What, Us Worry!?

Hello All,

There is nothing to worry about...I'm sure that our money is safe... If these faces say anything, it's that we can all sleep very comfortably...
Then again, we might be toast!
The Lord help us all!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Back Up And Running

Hello All,

Getting things back in order has proven to be a bit of a challenge, but our digital life has been restored to some semblance of normalcy. One word to my friends in the blogosphere: BACK EVERYTHING UP! A few weeks ago, I believed that I held a pretty strong position with a functioning internal hard drive, an external drive and an iPod classic. Then the internal went south, the external stopped showing up anywhere and my iPod inexplicably kicked the bucket after a short 7 month existence! Suddenly, all of it went up in smoke, or so I was led to believe. Thanks to the mercy of the Lord, through the good work of the Tech Room, all was recovered.

It's funny how dependent I have become on these little technologies that I knew nothing of just a few short years ago, and did not exist a few years prior to that! It was not all that long ago that I was repeatedly asking a very patient April Folkertsma how to turn on the application that let me write a letter! April and my other office mate, Attila virtually taught me every day in that little office at the top of the stairs in the Packinghouse! Seeing how tied I am to it now, I wonder if they did me a favor or a disservice!

So, a few thoughts to close this first blog out:

• Hosting an Inductive Bible Study, trying to do a family photo shoot and prepare a birthday/Mother's day celebration on the same day is not advised. "I know that now!"

• Caleb loved his birthday party. I probably won't tell him that he's not truly five years old yet, nor will I take the soda and gum that he has learned to enjoy as a right of passage.

• Gum and soda: Rewards for turning 5. What will we do at 10? 15? I don't see that going well!

• CALLING ALL MEN: STEAK AND STUDY IS THIS THURSDAY! All men are welcome; Women dressed as men will be escorted off of the premises! Men dressed as women though...yeah, don't think about it!

• 5AM thinking: "Man, I wonder if that corvette knows that a 97 Corolla is keeping up with him...Wait, I'm keeping up with a CORVETTE!...How fast AM I going!?...WHOA..."

• Anyone watch American Gladiators? I used to go to church with one of last night's contestants! She pretty much looks like she would be able to destroy me now, so in that way, nothing has changed!

• I sure miss Jerez De La Frontera. Someday...

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Daylight Saving Time...EXPOSED!

Editor's Note: There is now a poll to the right of the page...Let's make our voice(s) be heard!

Hello All,

I have been fighting the effects of the flu over these last several days. That and the responsibility of studying for Sunday morning this past Sunday, which I gratefully enjoy, has kept me from blogging. I apologize and will return over the next couple of days. In the meantime, I hope that I can help you deal with the problem of our time...Daylight Saving Time. For those unfamiliar with the history and "rationale" behind this hideous practice, you can check out this site here. It begins this Sunday, where we like sheep, "spring forward" and lose a precious hour of sleep, yet gain an hour of daylight, which is cool. DST...it even sounds harmful..."yes, I have DST!... is supposed to save us money. So, what do the latest studies say? Check it out here.

I hope that I have added to your outrage over this practice, if even just to have someone join me in mine. Feel free to comment and add your vote: HATE IT or LOVE IT! I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

There Is A First Time For Everything!

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

This Is Going To Be Long!

Hello All,

I warn you now that this post has been roughly 3 years in the making. If you want to take this post off and come back in a few days for the usual Frank & Lela fare, I would not blame you one bit. I have been mulling and musing over a verse for a few weeks now that has really stuck with me and has been a culmination of a lot of events that had just not made sense to me. I admit that what I am about to write will likely be disputed and I am comfortable enough to say that there may be exceptions, but what I am thinking about is more likely the rule.

I'll begin with the verse in question. Matthew 24, the Olivet Discourse and Jesus answering three eschatological questions. Somewhere after He has talked about wars, earthquakes, etc., He makes an interesting comment.

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:12, KJV

For whatever reason this verse has come up into my spirit quite often over the last 6 months as I watch believer after believer walk away from life long commitments to follow after their flesh. It began around Christmas time 06', when someone we believed would never fall from grace, decided that she did not want to be married any longer. Then just a few weeks later, another situation and set of people, but the same result: He did not want to be married any longer. Add to this 4 or 5 other situations just like it and you see where I am going. In most cases, the one left behind remains a solid believer, looking to do anything to right the situation.

Let me go further with you. What implications does this verse have when applied to the love that we are to have for God? Look over at Revelation 2 and the letter from Christ to the Ephesian church. Jesus notes all of these external attributes, like perseverance, good works, etc., but then says in some of the most almighty words ever spoken:

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Revelation 2:4

The note there is that church had become all about the external appearance and doing instead of being. Outwardly all appeared normal and worthy of applause. The world would look and recognize that this was a distinctive church, yet Jesus, the one whose opinion actually matters, says that He sees a busy church lacking the one thing that He desires: Love!

Going back to the original thought. Because of sin, the love of many will wax (grow) cold. It would seem then, that these people had the love to begin with, but began toying with sin, thus choking out the love for Christ and His people. This is certainly valid.

Yet, something still strikes me as odd. People can call themselves Christians all day long and NOT BE! Going back to Matthew, chapter 25 in our Bibles, but the same address, Jesus talks about separating sheep and goats, both of whom are allowed to live side by side, yet the goats are removed and set apart for judgment.

What is my point? Is there a falling away? Yes, it's happening right now. Believers are turning away from Christ, people who you never thought would. On the other hand, let's remember that there are goats around us as we speak. We can not discern who they are, so it's not our business to make any final judgement calls, but the fruits are quite evident.

• A definitive lack of repentance toward sin.

• A lack of desire for the Word of God to be applied and obeyed.

• A feelings based (sensual), subjective approach to their own circumstance.

These are but a few. Why do I write this? I admit that the people who have walked away from people that they covenanted with, make me angry, with a righteous anger that I might have toward the likes of Judas Iscariot! How dare they betray trust and sacrifice precious people on the basis of their fleeting feelings and sin obsessions! Having heard another story like this this very evening adds fuel to this fire.

But my other reason is to call true believers to look for more than our pithy cultural standards for Christian behavior. Look for true marks of one who believes. A person who is faithful to God's Word, at all times, despite what he or she feels would be one worth inviting in. Someone who is genuinely disgusted by their sin, no matter how "big" or "little" it is, would be a good friend. Someone who wants nothing more than to know God's Word and live it, fully obedient, would be a person that I would admire.

Instead what the church has been guilty of is looking at whether a person is nice, has a good family name, and doesn't cuss or listen to secular music! Our criteria is way off and we avoid it to our peril. Christians, there are WOLVES ALL AROUND YOU! DISCERN!

I, in no way, want to alienate those who have entered into a covenant relationship, only later to be deceived and betrayed. There is no condemnation here, nor do I hold you responsible for the person who might have blindsided you with their deception. Instead, because you exist, my heart goes out to anyone who might be in for the same heart ache, I beg Christians to BENEFIT from your terrible experience, and be as wise and discerning as possible, so as to MINIMIZE the risk involved in any relationship. INVESTIGATE, BE PATIENT, TEST, and WAIT FOR GOD to confirm and ONLY MOVE FORWARD WHEN THERE IS PEACE ON EVERY SIDE!

Please forgive me for this rant. I think of all the wonderful people that I know and love, who I saw marry or enter into a relationship with, only to be betrayed and cast aside like a worn out possession that gave no further pleasure. I think of them and wish that something could have been seen or done before damage was done. On the other hand, there are those that I love right now, who are on the verge of the same precipice, who perhaps are entering in without a discerning spirit. It's also for them that I take this space and beg for thoughtfulness in this area.

Christian Culture is not enough to sustain a godly life; Only conversion of the soul and being can make that a reality! Listening to the right music does not make you a Christian. Avoiding certain behaviors does not make you a Christian. ONLY CHRIST CAN MAKE YOU (DECLARE YOU) A CHRISTIAN!

In these last days, deception will be the order of the day. False prophets, false believers, false doctrines will abound. Let us who belong to Christ, who are manifesting the daily proofs of genuine conversion, cling closely to Jesus, keeping our eyes fixed upon Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

There...now I can get back to our usual fare!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Me Church

Alright, I am starting this church next week!

Me Worship

This is classic and sadly sometimes very true in our attitudes at least.

Enjoy!