a bag of trinkets and if you want to, you exchange one of your trinkets for a trinket of (hopefully) equal or lesser value. Some people don't even take anything, they just leave a trinket.

Elmer's Recommendations

To start geocaching you need two things: 1. A GPS, and 2. Web Access. If you are new to the sport, I would recommend a Garmin eTrex yellow as a starter GPS. I use it. A guy who found 1,000 caches uses it. It is inexpensive so If you try geocaching and do not like it you don't lose hundreds of dollars. I recommend a day bag or fanny-pack-type of bag. If you are going caching and need more room, use a fannypack or a school backpack that is empty.

What to Pack

My dad and I pack two 2 liter bottles of water, a rain poncho(one per person), a big Buck knife, Kodak EasyShare DX7630 (OPTIONAL), and a bag with: a razor blade, pair of gloves, flint and steel, Mini Mag-Light, duct tape, matches, magnetic compass, cotton balls, extra flashlight, a big multi tool, Ziploc bag with trade items, a pen, and a Bag of candy (rejuvenation purposes). In my pockets are a Leatherman Micra, hanky, chap stick, and wallet. I have no clue what's in my dad's pockets, he could pull a canoe out of his back pocket and I wouldn't be surprised. In my hands are a Garmin eTrex Yellow and The cache page(s), which are both sometimes in my pockets. We have never run into trouble before. Also optional are a map and compass, pen or pencil and paper, small amounts of food, spare batteries, and a flashlight.

What to Wear

"The best way to deal with lots of temperatures is to layer" - Tyrell Seavey, professional Musher and Iditarod racer.

If you are in cold weather, wear 1. A Base Layer, 2. Mid Layer, 3. Outer Layer. A base layer is long underwear and long t-shirt. It has to be pretty tight. This is to wick away any sweat, which will cause you to get colder. It should be wool or synthetic fiber. A mid layer is usually fleece, wool, or down. Seavey said, "Spend the most for your mid layer". The mid layer is responsible for most of your insulation. An Outer layer is a hard or soft shell defense from wind and other weather. If it's wet use a hard shell. If it's dry, use a soft shell. Anything will work for a hard shell, a trash bag with head and arm holes, a jacket, pretty much Anything. A soft shell is the main type for any weather. You need to wear hiking boots. When buying hiking boots you need to try on as many as humanly possible. "Hike" the store for 10 minutes per pair. If it is winter, get a boot with some extra toe room for blood circulation. It's better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it. In other words, it's okay if you're boots are a bit bulky. Just break them in and they will be comfy. Kick the floor while wearing the boots or shoes while in the store. If your toe touches the floor, think about your toes, will they hit the shoe when walking downhill?

"If you want dry socks; layer. Wear a thin neoprene or silk sock liner next to your skin. Then, slip your foot inside a plastic grocery bag. Sounds weird, but it creates an inexpensive light weight vapor barrier" - Jeff Mathy, a professional mountaineer

In warmer weather you don't need to worry about all that, just throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and you're good. That is, unless there is a chance of cooler weather or rain. In said situation, you need to be prepared.

Insults They'll Thank You For

Oh, how I wish I could think up smart insults like these! I found this compilation and had to pass it along!

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” — Winston Churchill

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” — Clarence Darrow

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” — William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” — Groucho Marx

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” — Mark Twain

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” — Oscar Wilde

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend… If you have one.” — George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill…followed by Churchill’s response:

“Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second, if there is one.” — Winston Churchill

“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.” — Stephen Bishop

“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” — John Bright

“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” — Irvin S. Cobb

“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” — Samuel Johnson

“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.” — Paul Keating

“He had delusions of adequacy.” — Walter Kerr

“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” — Mark Twain

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” — Mae West

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” — Oscar Wilde

Lady Astor once remarked to Winston Churchill at a Dinner Party, “Winston, if you were my husband, I would poison your coffee!”
Churchill replied, “Madam if I were your husband I would drink it!”

I'm Banned in China!

Should I be happy or sad about this?


Does this make me a dissident? A subversive? Nah. Just a Jesus Lover!

Find out if you're banned, too! Great Firewall of China

Identity Theft: A Different Perspective

Someone wants to steal your identity. Yes, there are all kinds of people digging through dumpsters and hacking into websites for the express purpose of taking control of our financial identity, but they are not who I am thinking about. I am talking about the one who wants to do more than hurt our bank account. He wants to destroy our lives completely. Of course, this thief is satan.

John 10:10a tells us, "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy." If we have not received God's grace and mercy through salvation in Jesus Christ, his goal is to keep it that way. If we already have a relationship with Jesus, he wants to keep us from sharing that truth with others.

His tactics are not obvious...we'd see right through them if they were. He doesn't strike us down with heart attacks, take the lives of people close to us, or cause accidents...these events occur naturally as our lives unfold. We live in a fallen world and pain, death and disease are a sad consequence of the sin our fleshly nature introduced into the relational mix from the beginning. We were warned, "In this world you will have trouble..." (John 16:33) and that is certainly true! Instead, satan gives us reason to doubt our abilities, question our worthiness and point out reasons to be offended by our Christian siblings. These things serve to steal our identity. When we hear those whispers of doubt, we need to have the ammunition to fight back. In the wilderness, Jesus used scripture. We need to be able to do the same thing.

1. WE ARE ABLE! in Hebrews 30:20-21 Paul prays,

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

AMEN!

2. WE ARE WORTHY! Ephesians 1:13-16 tells us,

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."

God, through the grace of Jesus Christ, has deemed us worthy enough to be His possession!

3. WE ARE LOVING! As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit in us, which gives us the ability to behave and forgive in ways we could never accomplish on our own. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us,

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

That's only the tip of the bountiful iceberg left for our edification in God's Word. I began with John 10:10a, which tells us about satan's plan. Here's John 10:10b: "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." That is Jesus Himself talking there! He is speaking the truth God wants us to hold onto. Don't let satan steal your identity in Christ. God has a greater plan for you.

You are a Child of God! Live like it!