Merry Christmas 2006

Well, it's been quite a year!

We celebrated Christopher's 8th birthday in January instead of December. The boys and girls loved being knights and fair maidens for the day. 0490

Camping in Death Valley (in March) with the church youth group. The landscape was surprisingly odd and beautiful.

Christopher's first baseball team.

Celebrating Silvia's birthday. It was a wild time!

Camping with the youth group in Santa Barbara.

The obligatory Easter picture.

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A highlight of the year: Bro Dave and his beautiful bride, Shawn.

We had an opportunity to hang out with the Wilkins for a few days. Though separated by thousands of miles, they remain dear friends. Their girls are a blast (sorry we missed Lindsay).

- Hume/Lincoln/Sonoma

Ritch got to climb Mt. Whitney with a good friend from down the street. Beautiful and a bit tiring!

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- Hume with Family

Soccer season was a great time. Stephen was in uniform every Saturday and can't wait until he's old enough to be on a team.

- Kathryn

- Stephen

- Silvia

- Ritch

Another Thought on Waywardness

Man, it is really difficult to know when someone is being wayward (my favorite word for the day) vs. who is struggling.

What I mean is, all we get to see is people's actions (including words, facial expressions, etc). We don't get to see what's going on in their hearts. We don't know if someone is just telling God to take a hike or if they're really trying to follow God but having a really hard time saying "No" to temptation. Sometimes the temptations seem incredibly strong and our resistance is so weak! It can be really tough.

What is really frustrating is when someone pretends that they are trying to resist temptation but they're really just putting on a show. They're wayward but they don't want to admit it. That's so frustrating because here you are trying to help them and they really don't want your help! And the thing is, we'll continue to try to help people, even when they really don't want the help. We do it because they pretend they're trying to do the right thing! Oh, that bugs me!

Must go. Share your thoughts. Am I wacko? (ok, don't answer that one) Agree? can you relate? did you have a good breakfast?

Thoughts on Waywardness

1. Wayward youth who pretend they aren't wayward, bug me. Don't pretend to be something you're not. At least be honest! I think we need to firmly and respectfully confront these people.

2. Wayward youth who know they are wayward and admit it, don't bug me. I love to talk with them and find out what they're thinking about, struggling with, etc. At least they are honest and you can have an honest conversation with them.

3. Wayward youth who don't know they are wayward, I feel sorry for and I try to help them see that they are wayward so that they can decide if that is really how they want to live. They need someone to come alongside and point out their waywardness so that they can decide if they want to do something about it or not. Dude, if my brakes are out on my car, and you know it, and you don't tell me about it? I'll be ticked! I would want someone to look out for me and let me know. Let's help each other out.

4. Youth who think they are wayward but are not, they're just struggling, I really have a heart for them. I want to encourage them. Hang in there. Life can be really difficult. Jesus offers a life of purpose, hope, joy, love, satisfaction, etc but He doesn't offer a life of ease. This life can be a struggle so don't give up and don't assume that you're being wayward if you're just struggling with doing the right thing. The Christian life is, more times than not, a life of struggle.

5. Youth who are on fire for Jesus? You are my heroes! Way to go! Keep it up! Keep walking with our Lord! You really encourage me.

One of My All-time Favorite Quotes

Commemoration of Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec,

Archbishop of Canterbury, 1089

The great danger facing all of us... is not that we shall
make an absolute failure of life, nor that we shall fall into
outright viciousness, nor that we shall be terribly unhappy,
nor that we shall feel [that] life has no meaning at all -- not
these things. The danger is that we may fail to perceive
life's greatest meaning, fall short of its highest good, miss
its deepest and most abiding happiness, be unable to tender the
most needed service, be unconscious of life ablaze with the
light of the Presence of God -- and be content to have it so --
that is the danger: that some day we may wake up and find that
always we have been busy with husks and trappings of life and
have really missed life itself. For life without God, to one
who has known the richness and joy of life with Him, is
unthinkable, impossible. That is what one prays one's friends
may be spared -- satisfaction with a life that falls short of
the best, that has in it no tingle or thrill that comes from a
friendship with the Father.

... Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), Sermons

I'M A CHRISTIAN By Maya Angelou

I'M A CHRISTIAN By Maya Angelou 
  
  When I say... "I am a Christian" 
  I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin." 
  I'm whispering "I was lost," 
  Now I'm found and forgiven. 
  
  When I say..."I am a Christian" 
  I don't speak of this with pride. 
  I'm confessing that I stumble 
  and need CHRIST to be my guide. 
  
  When I say... "I am a Christian" 
  I'm not trying to be strong. 
  I'm professing that I'm weak 
  and need HIS strength to carry on. 
  
  When I say... "I am a Christian" 
  I'm not bragging of success. 
  I'm admitting I have failed 
  and need God to clean my mess. 
  
  When I say... "I am a Christian" 
  I'm not claiming to be perfect, 
  My flaws are far too visible 
  but, God believes I am worth it. 
  
  When I say... "I am a Christian" 
  I still feel the sting of pain, 
  I have my share of heartaches 
  So I call upon His name. 
  
  When I say... "I am a Christian" 
  I'm not holier than thou, 
  I'm just a simple sinner 
  who received God's good grace, somehow. 
  Author ~Maya Angelou~

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