Miscellany III

Hello All,

Time for a quick wrap up on all things Sanchez...time for Miscellany III, the blog that allows me to touch on subjects affecting this last week all in one entry!

We Are In The Market!
We started searching for an Orange County domicile this week. We looked at two properties, the second of which being located in Rancho Santa Margarita, known to the locals as "RSM." We viewed a 3 bedroom condo on Wednesday afternoon with our realtor. We liked the area, and even the size of the condo, but did not like the shared entry or the immediate introduction to the eating area. We will continue to look next weekend, after we have met with a lender friend of ours who believes that we will be pre-approved for MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!!! Well, probably not that much, but enough to be comfortable.

As the search continues, please pray for us to have wisdom and insight into this very pivotal decision in our lives.

Anyone For Barbecue!?
One thing that can be said for Calvary Laguna: There is never a shortage of barbecue opportunities! Our body came together for it's inaugural Wednesday night study this last week. Lela and I made it back shortly after looking for some place to live and immediately got the BBQs up and running. Our congregation sat out in the hot sun (it got to about 87!) and enjoyed some burgers and dogs.

Then, just when you thought that we would be Barbecued out, the Men had their monthly Steak & Study on Thursday night! It was phenomenal! The men of Calvary Laguna are such warriors and so on top of the event, that it sets up and tears down with ease, due to the hard work and dedication that is exhibited. Speaking of dedication, they are also dedicated to putting out some serious quality beef. My cut was...well, let's just say GYNORMOUS! I am actually ashamed to say that the steak made me tap out! I could not finish it! Oh, but I wanted to!

The steaks were awesome and so was the study. This month's speaker, last night, was radio personality, Jim Burns. He is the founder and host of Homeword, a program devoted to the family. His message was great and 6 men came to know Jesus Christ at the altar call. You can check out his website over to the right. I frequent that site often as it has many helpful family resources.

Next month, Pastor Don McClure will give the message, and if you are reading this and you are a man, then you are invited!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways!
As anyone who reads this blog knows, I am an Apple Man! I am the happy owner of an iPod, an iHome, would LOVE an iPhone (Christmas will come sooner than you think!) and I have even understood that for all these years, I have been wearing iGlasses!

And just as much as i Love Apple, i also love Apple programs. The most beloved to me is iTunes. I have been touting iTunes for a while as a great resource for FREE material from great bible teachers like Bob Coy, Jack Hayford, James MacDonald and Jack Abeeleen.

Now, as if that were not enough, there is iTunes U, where you can download classes, lectures and news from great universities. If you go there, you can look up Concordia Seminary and literally download Greek and Hebrew classes, as I did this week! Great, FREE RESOURCE for those that love to learn for FREE! The best things in life are, you guessed it....on iTUNES!

Pray For The Boys
I'll leave this a little cryptic, but I met with some boys, brothers, today, 11 and 13 respectively, who came to see me because their parents are divorcing. I asked them how they felt about everything and they said that they felt frustrated and confused. My heart went out to these boys, nameless here, but known by the Lord. These boys both seemed comforted by what I had relayed to them, but I know that they were both going back out into a world that they neither understand, nor desire. Pray that the Lord would meet them in a special way and that they would draw closer to the one who will never fail them.

That's all for now. There is quite a bit coming up, including a speaking stop in Yucaipa at Wildwood Calvary, the first weekend in July! I am looking forward to being there with our friends and ministry "cousins." Just thought I would put the bug in your ear about that especially.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Father's Day Final Addendum

Hello All,

As is usual for Sunday school children, their craft reflects what has been taught. Yesterday, they were taught about their Dad's being the best. The front of the craft was a colored tie on the piece of paper. On the back, it read:

Happy Father's Day!

My Dad is the best because...

And then, there was the space that left room for the response of the kids, recorded faithfully by our fine Sunday School volunteers. For Renae, she replied that I was the best because I "tickled her and love her very much!" How sweet, huh!

Caleb's was much more basic. His read:

My Dad is the best because... He makes barbecue!

There you go! Somehow, I imagine that this will not be enough in the ensuing years, but for now, that's enough for them!

Hope you had a good Father's Day.

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Happy Father's Day!

Hello All,

This is what makes THIS Father happy!


Large amounts of beef, Lela's Imitation Outback Chopped Salad (Don't know the name, but it KILLS! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!) and a glass of Martinellis! Ah, heaven on Earth!

I heard an interesting quote this morning while getting ready to go to Church. It was attributed to Rudy Guilliani's son, who has a tenuous relationship with his Father. As you may or may not know, Rudy Guilliani is the former Mayor of New York and current Republican Presidential Candidate.

Guilliani's son said, as quoted by ABC, "I have problems with my father, but it doesn't mean he won't make a great president," he said. "He was a great mayor. He did great things for New York and would be very effective as a president. He is a great leader. He has vision, and he is willing to stand up for what he believes in." You can find the whole story here.

I do not wish to make a case against Rudy or his son, for this statement. I just thought that it was a poignant quote for a day like today and I believe it illustrates the paradigm that exists today where a man can be considered a success for his public life, while his private life matters very little.

You can insert any career: Politician, Fireman, Police Officer, Engineer or Pastor. In the economy of God, if any man fails his family and succeeds elsewhere, that man is a failure! The men in my life, are men of valor and successes in private first, then in public!

I am thankful for my Dad, who received Christ over 25 years ago whilst watching "PTL," Jim and Tammy Baker's show. (See, God CAN use anything!) From that point on, we were going to Church, he was quitting his band and life radically changed. Every year, I thank my Dad for taking the bold step to live for Jesus, when he was the only one in our family to do so. In typical, humble fashion, he will always say that it was the Lord. It was! But my Dad was the first obedient catalyst that set our family on a different course of life, ministry and ultimately, eternity.

I am thankful for Lela's Dad as well. Dan Finfrock has been a wonderful support for me personally and Lela and I missionally. Dan is always open, honest and willing to talk about any ministry question I might have. He has always been a loving and tender guy, even when I was dating his daughter! When we declared our desire to go to Spain, he and Debbie were first in line to lend their support and advice. They were very active in helping us go and come back, even allowing our loud family to live at their home for our exceptionally LONG furloughs!

As far as a Spiritual Father, Ed Rea will always hold that position. I grew up under his tutelage and was given the opportunity to watch and learn a very reliable and faithful approach to ministry. He also was, and is, a tremendous support to myself and our family. In fact, if it were not for his phone conversation with Chris Norman, I may not have ever ended up at Calvary Laguna! To this day, unconsciously and consciously, I find myself repeating "Ed-isms" to the staff and to myself! Most of the time, I realize just how right that he was and I am thankful to know the difference.

There are so many others who I might mention, who have contributed to what my life is about, brothers and friends. However, if it were not for these men, I would not be the man that God is shaping now. So...you can blame them!!

Happy Father's Day!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

"You Guys Are A Church!?"

Hello All,

It has been a busy week! This week, we hosted a business luncheon for our Tesla neighbors. It was hot, even by Irvine standards, and we were out in the parking lot. I got fried by the sun and wished that I was dead, but it was a great time to meet the faceless bunch that enter into the business buildings every day of the week.

It began with about 40 people in the first sitting and I was surprised by the response that the people on our street did not know that we were a church! I talked with that first table of 8 people and none of them had any clue what went on in our building! Now, granted, that group of people just moved in from Costa Mesa and another business park back in February, but I assumed everyone knew that we were a church! I was surprised!

From that first table, I met a couple that are looking to join us at this weekend's service. From that luncheon, I heard that 4 others planned to visit from the other guys who mingled themselves among the masses.

After the final feeding, we believe that we fed over 120 of our neighbors. During the food, they met our Pastoral team, laughed with Christians and enjoyed anecdotes on real life things that they enjoy, like sports and children in schools that required book reports for Kindergarten! All of us listened to jazz from my iPod over the sound system and everyone went away filled. I am almost more proud of the jazz thing than anything else!

I ask that you pray that this would be the beginning of an open door to minister to our Jerusalem. Eventually, we want to offer a Business Bible Study for those who might want to attend. Please pray that we will be able to see this come to pass.

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez