. . you must be living in Stockton.

Warning:  The following blog contains ranting, raving and relational venting.  It might be in your best interest to just skip it and go read some story about someone saving puppies and dolphins while watching a rainbow covered sunset to the delight of orphaned children.

Exhibit A:  (a few weeks ago) I take a phone call I’m expecting and the person tells me (crying) that his wife is leaving him and in the middle of the conversation I get pulled over and issued a citation for talking on the phone while driving.  The officer with an attitude says it was not an emergency.  Which of course is because it wasn’t HIS emergency.

Exhibit B: (Monday) The county of San Joaquin assesses a supplemental property tax on top of the regular property tax that you pay if you have a title change or remodel.  Seeing as you title change when you purchase a house it’s a sneaky way to get even more money out of you.  And that fact that they have your address wrong and that you are not aware of the supplemental tax (because your regular property tax is paid through escrow and you’ve never heard of a supplemental tax) is a good reason to charge you a hefty penalty for late payment.

Exhibit C: (Yesterday) The welcome wagon visited us again and confirmed the reality that this is one miserable place to live. We got hit again yesterday afternoon around 4:30PM or 5PM right out in plain sight on a well traveled street adjacent to the Lincoln High School softball fields.  They smashed our car window and took M’s stylish school bag.

She was obviously upset about losing the bag, her iPod, her school supplies and her Geometry text book (which would have been a welcome turn of events for me).

I’m mad about M being the victim of the greed of someone else.  She’s had more than enough reasons to struggle already in her life and doesn’t need this on her shoulders.

I’m mad about paying $250 to fix the window that some punk smashed and even though I drove around and looked for the idiot who did this, God intervened and didn’t allow me to find the product of poor parenting.

We’re all mad at the violation and the intrusion.  The brash “I’ll take whatever I want whenever I want attitude” that is quite prevalent in this town.  No respect, no regard for what belongs to someone else.

If you’re looking for a spiritual resolution to this, some sort of “well at least we have our health” or “all things work together for good” I’m not there yet.

Right now I’m mad and needing to vent and at least you don’t have to listen to me tell this to you in person because you know how loud my voice is (especially when I get animated).

Ironic how Sunday I talk about trying to be used by God in the place where you find yourself and those next couple of days confirm the reality that some of us truly feel stuck in Stockton.

Splitting the weekend series 2 to 2, the Lincoln High School JV began the Spring ’09 Fastpitch season with a familiar face on the field.

Even though we’ve coached her since she first picked up a softball, (and even though I will still coach her on the travel team) we now turn her over to the high school coaching staff.

Yes, the coaches did request “no coaching” from the stands. And yes the coaches do speak Spanish so we’re going to have to learn another language (I’m kidding – well, partially kidding).  In critical situations when we’ve not wanted the opposition to hear us we’ve communicated in Spanish about a particular strategy or anticipated pitch.

It’s hard to watch a game from the sidelines (that you know quite a bit about) and not “suggest” a few things.

Since it will make it harder on her (as far as the coach is concerned) I’ll do my part and keep my mouth shut.  The problem I have (as if it were my only problem) is that I talk so loud that anything I say is guaranteed to be heard by everyone.

How do you say “here comes a change up” in French?

Here are my message notes from Sunday:

• There seems to be some confusion, on the part of some these days, as to which church group or movement BELONGS to Jesus Christ.
• What we need are some real EVIDENCES that a church belongs to Jesus Christ.

BELONGING TO JESUS CHRIST (AS A CHURCH) REQUIRES A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CALLING

Colossians 1:1-2 (NCV)  From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted. Also from Timothy, our brother.  To the holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ that live in Colossae:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Paul’s greeting here in verse 2 was directed to the Colossians as “holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.”

• Most of us, in all honesty, have little desire to be called either “HOLY” or “SAINTS” (the word used in some of your Bibles).
• In the language of the Bible, the word “holy” when attributed to the people of God means to be SET APART for the service of God.
• In Jesus Christ we have been set apart for SPECIAL use.
• Christ followers live in this world to PROCLAIM the excellencies of God who set us apart in Christ Jesus.
• If we are not SERVING in the name of Christ we are not in Christ.
• Only when we are serving others in the name of Jesus Christ as God intended are we being FAITHFUL (true) to our calling. (We can’t set aside what we’ve been set apart to do)

• Not only have we been set apart, we have been set apart to a DISTINCT geographical location.
• We are not lifted out of this world for special service to God; rather, we are placed in the world in a given time and place to be ENGAGED in service for God.
• We are here for a REASON and should serve God with passion and energy.

Walked out to my truck last night (after a meeting after class) and witnessed two young lads playing catch with a football.

Well, one kid was holding on to the football and the other wanted the football thrown to him.

In the time it took me to reach my car I heard the one kid imploring and exhorting the other kid to please, pretty please throw him the ball.

Finally, in complete exasperation, the kid said:  “Come on, throw the ball, what would Jesus do?”

Amusing dynamic interpretation of a well worn (tired) expression.

Yes and with that we mark the end of an era.

The van era is now part of our past.

Ten years allows for some pretty interesting and diverse memories.

We couldn’t decide what to do with the van for the longest time.

M said it was okay to let the van go so when the guy drove up out of the blue and offered cash we said yes.

In this case parting is not sweet sorrow, (I mean it’s just a van for crying out loud) we simply get attached to things in peculiar ways.

I got to attend church almost like a normal, regular person yesterday.

Strange, but I could get used to it rather quickly (I think).

Jess took a few items off my plate this past week and delivered the message on Sunday.

He did a great job focusing our thoughts on the importance and value of integrity.

These words from Proverbs caught my attention:

The honest person will live in safety, but the dishonest will be caught. A wink may get you into trouble, and foolish talk will lead to your ruin.   The words of a good person give life, like a fountain of water, but the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.  Hatred stirs up trouble, but love forgives all wrongs.