Saturday, June 28, 2008

Moving day

1 uhaul 2 pick up trucks 3 hours so far

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Garage sales and bachelor parties

Today was a full, but good day!



Can I interest you in some Nordic dolls? (Even though the troll resembles the creepy little guy in the Sonny Bono movie from the 80's).




Or how about Mr. Wonderful?



Everyone needs a bedside lamp with a spinning wheel on it.


These and other used items (like half burnt candles, VHS tapes, and sweaters--which didn't sell so well in the triple digit heat) were displayed and sold with zest today!

In an effort to PURGE & downsize before our move we partnered with
my in-laws and threw a "two family garage sale," & haggled with all the bargain shoppers! Some of them come with a fire to get a deal! And I had no problem playing Monty Hall. I was happy with the cash we took home and the stuff we unloaded. So humbling to think of our American culture of consumerism. I am such a product of it.



After we packed up the leftovers for Goodwill I met up with a bunch of Godly men from our community who were celebrating Frankie Markovich. In 6 short days he'll be saying I do.



I missed the hike and golf outing but made it for the best part. A time of encouragement and prayer. Frankie's brother made him wear an ultra-tight/small green t-shirt in which all the guys wrote truth and encouragements to him as a future husband. After spurring him on to love his wife we prayed for him. Now that's a good bachelor party in my opinion.

And OK, of course there was lots of MEAT, especially tri-tip steak, SCUM-a fast pool table style game, and of course "bathroom humor." I don't know what it is about men, but we like talk about about the noises and things that come out of our body! I laughed a little too hard, but hey-we did it all to the glory of God!


Three cheers for men (of God!).

Thursday, June 19, 2008

June 2008 iMix

June's mix is a story of being called out for God, humbling ourselves to connect and be filled by him, going out, and celebrating. This season at PCC we start a discussion about STANDING from Daniel. Three questions. What do you stand on? Who do you stand with? What to you stand for? From start to finish listen for God's call in our lives and his empowerment to fulfill it! Tim Hughes' song, "God of justice" is prayer, a command, and an anthem for our generation. I can't listen to it without visuals of impoverished and enslaved children around the world popping into my head. We must do something.




Check out this song # 15 by
TIM HUGHES
GOD OF JUSTICE

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give


Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Chase me, Catch me

What a (good) crazy long week. A week of 14 hour days (training week for the interns) ended with an ER visit and a 72 hour virus for Isella. We were so thankful when Friday afternoon she became our happy little girl again. It was so hard to see her cry and just have to "push" through it until the fever broke. I'm so glad it did. Now I can celebrate Father's day with out worries. So in honor of Father's day I have a dad refelction!

My daughter has been doing this thing for a while. It's the "Chase Me" game. She crawls as fast as she can around the coffee table (or into her bedroom), looking behind her to see if we'll chase her.


And of course, we (either Wendy or I) DO chase her. We say, "I'm gonna get you!" (Which is so funny because that seems like such a weird thing to say. "I'm gonna get you?" Isn't that a line from some B horror movie? Somehow it ended up being a playful game for kids.


Anyway..along the chase, we play Peek-a-boo, and duck behind doorways and tables saying, "I see you." She just giggles and loves it. She will often bend around corners and just scream gleefully!

I can't help but think of God while this exchange is going on. When I catch her I just hug, kiss, tickle, and tell her I love her over and over and over. (As I'm doing that I always sense God saying to me, "Tony, I LOVE YOU, I love YOU, I LOVE you, I LOVE you, I LOVE YOU, too!") Then she gets up and starts the whole thing over. Almost as if to say, "Will you keep chasing me?" And I always want to answer: YES! Isella, Papa loves you and always wants to be close to you!





Isn't that what we all want? We want to be wanted, we want to be chased...even when we are running away.

I'm glad that's what God does!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

From the park to the ER

Our young adult small groups kicked off last night at Red Morton Park. The weather was perfect for people to mingle around, mangia (eat), and throw the football around. The plan was to gather everyone together and cast a vision for why are small groups are meeting at a park in the community. We have hopes of meeting new people playing soccer, relaxing on blankets, or cheering a softball game and inviting them to join us for dinner and have conversations that show we care about RWC!



We had a great turn out, but I had to leave early!



I got a call that Isella had a 104.3 Temp.
ER here we come.
One hospital wristlet--that she didn't quite understand.
and two hours of waiting for a simple dose of motrin.



No ear infections, everything looks fine. Could just be a virus they say.
Thankfully her temp went down to 101 while we were in the ER and we are now home.
She was so sleepy.



We go back to check up tomorrow.

Interesting note: It was the same doctor who sent Wendy home from the ER when her appendix burst just later that night. HMMMM.....We pray.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Thoughts on Passing on Gas



I usually am not one to "slam the man," but dang. $75 for a fill up? Isn't that crazy? Seeing this number on the gas pump really made it real that we are in an economic crisis. Bums me out how many road trips won't happen because of gas prices.

But if we look on the bright side, it could encourage us to be more intentional to pass on gas through more carpooling, walking, and biking and GAS GIFT CARDS become more of a hot commodity around gift-giving times!

Friday, June 06, 2008

Launching my VLOG




Community, Creativity, Contests..and maybe some more things that start with C.

http://www.youtube.com/tonys2cents

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Mercy Cafe


What started out a dream years ago has now been going strong three years. Mercy Cafe is a summer long, party --every Sunday afternoon and night. I love it. It's chocked full of music, food, chill time, new people, and activities from frisbee and bocce ball to volley ball. We have Market Fresh Comedy Team returning to do their improv again (7/27) as well as an end of summer dance party planned (what's the end of summer with out a dance party!). The team of people who are bringing to us are a dedicated bunch of young adults led by Jeff and Aftan. There are still numerous ways to get involved and help (email jeffandaftan@gmail.com). Every Sunday enjoy life music and burgers, which are always supplied, and mingle with people from all over Redwood City and all different ages. It's a family style potluck buffet type deal where you bring some food to share or throw some greenbacks in the donation tub! This is a real piece of community and BEING the church. Invite anyone and everyone you know. June 8-August 10th. This is what the writers of Hebrews was taking about when he/she said don't give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. But meet together and encourage each other (Hebrews 10). We can't do this if we don't get out and get involved. I hope PCC and all of RWC will! Check out the link (and pass it on) for upcoming scheduled artists at www.peninsulacovenant.com/mercycafe. Isn't the logo cool? I've heard T-shirts are on the way. I'd wear one

PS. Our interns arrive this weekend, too. 12 of them.

.

Sunday, June 01, 2008