Blossoms

I have loved spring blossoms ever since I grew up in San Jose. Then, the blossoms meant that summer was coming and I would be out of school. I loved school but around March I started looking forward to that routine of classes and pressures to change. Blossoms meant that summer was coming.

There is something about a gorgeous apple blossom tree or a "tulip" magnolia tree that just expands us with their beauty.  I llike really big, old blossoming trees. These have come into bloom year after year and are still putting out those dainty blossoms that sprinkle on you like spring snow.

How fun is spring. And of course, we feel the warm spring on our backs and we think of digging in the ground and just being outside. We lighten up from winter cares. We become a bit whimsical. We watch the clouds and really see the greening grass.

I love to take a walk in the spring. Walking on a warmish spring day does something for my soul. There are times we need to be dormant. But, spring is a time for new things. Are you ready to bloom and blossom? Take a walk. Really look at what is happening in nature. Feel God's love on you and feel His hand on your back and your life. You may do a little hop-scotching or think about it anyway. And suddenly, you are showering out sparks of joy and vitality along with all of God's world.

As my friend, Connie Rhodes said along time ago to me. "Spring is a time for new things." Yes, but we must be ready and be renewed in our hearts to launch into that newness.

THE EARTH IS FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

Waiting

Have you discovered that life is full or waiting?

When we are young we wait for the next birthday. When we are older, we try to ignore it!
When we are waiting to hear back from a job appllication or appllications we can feel like nothing is happening.

And there are plenty of long waits these days. Maybe we are waiting for the right person to marry. You understand my points here. We will experience waits.

The question is, how will we handle them? If we have a little bit of faith that God, not us, is in charge of things, then we may have a "What I Can Isaiah Attitude".  See Isaiah 40

We are not waiting on others; we are not waiting on the economy to get better but WE ARE WAITING ON THE LORD. There is a promise that goes with this. If we keep our focus, there is on the Lord, we will have our strength renewed.  We will be lifted up an eagle on the wings. And how does that happen?  There is an invisible force that is lifting up the eagle. That is called wind.  It is uncontrollable.  If the eagle didn't wait as he took off from a high point, he would crash.

There are lots of people, me included, who at times want something to happen in my timing. I don't want to wait. We are, aren't we a rather impatient society?

How many people now thank you for standing in line for a few minutes?  That is because most people cannot stand to wait to be served.

We can wait. We must wait for God to strengthen us. If we don't, we take a nose dive.

Let's soar after the wait...however long that may be.

Precious Moments

Birthdays are a wonderful time to share some precious moments with friends either over a lunch, on the phone, or by reading birthday cards and opening presents.

No matter how old or young you are a birthday can be a time to celebrate the blessings of friends and family. Who can forget the first birthday party of that child? It is a time of real celebration for the family that a new person has arrived and will be part of the family from now on.
How much God likes to see us celebrate and enjoy life together. We need each other. We need community and we need precious moments.

No matter how old or young you are a birthday can be a time to celebrate the blessings of friends and family. Who can forget the first birthday party of that child? It is a time of real celebration for the family that a new person has arrived and will be part of the family from now on.

How much God likes to see us celebrate and enjoy life together. We need each other. We need community and we need precious moments.More than our thoughts towards God, King David knew that God's thoughts towards us "out numbered the grains of sand on the sea."

If we are thinking we are without anyone at the moment, let us realize that we are precious to God and He has proved it to us again and again. We are His child. And as that we and all of our concerns are of interest to Him.

Let us be thankful for precious moments with friends but let us realize that God has gifted us with all of them and that His thoughts towards us go way beyond what any person could think or want for us.

WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS WHICH HE HAS PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO WALK IN.

Christmas

It's December and there is something in the air. People clump together and talk. Strangers share stories with each other. I love this time of year because it is so easy to be open with others. There is something in the air that makes us want to get closer to each other. From where ever we are, or aren't with God, we have an openness that wasn't there before. Our hearts are more open this time of year. We aren't so self-focused. We hear music that brings a smile.
I was at a local store and an older man was buying a musical Santa Claus because it brought back memories. Young families are creating memories for their little ones with the Christmas Tree, food, presents. And for a child, the presents are the thing.

Well, let's admit it, we all get a little closer to being children when we see a wrapped present and wonder what inside. It is a time of year when WONDER wins over cynicism. It is a time of year when LOVE has a chance. People discover each other. People discover God. Churches get crowded.

What a wonderful time of the year. There is something in the air. And yes, that something, is real. As I was setting up the Nativity Scene this year, I had a moment of panic. There was Mary, Joseph, the manger, a few animals but where was the baby? I started to look.

It seems to me that the baby of Christmas is largely missing this year. Early shopping. Economic panic. To do lists. General business and stress have away of keeping The BABY out of Christmas.

I overheard a mother saying that she couldn't put up any Christmas decorations at her house because her daughter was using the house for a friend's baby shower and she didn't want the DECORATIONS to detract from the shower. Why would Christmas decorations detract? They did not seem important to their daughter. Did they embarrass her? Did she not know that there was ANOTHER BABY more important than her friend's coming child?

Is Christmas just decorations? Is Christmas just a family gathering? Are Christmas just presents for each other? I give you something and you give me something. Where is the Baby? We have to look.

Those who were in Bethlehem didn't know there were THE BABY, the Savior, the Good News, and the Branch of Righteousness right in their little town. They were involved in the tourists, the taxation.  The shepherds heard the message.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

They went to look. They found what they told was true and went back to work, filled with JOY. Don't be distracted and miss the real Christmas. I found the missing babe. Christmas isn't Christmas without Jesus in the manger and us drawing near to see the miracle that has happened.

 Merry Christmas to all!

Personal Appeal

I want to make a personal appeal today for our non-camp work. We have acted as a catalyst to get a September to June tutoring program at place at Verbo Church in Redwood City. Twenty children now get tutoring in math, English and Bible two days a week. These children are little children. They are in first to fifth grade.

ALL OF THESE CHILDREN ARE AT RISK because of poverty. First, there is the poverty of no one to help them at home with their homework. Second, there is the poverty of just not enough money. These families struggle year round and could not pay for any tutoring help.

The children last year all improved in their school work. Children are recommended by the local schools to the progam BECAUSE THEY ARE IN DANGER OF FLUNKING OUT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. They need one to one remedial work to come up to their grade level.

Thanks to the generous grant from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church we opened this program and are in our second year. However, the children need more one to one help than anticipated and we appeal to you who read this to send a contribution. One hour costs $10. Your gift helps two ways. We are expanding the program by using teens from our summer camp and you will give a child a chance to learn the basics.

Let's remember that God loves the children and is a "father to the fatherless". Can you help?
Please mark memo of your check: tutor-me program and send to "As you have done it unto one of these little ones, you have done it unto me."

Box 2735
Menlo Park, CA. 94026

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GIFTS WHICH ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

Thanksgiving Event

Thanks be to God, a roomful of people who had worked hard for the children gathered to enjoy a festive Thanksgiving meal on November 3rd at our Menlo Park home church.

After enjoying the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing gravy and vegetables, we settled to hear reports from our 7th annual Touchdown Camp.

Doris Bates, camp coordinator reminded us of the scripture: "The feeding of Five Thousand" when small offerings were blessed to feed the crowd. We were delighted to learn that we had so much food donations, that food left overs were shared with the youth of Verbo Church, our sponsoring church and home camp in Redwood City.

Barb Siegal, VP, gave the report for the Project Lost Sheep's account that everything was sufficient after all bills have been paid for camp. Catherine Parlanti was missed as she was ill that day.

We have seen God's faithfulness over the years and we believed that this service will come through. The board has approved a faith project - The Coin Jar Offering. Each gift card of $50 dollars can be given to each of the 20 families in the tutoring program.

Sandra Jamaillo, director of the school, told us the needs of the children in school, that they have emotional problems as well as academic ones. Little by little, with love, they are making progress. She talked about a boy in fourth grade who is intelligent but does not know how to count to 20.

Michelle Bedecarre, who tutors every week with the program gave an appeal for more workers to come and help the children one on one. She talked about the joy of helping just one child do better. Lauren Younger from our group is also a regular volunteer at Verbo and does a great job with the children.

Doris Bates and Joyce Dueker offered the Coin Jar Offering with contents up for the blessing to the Lord.

Businessman Jim Dillard spoke of his experience as a volunteer at camp with his wife, Valerie. Jim is interested in volunteer development to help us expand.

Greg, a deacon from the Korean church in San Jose, explained that they had done much international work but were happy to get some guidelines for reaching out in the local area to children. There was a lively conversation around the table between our San Jose visitors, Sandra and Michelle regarding the needs of children from at risk families for tutoring.

Joyce and Sharon Lee introduced the Christmas Party which be held on December 4th. Invitations to follow. As one of our new visitors said, "it was a warm group" to experience.

We encourage you, wherever you are, to start a Project Lost Sheep group to make a difference for the "at risk" children in your area. We have groups stretching from San Mateo down to San Jose.

"Let us not be weary in well doing for in due time we shall reap." HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you from us.

One on One

One to one is the best way to communicate. I am all for e-mail and for the old telephone but if I really, really want to talk to someone I want to see them over lunch or in some way a face to face encounter.

Because of the hectic pace of the current life, it is sometimes easy to forget that this one to one is important. First, it is important to have a one to one with God. Don't we like our children to talk to us.

Also, in getting a child "up to speed" in school work there is nothing like one to one. A parent or a tutor needs to sit down with a child and help him understand.

Last year, we were able, thanks to a grant from a local church, open inside Verbo Church a tutoring program for children most at risk of failing in grades 1-5. These children were recomended to the program by the principals of the local schools.

The children were greatly helped and one young woman improved so much in math that she was able to enter school contests. Her entire personality changed as a result of her success. She had no one to help her at home.

This is what we are learning. In the poorer communities in America, the parents cannot help. They may not read their own native language. They do not read English. They have no time and can't help their own children in many cases.

Jesus said: 
COME TO ME ALL YE WHO ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

The child is doomed for failure without intervention but with attention and hours and hours of tutoring help these children have a chance to win at the school game. More than that they receive a "I can do this" attitude which we all know is a secret to getting through the long, hard thing called life.

We need more one to one tutors out there.

I remember so well my own Dad who sat with me night after night as I struggled with story problems in math. What if my Dad wasn't there for me? What if my mother worked 3 jobs and didn't even read English to help me with the problem?

I would be left to struggle and fail. And no doubt I would have flunked in math that year without my one to one tutor.

Let your heart absorb what this means. A few hours of volunteer time can change the entire life of a poor child.

Training

Recently a new fence was put up as I was thinking about the idea of training. When we have children we are training them in everything we do..good and bad. This is rather awesome. Children are informed by what they see us do. Later, they are informed by what they get from others ie their friends.

Because I like to garden one of the thoughts about the new fence was how nice it would be to have a pretty vine growing up. Of course, vines require training. You have to give them support so they will go up and over the fence not sprawl all over your patio.

Children need to be trained up so they will be tall and strong. How to do this?

We know that we are as Christians to instruct children in the way they should go. They need to be taught the Bible. The verses need to be repeated and learned and the need to see the Bible lived out in us. Wow!

The Bible promise is: 
TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE SHALL NOT DEPART FROM IT.

How the vine is trained makes all the difference. Did you know that America when it started had a PRIMER that was filled with Bible verses that children memorized. Bible reading was common in families all across the country as this country grew.

As you know we cannot teach the Bible in schools today. It is not allowed. So more than ever the teaching of what makes for strong character rests in the home and in the church.