Golfing for God... well almost

Saturday morning, April 26th and I'm getting ready to head out to fundraising golf tournement for our children's home in Tijuana, Mexico - Siempre Para Los Ninos.

Siempre's 2nd Annual Golf Classic - dozens of people have been working for months to make sure it all comes together just right. 100 or more golfers will play and hopefully many more people share in the silent auction and dinner afterward. It's a GORGEOUS DAY - sunny, clear, desert like heat... everything's in place for an incredible success.

Now it's in The Hand's of God.

The money for this year's golf classic will help pay for- or even better, completely pay for, our new building at Siempre on our newly acquired property. Thought I'd write about it for awhile, thought better of it and decided to post this little video I shot last week instead. Hoping you'll join us in our work someday. Hear people talk about working together... covenants... Siempre is the result of what happens when people stop talking... and really work... promising to give the results in service to God. Churches from as far away as Florida, Ohio and Washington have spent days or weeks at Siempre. Pastor's and churches from all across Mexico have visited and held meetings at Siempre. Children, Siempre's Kid's, are the better for it all.

Check it out. If you'd ever like to get down to some really good work for God- James 1:27 kind of work - the kind worth giving your life to, contact me. We're hiring a missionary.

blessings,

Eric

it use to be neck ties and dancing

"I do believe that we must come to terms with the sin of autonomy that dominates our practice."

autonomy
au·ton·o·my
Pronunciation: \-mē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural au·ton·o·mies
Date: circa 1623
1: the quality or state of being self-governing; especially : the right of self-government
2: self-directing freedom and especially moral independence
3: a self-governing state

I think it dangerous to even use the term autonomy in relation to the church because it is quite the opposite of New Testament teaching.
Dr. Ron Duncan, A Needed Conversation paper (page 4, paragraph 1)

The first quote is from a church of God blogger I enjoy following. So extreme that the image of all those mormons pulled out of Texas in hopes of rescuing their childeren- big hair, glassy eyes, lock step, came to mind.

The second quote, sadly, was apparently given much thought, read over by a number of instructors at the church of God's school of theology- put in my time there -and even vetted through leaders nation wide before it was sent out in desire to begin "A Needed Conversation" supposedly among peers. It didn't bring to mind images of cult like behavior... it reminded me of a book from the '90's... 1990's... think it was titled "When Managers Become Leaders." It may have been an essay.

Desperate times.

I've never sat down and talked with Dr. Duncan- but giving him the benefit of the doubt -guessing he's just like the rest of us, doing his best day in and day out. Just can't stand it when someone decides they're opposed to a certain way of doing something, then they suddenly have a collection of Bible verses to back them up. Mind you, generations went before them with their very own stack of Bible verses on why something was The Only Way God wanted it done.

It's a tough way to begin "a needed discussion." "I think we should talk about this practice in the church- it's a sin -it's dangerous -it's quite the opposite of New Testament teaching... let's talk about it."

Sound's like someone's fishing for a fight. I'm not in it. They can fight on someone else's time. I've got work to do.

"Free moral agents" I always liked the term... made me feel a little like a ball player. "Free will," pretty well accepted theology- plenty of Bible verses to back it up. Autonomy... wonder why we'd want to be anything but autonomous? Just imagine the churches in Ephesus, Corinth, any of the New Testament churches... without the letters of Paul we have almost no idea how they governed themselves... and Paul's letters didn't exactly get there by fax, phone or email... they were probably years apart. What happened in between?

We don't know.
God watched over things.
Godly people did their best.

At the heart of this "needed discussion" hope that's still what's happening. Hope people still remember that's how God's always built His church. I hope.

Both of my grandfather's were buried without neckties. They were early leaders in the church of God reformation movement and they considered all "outward adornment" a sin. Kind of like those mormons in Texas... without the extra wives. Their zeal and early enthusiasm for The Kingdom has always been an inner motivation... and one more good excuse not to wear a tie... even if I'm pretty sure their idea of New Testament "TRUTH," like that of those pushing the current discussion, might have been a bit misplaced.

There are so many more important battles to wage. Loving, serving, sharing... this is where I plan to spend the rest of my life, the rest of my ministry. I've got a clear Biblical mandate- like the old song says: "from Genesis to Revelation... I believe it all." If Dr. Duncan wants to spend his time on the "sin" of autonomy... you go brother. No worries from me. In fact, this might be my final word on the subject... but I doubt it!

sorry for the late night wandering thoughts... believe it or not, started my morning on the same subject. I've given it a day- good enough.

blessings,

Eric

Kobe Bryant, Fast Cars, No Brains

It's got lawsuit written all over it. The posted video of Kobe Bryant apparently jumping a car speeding by at 50 mph. Bet the Laker's didn't see that one coming when they set up off season restrictions in his contract. No snow boarding, sky diving... and oh yeah, don't jump any cars moving at high speeds either.

Don't have a clue whether it's real or not. Don't care. Have little doubt that Kobe could accomplish the feat... a time or two... but hey, you've seen him when his game is off... jump a second too soon or for that matter a second too late... and a winning season becomes our season of discontent. Ask Shaq.

Changing shoes. Want your kids outside pulling stupid car stunts? Nike's the brand for you. Ask Kobe. Want them winning championships? He wore Adidas for that.

It's a cool piece of special effects or a really stupid way for the young, rich and talented with too much time on their hands to put their bodies at risk. Injuries are on the horizon as kids in Muncie, Indiana and around the world, bored after a long winter, try this at home. Not sure what the message of the commercial is meant to be. Living in Southern California throughout Kobe's career- we all know he's great -jumping speeding cars? Better leave that to someone without a shoe contract, or assets for that matter. Lawsuits will follow.

enjoy the video...

don't try this at home.

blessings,

Eric

My Week... so far...

It all started normally enough- after preaching our services at , Central Community, rested for the afternoon, then headed out to the streets of skid row in Los Angeles for our weekly work with Jackets for Jesus. I'd battled a tooth ache all weekend, so... Monday morning bright and early I was waiting at my dentist office. Fortunately they said they could make the pain go away in a matter of days. Unfortunately it was going to cost several thousand dollars. I walked. Told them I'd live on Motrin until I could make a decision.


That's my friend, Joe, he's a professional fishing guide, member of Central Community and all around good guy who's been trying to get his pastor out on his boat fishing for a year or more... life get's busy... we'd agreed to get together Tuesday morning for a few hours on a local lake. He picked me up just before 7am, beautiful bass boat in tow, me hauling a mouth load of pain and the promise of a dentist who said she'd just pull the tooth for $125- the next day. Fishing ahead, end of pain in sight, we headed out for a great morning.

I've only fished with a guide once before in my life- and never on fresh water -if you've never done it, I highly reccomend it. And if you're in Southern California, give Joe a call, he works all the main, and some of the not so main lakes. Sat back on his boat, used his gear, he even taught me a completely new style of fishing. It's been awhile since I've fished fresh water and even longer since I've targeted large mouth bass. We slayed 'em. Well actually we didn't kill any of them- but we caught a bunch- keeping a few of the larger ones in the live well for a end of morning photo before sending them back to where they belonged, sore lips, but ready to fight another day. While fishing, the tooth pulling dentist called and said she could see me in two hours, it was an early end to our day but I needed an early end to the pain. Here's me before the big release.


also caught this incidental catfish on plastic... this guy went to a friend for dinner!


The dentist ended up saving my tooth and shipping me off to an endodontist who operated with a cool microscope shoved down my mouth... interesting... feels much better now... after 3 days of dental work and several more to come.



Skipped out on Siempre Wednesday and spent the afternoon with friends at CBS Studios in Hollywood for American Idol Gives Back. Getting tickets to the event seemed too good to be true... apparently it was. Ended up being a first come first served kind of deal and we didn't make it in- just a parking lot away from the stars! Still had a great night with friends- stopping in Pomona for dinner -a first for me. They were all natives of the area and Debi and I were able to eat enchilada's and chile relleno while hearing stories of growing up in Pomona. Way better than American Idol!


More dental work Thursday morning. Worked all afternoon then preached in our Thursday everning services. Worked and rested Friday morning then spent the afternoon with mom and dad. Clicked this shot while visiting mom at the nursing home. We'd picked up dad, where he lives with my brother Tim and his wife Nancy, gone through Del Taco, then ate with mom. It's odd the changes in life we can adjust to: dad living with Tim, mom in the nursing home... both amazingly confused much of the time with so little short term memory and the long term fading fast. Makes an afternoon together so sweet. Once mom had tired of us... or actually dad was ready to go, forced dad out for a hair cut then back to Tim's.

Debi and I ended the evening at dinner together in Orange County, waiting for the traffic to ease before we hit the freeway home. It's Saturday morning and I have a full day scheduled, but that's my week... so far... it's been a good one, a painful one, an expensive one, another one... filled with miracles and wonders... hope your week was equally amazing.

blessings,

Eric

a friend to pray for...

Kyle Loza- X-Games Gold Medal Champion -and pretty dog gone near the edge of insanity with his new jump - aptly titled, Electric Death. My sister Kat sent me the link and asked me to pray for him as he prepares for San Diego on Sunday... after watching it... loving his parents... decided we all need to be praying for Kyle.

These guys push it way past the edge- way past my imagination- pretty cool. Thanks John for not riding!

Good Luck Kyle!

you're in our prayers,

Eric

ps
praying for your mom and dad too!

I Might Have to Miss Siempre...

Join Simon, Paula, Randy, and the Idol contestants in the live studio audience!
Idol Gives Back
Wed April 09, 2008
Arrive no later than 3:30 PM

"Thank you for placing a ticket order to Idol Gives Back. This page is your ticket. Please print this page and bring it to the show with you."

Having to change my plans for Wednesday. American Idol... I've been a fan since day 1! Now we're going to be there for the taping of Idol Gives Back... well sort of... most of it was done at the Kodak Theater, last night, Sunday, April 6th. We'll be part of the Hollywood makes it all look live, with the judges, contestants and a "special performance." I can't wait!

Keep your eyes on the show Wednesday night... we've got 16 tickets!

Eric

PS
Tickets for American Idol and other cool shows here

This was in my email this morning.

Congratulations, you have successfully registered 4 ticket(s) to attend the recording of Idol Gives Back on Wednesday April 09, 2008 @ 3:30pm. To retrieve and print your tickets online (if you haven't done so already), please visit the following URL:

pretty cute

"Raise a child up in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it."

enjoy,

Eric