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STUMP BEACH
02-05-2012
Pam and I had a brief weekend getaway to celebrate Valentine's Day a little early. We went to Stump Beach on the Somoma Coast about 20 miles north of Bodega Bay.
This was another exceptionally warm winter day of about 61 degrees with no wind and no clouds in the sky. We took a blanket and enjoyed the sun and even got a little sunburn. It was a great time to relax and enjoy God's beautiful creation.
This was a favorite beach we had visited over 10 years ago when we lived in Petaluma. On our first trip to the beach we saw it was littered with tree stumps of all shapes and sizes. It was a natural to name it appropriately "Stump Beach State Park". There were 100's of stumps everywhere.
They were not just scattered around on top of the sand but rooted deeply in the sand and rocks. At one time they were growing as part of the landscape. BUT NOT ANYMORE ! !
They need to rename the beach "NO STUMP BEACH". We could not find even a remnant of a stump. Walking down the hill to "NO STUMP BEACH" we could not believe our eyes. "Where did they go?" "What happened to all the tree stumps?" "When did this catastrophic storm wipe the beach clean?"
Pam and I taked about this for quite some time. The name still stands as Stump Beach State Park but what will first time visitors think? They will be shocked if they expect to see any stumps at all.
I suspect they will come up with a new name "NO STUMP BEACH" The beach had a seascape transformation ! !
Like people whose lives are littered with the stumps of problems, addictions, and more, the storms of life can be theraputic. A great massive storm can clean the beach of all debris.
When a person cries out to God in a crisis the evil stumps of corruption get uprooted and the life transformed. After that" Stump Beach" gets a new name. Do you have a new name?
I hope you are living a "NO STUMP LIFE". If not, a massive storm could quickly solve that problem, but please don't wait for a tsunami.
Take your stumps to the Lord before the storm. A "NO STUMP LIFE" can be and is a very beautiful life.
~ Pastor Ron
THE BIGGEST EVER
01-27-2012
It is really true. The elephant seals are the biggest ever. We saw them at Ano Nuevo State Beach near Half Moon Bay recently.
It was a beautiful day with no wind or fog. It was all sunshine and clear skies with about 60+ degrees and this was on Jan. 25th in the middle of winter. Hard to believe for the coast.
Also surprizing was our first glimpse of these giants of the sea. The largest bulls can weighin at 5000 pounds!! And yes the nose looks just like an elephants nose only not quite as long. When you see them however they can measure about 2 feet in length. The females like the bulls with the longest protuberance as possible.
Our docent told us that day we would see about 2000 animals on the beach. And yes we saw lots of bulls with their harems and the babies called pups.
Funniest thing these seals reminded me of people.
They were over populated, living on top of each other, all crowded together in one area, just like people. They were also rude, crude, noisy, aggressive, and strutting around like they were important, just like people. The bulls were oh so ready to fight for their territory, just like people.
It was not windy that day but we were told that they smelled to high heaven and you wouldn't want to be down wind of them, just like some people.
We saw plenty of "seal people" on the beach that day, especially the ones that couldn't keep their nose out of others business. Some were proud of their proboscus and didn't mind showing it off and shoving it wherever they went, just like some people.
Now I don't believe in evolution but these elephant seals made me wonder.
We also took note that it was important to stay out of their way or get run over or trampled-- hmm--- just like some people.
After that day I'm really trying to keep my nose clean and out of the way.
~ Pastor Ron
BLESSINGS----BURDENS
01-16-2012
Yes they always seem to go together in some strange way.
It happened not long ago! I was opening the church mail addressed to me. WOW! What a great surprize. There it was staring me in the face. Two very large checks from two anonymous and hugely generous donors.
I could hardly believe my eyes. Especially since Cornerstone was down to its very last 247.00 dollars in the general fund. Now I'm holding a check for 5000.00 dollars for our empty checkbook. This was a huge blessing at just the right time. (How did God know about our empty bank account?) STUPID ME !
But the other check also came at just the right time too. It was for our youth program and WOW! We needed that money too. Pastor Mark takes our kids on their annual houseboat trip to Shasta Lake in June. Funniest thing the huge deposit must be paid in January (or no trip) for our most important ministry of the year. The second check more than covered all that was needed. (How did God know our youth budget was also empty?) STUPID ME!
So while I am holding these two enormous checks in hand the phone rings and it is bad news. Extra bad news. It was not a death but it felt like it for some important people in our church family. On one hand I am jumping for the celestial ceiling and on the other hand I am scraping myself off the floor.
BLESSINGS and BURDENS BLESSINGS and BURDENS
They often go hand in hand. They keep us in balance. They keep us focused on the Lord. One great need solved and another great need realized. What should we do?
Rejoice with those who can rejoice and grieve with those who must grieve. The Lord gives and the lord takes away. So we bless God no matter what and thank Him no matter what.
Perhaps you know what I mean because you are now facing both the blessings and burdens at the same time. It is so humbling to be in that spot. Right?
How does God know we need those things hitting us at the same time? STUPID ME!
~ Pastor Ron
HEAD ON---BRAIN OFF
12-28-2011
Apparently I had turned my "BRAIN OFF" last week when Pam and I went to Stockton.
I was busy talking and looking off into the field when I drifted off into the double yellow line. Suddenly I found myself heading over the line into on coming traffic, lots of it!!!
I awoke from my A.D.D. just in time to swerve back into my own proper lane to avoid a "HEAD ON" collison.
HEAD ON---BRAIN OFF
I always thought I was a good driver but now I'm not so sure. It is easy to drift, lapse off, day dream, lose concentration when we get too comfortable.
A.D.D. happens to everyone at some point or time in the day. It is especially dangerous on the highway.
I'm thinking that there is also a kind of spiritual A.D.D. that happens causing us to drift off course from God. There are great dangers for bad spiritual drivers not paying attention to where they are going.
The New Year 2012 is already here and life's problems have a way of leading into on coming traffic with deadly consequences.
Make sure God is driving and not you as you travel down HIGHWAY 2012 this year. He never has a HEAD ON ---BRAIN OFF day.
When you let Him do the driving you can be certain of your destination and you're not too tired to enjoy the scenery along the way. That way you will never get lost.
Have a successful trip through the highways in the New Year.
~ Pastor Ron
CHRISTMAS STRESS TEST
12-15-2011
You can pass the stress test from all the hype,anxiety and non-sense of the holiday rush.
Everyone can get all pushed out of shape by the sales and lists and parties at home and the office. So be proactive and get your focus right before you get sucked into the stress of the season.
Here are a few suggestions to win the battle over stress.
First: Choose to "do all to the glory of God". Whatever is on your list do it for HIM!
Second: Plan your giving without any regard to receiving in return. Lower your expectations and don't expect others to give back to you.
Third: Focus on the purpose of Christmas and remember that it is HIS BIRTHDAY and not yours.
Fourth: Prioritize your list so that God is put on top as the first of importance. This means putting God first in giving and going to worship HIM.
Fifth: Pray about everything as it says in 1Thes.5:1. Prayer is great at relieving stress every time. IF you are still stressed then PRAY all over again and again until you finally turn it over to GOD.
Sixth: Complaining is a terrible thing and it adds so much stress to our lives. Above all else stop it and go back to praying again. Replace grumbling with prayer. It really works so go ahead and do it.
Finally: Just relax and rest in God. He invites you to come to HIM and receive His peace. Remember at Christmas He is the Prince of Peace. So let HIM be your Prince.
OK there is my Christmas list of suggestions for you. If this doesn't work then the Bible isn't true, but you know it is, so go on and do what you know will be a great blessing for you.
MERRY CHIRSTMAS
~ Pastor Ron