Tidbits...

Hello All,

I don't think I would give a penny for these thoughts, but they are mine nonetheless!

• This last Saturday was somewhat overwhelming. I was on Saddleback Church's campus for the first time to witness the baptism of our neighbors and friends, Marc and Sierra. That church's facility is one to write home about. Very impressive. More amazing was the opportunity to witness a culmination of what God has been doing in Marc and Sierra's lives! It was fun! By the way, Marc and Sierra, I will have video for you some day soon...

• Sunday was miraculous! Worship was amazing, the message was great and I preached at a funeral where 15 people gave their lives to the Lord! Miracle!

• I have been drumming in the worship band with Brook James, who picks really great songs for drummers. I have had more compliments playing with him than with any other leader I have played with! Brook, keep up the good song selection!

• My daughter Renae read me a solid page of her new book last night. I almost cried! Thankfully, being a Vulcan kept that from happening, but I did get emotional and told her how proud I was of her.

• We have now moved on to the Parables of Jesus in our Bible time before bed. I moved into the part where Jesus is describing the good ground and cross referenced where James says that a person who does not do the word is like a man that looks at his face and can't recall what he looks like. The kids busted a gut over that concept! I just hope that they won't be guilty of it.

• This interview was very thought provoking.

• This debate is worth watching if you have ever debated the existence of God with someone. Plus it's fun to watch Deepak Chopra get all hot under the collar!

• God is "the logos." The word, as I understand it, means "the logic" or "the order." Without God, there is chaos and confusion, because their is no logical or order. Never was this more clear than when you try to listen to Deepak and the Bishops rendering of what is good and evil.

• Week 3 and I have now made myself 9 Vanilla frappuchinnos from our new $40.00 espresso machine. According to our calculations, by 10 months time, we will have saved $300.00. And I actually like the ones I'm making more than what we used to buy!

• A quote that I have been trying to perfect regarding contentment: "I want what I have so that when I get what I have, I will have what I want!" Profound or ridiculous?

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

"My First Surprise Party..."

Hello All,

In all of the years that I have been married to Lela, I have never once surprised her on her birthday. Aside from the usual ways in which gift cards appear on her night stand or flowers on her kitchen table, there are generally no other startling moments. I can't really say what got into me this year, but for the first time in 12 years, I decided to surprise Lela. And that's just what I did.

It began in my mind a while back, when I thought that it would be fun to see her face when she saw how cleverly I had played the role of "Business-As-Usual" Frank. That's when the plan hatched. I would invite our neighbors to our house, they would wait in the garage and when the door opened up, Lela would be looking at our neighborhood friends who had come to celebrate her. Pretty standard surprise fare, but the challenge would be my ability to pull of the deception.

Without tooting my own horn, (too much!) I will say that for a newbie to the surprise industry, I think that I pulled it off quite nicely. With a HUGE assist coming from our precious neighbor and Lela's prayer partner, Mia, the surprise went off without a hitch. Returning from Olive Garden with my parents, Lela opened the garage and saw the little feet of all our kids jumping up and down in excitement. Smiles were everywhere, but especially on Lela's face!

It made me happy to celebrate my wife this way. I know how much that she is loved and this little party helped her to see that in a little more tangible way. At the end of the day, she reported how special she felt. I said to myself, "Mission Accomplished!"

Here are a few pics of the festivities:
"...The Garage goes up and..."SURPRISE face! Inside the garage photo courtesy of Cecelia!




















Those terrible Costco people and their cruel sense of humor! They'll be hearing from me about this!




While we were at dinner, Mia and the kids did a makeshift birthday banner, as well as a few "cards" from the kids. A little chalk on the walls and you have a festive environment. Mia: Thank you so very much for your help!






And this is pretty much the end of every event: Hang time!Next year: Clowns! It's going to be fantastic!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

While We Were Walking...

... I managed to snap these...Sunset in Ladera Ranch, 65 degrees...Me and my family on a walk on one of the many trails, especially this one near the "Dead Swamp"... There is not much better in my life! I really don't think that I would trade any thing in the world for these moments!

Then there were the obligatory funny face ones...

I am a really blessed man! Thank you Lord!

Some Things Bear Repeating

Hello All,

This morning at the Morning Fill, I spoke about the need to seize spiritual authority. As men, and really, as Christians, we are to recognize that authority has been given to us by God, for a certain audience, in hopes of seeing Christ "formed" in those that surround us. That word "formed" in Galatians 4:19 means to "morph." Defined and expanded, the lexicon deals with it this way: "A mind and life in complete harmony with the mind and life of Christ." Therefore, it is my desire as a Christian to see this take place through my life toward others. I wrote this in my sermon:

"When I see you in complete submission to Christ, willing to assume responsibility for His Kingdom, walking successfully in the things of God, reproducing that work in others lives around you, then I will be able to rest!"

For my wife, my kids, my immediate family, the Men's group at Kingsfield, this is my desire. It has been my desire for many years. Looking back upon those early days of Junior High ministry, then on into College ministry at the Packinghouse, I can turn back with joy and see so many who are fulfulling my joy and I am thankful for each of them. I agree with the Apostle John, who wrote, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (III John 3:1-3)

Along those lines, I received a wonderful email from one of my very first Junior High students this last week in my Facebook email. Check out what she wrote to me and Lela:

"I think about you and Lela all the time and how it is amazing how the Lord used you in having a long term impact on my life. I'm now a Jr. High leader at _______Church and pray that God will use me in my girls' lives the way He used you both in mine!"

I just about lost it when I read this. My heart was thrilled to see that God had used Lela and I to influence this wonderful girl's heart! This is the best reward this side of heaven that any Pastor can receive and I am sure that she does not know how encouraging and timely her note was...probably until now. (Thank you so much!)

There is nothing better than to be able to look back and see what God has done. Of parralel wonder is to look sideways and see what God IS DOING with those you have sown into. Many no longer lag behind in spiritual things, but are in all ways, fellow laborers in the things of God. To look over and respect as peers, those who I once had the privilege of serving, is a great gift that will hold me over a few more years!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez