The Journey

Team Shelby Sunday

DSC_0027a, originally uploaded by Magic Pic.

We celebrated Team Shelby Sunday today and it was a blast! Shelby shared with us what living with Juvenile Diabetes is like. She is such a gracious little girl. Her twin brother, Alex, shared a little with us too. Shelby's parents, Liz and Scott, really touched our hearts as they shared thier story with us. Three things stood out from their testimony. God is in control of everything. God will not give us more than we can handle. It isn't about me, it's always about serving others. I was so proud of Harvest today as we embraced this wonderful family with love and support!

I'll have a new photo album up on the Harvest Church Web Page by the end of the day. I'm sure there is a picture of me wearing pink in there somewhere.

UPDATE: Team Shelby Sunday Photos

There will be some of us walking with Shelby on October 13th at The Walk For A Cure in Napa. We'd love to see you there! I'll wear my pink shirt that day and then it will be auctioned off on E-BAY...Here's a video from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation...

Good To Go!

DSC_0015a, originally uploaded by Magic Pic.

I am still excited about all that God is doing here at Harvest! Just a couple weeks ago Jim Lessley brought his dad to church. This was not an easy task for several reasons. One, It's NFL Season. Two, his dad is 80+ years old. Three, our facilities are not really wheelchair friendly.

Jim could have gave in to the temptation to stay home and watch the 49ers with his dad, but said the Holy Spirit made it clear that he needed to bring his dad to church. Jim obeyed, and his 80+ year old dad gave his life to Christ that morning! Do you know how rare it is for seniors to give their lives to Christ? God performed a miracle that morning!

Jim and his dad were in church together again today for "Team Shelby" Sunday. I just loved this photo and thought I would share it with you all! Jim and his dad are both "Good to go" now! That is what it's all about! That's why we do what we do!

An Old Friend (Simple)

An Old Friend, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

I love technology! Sometimes technology can make life easy, sometimes it just makes it more crazy.

This past week I sold my Blackberry and started carrying a simple Motorola Razr V3. Who really needs to get email delivered to their hip 24/7?

I do miss my "24" Ringtone though!

Dr. House Scores More 'Cool' Points

PDVD_001, originally uploaded by lesliesrussell.

I just ran across this photo on Flickr. I love Dr. House already, but now with a Molskine...WOW...he is even cooler. I recorded the season premier on DVR so now I can't wait to see what this was about.

A Bunch To Learn

A Bunch To Learn, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV)

Fall is my favorite season. It is particularly beautiful in the Napa Valley! This bunch of grapes was begging to be photographed today as I traveled through Sonoma County on an errand.

God Rewards Good Stewardship

When our church was moving around from store front to store front I would dream of the facilities that God would one day provide for us. I remember thinking that once He gave us a facility I would do my best to make sure it was being used to it's full potential. Thinking about our schedule these days makes me feel good about our use of God's property.

• Sunday / Harvest Worship ~ 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday / Harvest Worship ~ 11:00 a.m.
• Sunday / Spanish Church Service ~ 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday / Small Groups Ministry ~ 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• Monday - Friday / ACCA ~ 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday / Night Men's Bible Study ~ 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday / Young Adult's Bible Study ~ 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday / Spanish 7th Day Adventist ~ 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday / Spanish Church ~ 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday / Harvest Church Bible Study ~ 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday / Spanish 7th Day Adventist Church ~ 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Saturday / Spanish 7th Day Adventist Church ~ 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.

This past Sunday a beautiful Spanish speaking family showed up at Harvest at 11:00 a.m. to worship. They were disappointed to hear that our services were only in English, but delighted to hear that a Spanish service would be at 2:00 p.m. I just got an email from one of the men in our church who happens to work with this family and it sounds like they enjoyed the services and plan on attending again next week.

It's not about building villages, it's about building the Kingdom! I believe God will reward our efforts to use His facility to it's full potential.

Allan's Bibles - The Absolute Best

Quality Tools, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

Summer Sails Away

Summer Sails Away, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

Summer is past! As much I'll miss the blue skies, I'm looking forward to the fall and winter weather.

On My Heart Today!

There are times when a pastor's heart becomes heavy. The burden of leading God's people is no small thing. The pastor is accountable to God (Hebrews 13:17) for the care of God's children. There is always a balancing act between caring for and feeding the sheep (John 21:15-17) and going after the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). The balancing of these two responsibilities is extremely important for the success of any church. How can a pastor do all that needs to be done?

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry...(Ephesians 4:11-12)

Here's a quick list of what my desire is for those whom I pastor. My desire is that every believer will become...

• A Serious Student of God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• A Prayer Warrior (1 Timothy 2:8)
• A Passionate Evangelist (Acts 1:8)
• A Loving Member of God's Family (Ephesians 4:32)
• A Humble Servant To Others (Matthew 20:26-28)

Today, I feel the heaviness of ministry. I truly love being a pastor, and I love the people that God has entrusted to my care. I want so much for my people to experience all that God has for them.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

How Important Is The Bible?

"I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God, just hovering over the great gulf, till a few minutes hense, I am no more seen; I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing - the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from Heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that Book at any price, give me the book of God"  -  John Wesley (Sermons on Several Occasions, 1771)

I have read this quote over and over again. The more I read it the more I love it!