Hiyahhh!!

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Three weeks ago, the three older kids have been doing karate at a local studio. The neat part about it is that it is a Christian run by Christians so they do not go into the whole spiritual side of martial arts. Well, I should say, they do go into the spiritual side, but from the Christian perspective.

The kids all have monthly memory verses they must learn and practice. In order to move onto the next belt or degree, they must not only be proficient in their karate moves, but also must show proficiency in the Word of God. And in their attitudes - they must show respect, courtesy, integrity, etc. Way cool. It's basically a discipleship program!

Too bad that we didn't start them sooner - they will only be in this program until we leave for NZ. Some of their friends have been in this program for years. But they are enjoying it tremendously. Thanks to the instructors at the studio for their care and love for the kids!

Happy Belated Veterans Day

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Thanks to all the veterans who have served in the various wars. Thank you for standing up for me. As one of the 'boat people' from Vietnam, I am very grateful for the soldiers who fought in Vietnam. To be honest, without them I (and my family) most likely will still be back in communist Vietnam. So thanks!

This past week on Veteran's Day we went to the local Murrieta Vet's Day parade. One of the exhibits that caught my attention was the Field of Honor. This is a field next to the Murrieta public library that was decorated with 1200 US flags. Each flag was in honor of a regional veteran. It was a moving display. Again, thanks to all vets.

Here are a few fotos of the Field of Honor...

Jury Duty is Over...For the Next 12 Months

Well, just to let you know, I finished jury duty this week. All in all I have to say it was a very interesting process (don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I would do it again anytime soon). I did get a chance to see part of the judicial process and I did learn a lot about legal terms. There were about 160 of us potential jurors the first day. That was whittled down to about 60 by the next 2 days. Then from those, 18 were picked as prospective jurors and questioned by the judge and lawyers (with the rest of us still sitting in with them and listening).

After this, the lawyers on both sides started excusing some of these prospective jurors, based upon the answers they gave or sometimes just on a gut feeling. So that reduced that group of 18 down to about 9 or so. So another 12 were picked from the larger group of 60 (well, minus the 18 already picked or excused) and questioned. So from this second 12, the lawyers picked enough to get 12 jurors and 2 alternate jurors. Technically there should be 3 alternates, but the judge had mercy on the rest of us and dismissed the rest of us. Otherwise another 12 would have been picked from those of us remaining, and from these 12 1 alternate would have been picked. Whew! All in all a very interesting week. Now it makes me want to read 'Twelve Angry Men' again. I read it back in high school for AP English and liked it. I think we even watched the old movie.

Oh by the way, for those who have been dying to know - I can talk about the charges now that I am not on the jury. It was 4 counts of alleged rape by a police officer in this county - some of the alleged victims are prostitutes. Very serious charges, hence the care in picking the right jurors.

Now it's Becks' turn at jury duty - she has been called.

Back in SoCal

Hi all, we are back from Germany now and trying to get settled in to life here. And yes, we are trying to get over the jetlag - the kids start dropping off at around 5-6 PM (mostly because they wake up at 4-5 AM!!).

We will try to post more fotos and testimonies about the trip - it was a total blessing! It was soooo good to see good friends again, some we have known for almost 12-13 years now. Thanks to all who prayed for us during the trip. And thanks especially to the Romings who opened their home for us to stay the whole 2 and a half weeks - 4 adults and 9 kids (all under 10 years old) all in one house. And nary a problem! Wow, what a miracle!

I am scheduled for jury duty all of next week. And Becks is scheduled for jury duty all of the week after that. Welcome back to SoCal! Life never is dull, is it? I am kinda excited - never done jury duty before. We have been called before several times, but were living in Germany at the time so got out of it (but imagine the travel cost they would have had to reimburse us for if they insisted we show up!).

Anyways, we'll post more soon...

How's Your Chest?!

As part of the visa application process for New Zealand, we have to get chest X-rays. I assume they want to make sure we don't have TB or any medical abnormalities. This past week, we got the reports back from the radiologist saying that our chests and spines look healthy and that there are no signs of TB or any abnormalities.

But what caught my attention and made me a little upset was this one phrase that was supposed to sum up the radiologist's findings...

For Becks he summarized - Impression: NORMAL chest.
For me he summarized - Impression: UNREMARKABLE chest!!!

Now wait a cotton-pickin' minute I thought! How come she gets a 'normal' chest and I get a 'unremarkable chest'!? I think my chest is AT LEAST normal! If not downright remarkable!

I guess I gotta get out the weights and work-out a bit. Maybe then I can be bumped up to a 'normal' chest. And perhaps one day, with lots of sweat, hard work (and steroids), I can move up to having a 'remarkable' chest! ;-)

LIke this guys below...

Where Do You Find Contentment?

It's a question that we all face in life - maybe daily for some. Or back up a little and ask 'Am I even content? With who I am, what I have, where I am, what I am doing? Am I content??' Those are some tough questions - maybe easy to answer, but hard to live out. Because we are constantly bombarded by societal pressures that try to make us discontented!

We're not content with the way we look because Hollywood has convinced us that we would only be content if we look like a movie star or model. We're not content with what we have because advertisers have convinced us that in order to be content we NEED the latest and greatest. We're not content with what we are doing because we have been taught all our lives that we must achieve the American Dream - the big house in a suburban cul-de-sac with the white picket fence, 2 cars in the garage (1 sedan and 1 SUV), a dog and cat and 2.78 kids. So we strive and strive to achieve that illusive dream. But is that really contentment?

Paul in Philippians 4 gives us a few tips, pointers, principles (whatever you want to call them) on contentment. I'll just list them out here with the corresponding verses. I won't explain them much because I really want you to read those verses and let God speak to you. Let Him show you if you are content or not, and where you find your contentment. So here are the 3 principles that I see...

1. Contentment is independent of external circumstances and material things - Phil 4.11-12. Notice what Paul says - 'in whatever state' and 'everywhere and in all things'. Am I content ONLY when things go well or ONLY when I have all I need and want?

2. Contentment must be learned - Phil 4.11-12. It is not automatic nor does it come naturally to us. Twice Paul says it is learned or understood though experience or teaching.

3. Contentment is only 'in' the Lord Jesus - Phil 4.13. In the Greek the actual sentence goes like this- 'I can do all things IN [not through] Christ [or Him depending on which translation you use] who strengthens me.' Just remember with this verse - context, context, context. What does 'all things' mean? Can I flap my arms and fly if I recite this verse while flapping? Meditate on the 'all things IN Christ'.

What It Takes to Hear God's Voice

This past Sunday, I had the privilege to teach all three services at our home church, Calvary Murrieta, while Pastor Brian was away. The message was from Matt 14.22-33, but it also included examples from our own lives and the whole process of us stepping out of the boat and leaving Germany and now stepping out of the boat again and heading off to New Zealand (God willing!).

So in a sense, it is our life story covering the last 2 years. The message is titled 'What It Takes to Hear God's Voice' and you can download it from the CCM website (just click here and then listen online or download the mp3). Enjoy and my prayer is that God will speak to you about your boat!

PS - thanks Brian for letting me share!



Here's Peter getting ready to walk on water with Jesus. That's how I feel sometimes! ;-)