Hello All,
I might have labeled this post: An Inconvenient Biologic! I don't think that that makes much sense, but that closely describes what occurred over the weekend.
It began Friday with a very hoarse voice. Not necessarily a problem most weekends, except that this weekend, I would have a wedding Saturday and the speaking on Sunday! Most unfortunate timing for my VOICE to give out!
The wedding happened Saturday at the Mitten Building in Redlands. The couple that I was marrying, Jeff and Jessica (now Dillon!), had survived my rigorous pre-marital screening and now I was going to stand to endorse them as a couple that I believe has a chance to make it! Unfortunately, people had to listen to the voice of the GODFATHER going through the ceremony! Just imagine if you will:
"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife Bodanza! (Hand sweeping the cheek) will you love her, honor her, keep her as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Good answer!" (Soft slap on the cheek of the groom and a pinch for pride!)
For the many weddings I have done, I have never had to do them sounding like Vito Corleone!
But, I do always feel that strange sensation that I am a peculiar minority! NOT BECAUSE I'M MEXICAN!!! (Actually, that makes me the majority in California you know!) No, I am a peculiar minority because of my beliefs in the sanctity of marriage and the biblical basis for it's success. When I go to these weddings, I become acutely aware that 90% of the people that I am addressing (NOT including the bride and groom, who I will only consent to marry based on their understanding and acquiescence to biblical guidlines) do not believe a word I am saying! And, they hope that I get done quickly, so that they can party! It's a grievous position to be in most of the time.
That being said, I am happy for Jeff and Jessica, who have demonstrated to me, that they have considered all the Biblical counsel that God offers and both, being committed to Him and each other, have a very bright future ahead of them. I wish them the very best and thank them for giving me the honor of presenting them.
After the wedding, I had a few short hours to rehab my voice. Having 3 children under the age of 6 makes that difficult!
Sunday Morning. Things were not much better in the voice department, so I decided to try some voice routines that I learned while in choir. I spent 45 minutes "warming up my voice" and actually got a small percentage of it back! I probably looked real funny on the freeway, but hey, it's 6:30 in the morning! Who doesn't look a little funny!?
With Pastor Chris Norman on vacation, I received the opportunity to present the teaching for our Sunday Service today. It's always an honor to be asked to speak and this is my second time before the congregation of Calvary Laguna. I have been excited about presenting this particular message for some time now, seeing that I developed it while in my car during my commute! Much of what I presented came from a desire to see our body become passionate about the Gospel and passionately articulate in it's delivery. That is how "The Nature Of The Gospel" came about. You can view the notes here. I might post the audio...but then again...
So, I was coming out onto the stage when I felt a rush of liquid in my nose. At first, I thought it was just a little runny nose, but when I put my finger up to the entrance of my nostril, (how does one write this!) I realized that it was blood! I quickly turned back into the green room and shoved a piece of kleenex up my nose and walked back out! This has never happened before! I looked like Rocky Balboa after a good fight with Clubber Lang! I delivered the whole message with that piece of kleenex up my nose, wondering if it would get soaked and bleed through! Thankfully, it did not and despite the circumstances, the message came out pretty good, if one can measure any kind of success by the response of the congregation afterward. Even with that, I hope that my NOSE behaves itself from now on!
Have a great week everyone!
Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez
I might have labeled this post: An Inconvenient Biologic! I don't think that that makes much sense, but that closely describes what occurred over the weekend.
It began Friday with a very hoarse voice. Not necessarily a problem most weekends, except that this weekend, I would have a wedding Saturday and the speaking on Sunday! Most unfortunate timing for my VOICE to give out!
The wedding happened Saturday at the Mitten Building in Redlands. The couple that I was marrying, Jeff and Jessica (now Dillon!), had survived my rigorous pre-marital screening and now I was going to stand to endorse them as a couple that I believe has a chance to make it! Unfortunately, people had to listen to the voice of the GODFATHER going through the ceremony! Just imagine if you will:
"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife Bodanza! (Hand sweeping the cheek) will you love her, honor her, keep her as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Good answer!" (Soft slap on the cheek of the groom and a pinch for pride!)
For the many weddings I have done, I have never had to do them sounding like Vito Corleone!
But, I do always feel that strange sensation that I am a peculiar minority! NOT BECAUSE I'M MEXICAN!!! (Actually, that makes me the majority in California you know!) No, I am a peculiar minority because of my beliefs in the sanctity of marriage and the biblical basis for it's success. When I go to these weddings, I become acutely aware that 90% of the people that I am addressing (NOT including the bride and groom, who I will only consent to marry based on their understanding and acquiescence to biblical guidlines) do not believe a word I am saying! And, they hope that I get done quickly, so that they can party! It's a grievous position to be in most of the time.
That being said, I am happy for Jeff and Jessica, who have demonstrated to me, that they have considered all the Biblical counsel that God offers and both, being committed to Him and each other, have a very bright future ahead of them. I wish them the very best and thank them for giving me the honor of presenting them.
After the wedding, I had a few short hours to rehab my voice. Having 3 children under the age of 6 makes that difficult!
Sunday Morning. Things were not much better in the voice department, so I decided to try some voice routines that I learned while in choir. I spent 45 minutes "warming up my voice" and actually got a small percentage of it back! I probably looked real funny on the freeway, but hey, it's 6:30 in the morning! Who doesn't look a little funny!?
With Pastor Chris Norman on vacation, I received the opportunity to present the teaching for our Sunday Service today. It's always an honor to be asked to speak and this is my second time before the congregation of Calvary Laguna. I have been excited about presenting this particular message for some time now, seeing that I developed it while in my car during my commute! Much of what I presented came from a desire to see our body become passionate about the Gospel and passionately articulate in it's delivery. That is how "The Nature Of The Gospel" came about. You can view the notes here. I might post the audio...but then again...
So, I was coming out onto the stage when I felt a rush of liquid in my nose. At first, I thought it was just a little runny nose, but when I put my finger up to the entrance of my nostril, (how does one write this!) I realized that it was blood! I quickly turned back into the green room and shoved a piece of kleenex up my nose and walked back out! This has never happened before! I looked like Rocky Balboa after a good fight with Clubber Lang! I delivered the whole message with that piece of kleenex up my nose, wondering if it would get soaked and bleed through! Thankfully, it did not and despite the circumstances, the message came out pretty good, if one can measure any kind of success by the response of the congregation afterward. Even with that, I hope that my NOSE behaves itself from now on!
Have a great week everyone!
Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez
4 comments:
Thank you for that anecdote. I was literally laughing out loud as I pictured you preaching the Gospel looking like Rocky and sounding like Vito. Very timely too since I was just watching the Godfather last night. After all, I am half Italian you know. You made my day.
hasta la pasta,
pn
Hey Patty,
I want to be half Italian! "When you duh duh duh duh...that's amore!" I don't know the words, but I hear it each time I go to my favorite Italian restaurant, the Olive Garden!
I'm glad that my biologic misfortunes brought a smile to your face!
Blessings,
F.S.
It's "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore" .......... just so you can sing along next time. =)
"When the moon hits your eye!?" What in the world does that have to do with Amore (Ah-moray!) You have to wonder about those crazy people who wrote these tunes!
Blessings,
F.S.
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