Whoops...here is one with Darylene in it too..If you want to see the pictures in more detail just double click on them,they will get much larger.

christmas 2007

Here are a couple of pictures from two separate events this Christmas season 2007.One is from our church with a pic of my immediate family(Denise,Darylene and Travis)plus Denise's dad.The other pic is a family gathering of Denise's mothers family.Unfortunately not all could make it to this one.Christmas is tomorrow so I am sure we will have more pics to share.See you then!!!!!!

ELP - C'est la vie

This is a song I ised to sing for my wife.I meant it then and I definately mean it now....I love you Princess!!!!!

Here we have a few pics of our "SOUPS ON!" luncheon this past Sunday at our church.Unfortunately many in our small congregation have come down with a variety of illnesses.They were very much missed this day. We had quite a selection of soups and stews to choose from.Fortunately the weather co-operated and it stayed"cool" and didn't get any warmer this day than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

It was also a special day for me and Denise.While we were enjoying our meal,we were surprised with a presentation of a framed award of appreciation for all the hard work we have done over the past year.Gary and Deanna Balzer as well received one.In actual fact there are others who should be included as it really has been team work that has helped our small church struggle and stay firm in its commitment to Christ.Soon our new pastor will be here and hopefully a new path for us can be laid out in order that we might serve God in whatever way he has planned for our church here in Hanford.

Brad Kunkel ,his wife Rhonda and son Peter were with us this day.They also presented the worship and we were all overwhelmed at how wonderful they sounded.We are truly blessed to have such friends as Brad and his family.Brad has been a big part in the continuing strength of Central Community Church this past year.An amazing guy,that really is able to teach the gospel in a way that is enjoyable as well as eyeopening and very educational.

Here are some pics of Darylene and her new car that she purchased last week.This particular weekend was the first weekend she was able to drive around Hanford and show it off.It is a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu.It used to be a Sacramento police undercover car.Its engine is in immaculate condition. And except for a couple of small dents the body is in great shape as well.She even got snow chains with it. Her first time driving back from Fresno State was last Friday and it happened to be right in the middle of rush hour.A tough initiation for any new driver.But she did well.

Christianity in todays world

Here is an article I ran across recently that I thought would be interesting to share with others.I am not sure I agree with all of the authors points that she makes but I also feel that she brings many interesting discussion topics to the table.Check it out and see what you think!
Here it is:
Allllrighty then! Well after reading a few other articles on this thread, I must say I'm amused, slightly shocked, and a little bewildered. I have to add as well, it's difficult to take seriously the articles of people who cannot properly spell simple one-syllable English words, or of people who use profanity repeatedly to make their point. But I digress. Having said that, I don't think this thread is about how many commandments one can name or whether or not Jesus is atonement for sin. For every 100 people reading these (or any) articles, there will be 100 or more different opinions. Religion and Biblical text are too subjective, or at least have become so, to be able to say, "this is the definitive answer and any other belief or response is wrong." And having said THAT, I offer the following:
I've lived on several different sides of this multi-faceted issue. I am not some hardened sinner who, in an adult life, used Christianity and being "born again" as a cop-out for my past transgressions. I came to Christ as a young child. All of the damage done by this sinner came later, much later, in life. I have faced nearly every temptation to commit wrong-doing that exists, with the exception of wanting to murder someone (well, let me think on that one), and I've failed miserably time and again. Have I failed because my Christianity, my claim to Christ or God, is fake or flawed? No. I've failed because I am exactly what man (and woman) has been since Adam and Eve...a sinner. I'm a human being with a sin nature.
Consider this analogy of water flowing uphill. It is not in the nature of water to flow uphill. Water finds its own level and water submits to the forces of gravity. Water cannot possibly flow uphill by its own free will because water was not created with that capability. The only way to make water flow uphill is to provide it with a force that will cause the water to defy gravity and move against its nature. And even as that water is being propelled uphill at its center, all around it, the very same water is flowing right back down. This is who we are as humans and sinners. No matter how hard we try we cannot, within ourselves, perform the impossible (perfection and sinlessness) because we were born with a sin nature and the complete inability to be anything but sinners. In order to even attempt the uphill climb, we must have another force that propels us. For me, this is God and my relationship with Him. And even in the midst of His hand guiding me against the grain of my own nature, parts of me still backslide.
Today's world bombards us, Christians or not, do-gooders or not, with the temptation to be "do-badders." Let's take a slice of 1950s morality and say, for the sake of argument, that the following things are wrong and sinful: Pre-marital sex, homosexuality, drinking, drugs, adultery, pornography, lying, murdering, raping, stealing and working on Sunday. (I'm being somewhat facetious here.) Now going through that list, think of those things in relation to modern media. In Hollywood, everyone has sex before marriage, being gay is cool and gets you your own TV show on Oxygen, drinking is commonplace, drugs are what the cool people do for recreation, adultery is fine because "we're in an open marriage", pornography is two clicks away, etc., etc. I literally could go on for days. This same media-driven world gives very little play, if you will, to the do-gooders, the Christians, the upright in the world. The only time you hear about Christians is when someone in a public school is in trouble for praying at lunch or passing out salvation tracks in study hall. The only time good will to men is considered is at Christmas and maybe Easter. The only time it's cool to mention God or Jesus is if you are including them in a brief nod during an Oscar acceptance speech or after winning the Superbowl. I know I'm being minimalistic to a degree, but I also know I'm not too far off the mark. The point of all of this is, it's hard, if not impossible, to live a Christ-like life in a Christ-less age.
So in conclusion to my too-long dissertation here I say, when I'm faced with the temptation to lie, to lust, to envy, to hate, to be apathetic, to judge others, to (fill in the blanks), I know only this; no matter how much my heart may want to flood uphill, my nature can only obey to the gravity of the sin within it and I pray for God's sovereign hand to gently lead me higher. A mere thought from God was enough to part the waters of a sea, so I can trust fully that God can deal perfectly with the tiny trickle that is my humanity.
Learn more about this author, Esmerelda Q. Culpepper.

WEB 2.0 TV: Alma Records_Michael Kaeshammer COMES LOVE

MOre of Victoria bc boy Michael kaeshammer....We love it!!!

Changes in delivering the message!

Erwin McManus continues to deliver a message of change that I for one believe is something all churches would be wise to check out. That is, if they wish to continue to progress with the reality of our world as we know it. With these changes, there is still the opportunity to deliver Gods message to the world. Just in a new way is all. We must develop the will amongst us, to be able to accept change.Easy to say,some however tend to be unbendable(if there is such a word).

His message is that there are no formulas that will enable a church to structurally meet every person’s needs. Currently, when a new believer joins a church they are plugged into the structure where the church needs them most. They are discipled and led in ways that make them all look the same. For people outside of the church, who inherently know (and cling to the fact that) we are all unique, the sameness of the church, and the structure that they are potentially being asked to fit into doesn’t work.
Erwin underlined the idea that in order for a church to meet the needs of such a diverse group it needs to give up being so structured around what a church “needs” to look like, or the programs it “ought” to have or the formulas that it “should” use.
Another thing he said really resonated with me. It concerns a world the church has been using quite often lately. It sounds like a good word (probably in the same way the world uses the word “peace” to mean different things that Jesus would mean) but ultimately implies things that we don’t really mean to mean. The word is relevant. Erwin said that the church tries too hard to be relevant. He expounded that the word in itself implies that someone else has already arrived or done something; that anyone thereafter must link or join to. Anyone after the first has to also find ways to add on some value to the foundation already built. He said that the church (who has all of the power of Christ, and inherently the ability to do anything in God’s will) should never try to be relevant. Instead the church should be setting the curve for the culture to follow. Wouldn’t it be great if the church was doing so many great things that the culture took notice and was in hot pursuit to add on to what we were doing?
Next he moved on to the thought that we only have churches that look like ourselves. Whomever we are, we only invite people to join in our lives that look, talk, act like us. One church sought Erwin out saying of their 5,000 all-white members; they didn’t know how they could start seeing diversity. He asked them if they had any friends who were of different races. From the blank stares he apparently got, I guessed the answer was no. He offered them the idea that if they only wanted to do church, and not LIFE with people of other races, then the church they were trying to build was a fake. If they weren’t willing to allow diversity into their lives, why would their church be any different?

Thomas KinKade slideshow........enjoy!!!

Thomas Kinkade - Wallpaper

Our day at Pismo Beach

Last Friday,July 20th,We took a short trip to the coast for a little picnic at Pismo Beach.Usually when we go there it is kind of cold.However this time we got there early and it was already warm.By the time noon hit it was very hot.The kids went swimming in the ocean and Denise and I walked for miles on the beach.It felt good walking barefoot through the surf and sand.We are going back to the coast again soon.Only this time we will head towards Cayucos and Cambria.Thought we might like to do a little exploring in places that we have never seen before.

WEB 2.0 TV -Alma Records: Michael Kaeshammer NORA'S BOOGIE

MICHAEL KAESHAMMER...a victoria BC boy....he can tickle the ivories with the best of them!!!!

La Ville De Bolduc

Hello again..........A short update on happenings in La Ville de Bolduc. First off,it appears that our church is ready to head into its next phase of change.Our newly selected pastor will be beginning his summer foundation series.He brings with him,a big heart,lots of prayer,and family that is richly blessed musically.I am sure the changes he has planned for us will be beneficial in helping us grow once again to be a strong voice in our community.I am also sure that there may be a few bumps along the way.But our faith in God has lead us to this point,and towards that end we shall work together in His Word.
On a different subject,I went to the eye doctor today and was happy to hear that my eyesight hasn't changed at all.I do however need a tad stronger progressive lens for reading.Old age does that to you.HAHAHA
We have had a busy week to be sure.Travis had his birthday on Tuesday and was very shocked when he received a PSP game console.It was a little pricey but he loves it.It really is quite the thing.It is completely compatible with his pc.(downloads,music,pics,movies and more)
Darylene is still busy going to college at West Hills in order to load up her prerequisites for her RN major she is striving for at Fresno State.She also will have a major in communicative disorders.Her goal is to eventually become a nurse practitioner.
Denise works as hard as always.She finally received confirmation about requested days.Although we wanted to head to Canada this summer,that unfortunately will have to be put on hold till next year.Instead we have been enjoying the local mountains and the coast.We have plans to head up towards Shaver Lake area,Tuolumne Meadows,Cambria,and Diablo Canyon.Of course our travels may lead us elsewhere as well.We love the mountains!!!!!

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!

Denise found this video and thought it would fit nicely into our blog.....hope you enjoy!

FOURTH OF JULY..........DENISE IS THE FIREWORKS QUEEN!!!

We just wanted to show a few pics of our fourth of July celebration.eventhough Denise had to work that evening,we had her entire immediate family over for a BBQ.She is paying for it today(next day) though.She didnt get any sleep the day before and then worked all night.She is exhausted.Good thing she is off for the next two nights.All in all we had a lot of fun.Everyone that came bought some fireworks,so our little show went on for a couple of hours.as you can see our niece Audrey had a ball with her sparklers.We did quite well considering the temps hit about 105.Today it it may get to 110 with high humidity.This kind of weather really sucks,especially if you are a west coast Canuck.

Morning at Balch Park

this is another video of the same balch park in the morning....dont ask us what that noise is though.not really sure we want find out either...hahaha

Through The Redwood

Denise and I found this on you tube...we are going to check this out of the way park out soon

Denise and I went up to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park this past week.Just doing some exploring.While waiting in a construction delay line up,we overheard a cyclist talking to some guys about a great park that we might check out next week.It is called Balch Park.Apparently it is off the beaten track.We will get some pics of it and share them on here.We really do enjoy the mountains.

Just a short note to tell you that Denise and I had a wonderful time at Champions on Ice.I didn't actually think that I would.I tend to lean more towards hockey and curling when it comes to on ice sports.before hand we went to the cheesecake factory for a great meal etc.Darylene had bought us the tickets several months ago for our anniversary which was yesterday May31.It was also our first time in the Save Mart Center,and we were quite impressed.Overall the performances were excellent,especially when coupled with the fantastic sounds of music that they played.

We also got a big surprise when we got home.Travis and Darylene had decorated our bedroom with banners,pictures,candles,chocolates and hearts.All in all we had a fantastic evening.

Michael Bublé - Everything

Finally got my Michale Buble cd and i love it i think this song called Everything is my favorite.
Denise

Hey there everyone...Its me Denise.I havent written a blog in here for quite some time,so I thought that perhaps I would add a few little things that are going on in my life during the past few months.

First,I just finished a course on wound mangement and healing .I need to do this every two years ,to maintain my nursing license here in the state of California.I now know exactly the difference between arterial ulcers and venous ulcers.

Finally Michael Buble released his new cd.It has been two years since his last one.I have been trying to post his video of my favorite song on here.However for some reason it wont download.I will keep trying though,dont worry.Oh yeah,The song is called "Everything"!

Next week,Thursday in fact,Malcolm and I are going to see "Champions on Ice".My daughter Darylene bought us two tickets months ago for our anniversary,which is on May 31.I am looking forward to seeing all of my favorite skaters,although I think Malcolm would rather see a hockey game.Ha Ha Ha

My Mom called me the other day and told me that My sister Dixie that lives in Iowa,will be visiting Hanford during the first week of July.We are hoping to get together for the fourth and have some big time fireworks.Travis and I love fireworks!!!! wooooooooohooooooooooo
Later folks
Denise

We thought it was time to lighten up a bit.Well actually Denise said I needed to lighten up a tad,so I thought I would add a few more from our photo catalogue.The first three are from our Yosemite trip last month.We are definately going back this summer,although I think perhaps we would like to head even farther and higher up into the sierras.We are also planning on an extended trip to Sequoia.The last pic is from our trip we took to Victoria BC Canada a couple years ago.I have so many pics from that trip and Denise can not get over how green it was there.I am very proud of my hometown.Especially when I have returned there and discovered for a city of about half a million it is so clean and safe compared to cities I have seen of similar size elsewhere..I also need to head on over to the coast here in California again.This coastline here is one of the most awesome sights you will see anywhere in the world.

Importance of religion to Canadians:
The Pew Research Center has conducted a series of studies called "The Pew Global Attitudes Project." They is measuring the "impact of globalization, modernization, rapid technological and cultural change and the Sept. 11 terrorist events on the values and attitudes of more than 38,000 people in 44 countries..." A poll released on 2002-DEC-19 revealed whether people around the world consider religion to be personally important. 1
Results from the 41 countries sampled showed that the percentage of the public who consider religion important ranged from 97% in Senegal to 11% in both France and the Czech Republic . They found that the percentage was:
59% in the United States
57% in Mexico
33% in Great Britain
30% in Canada.

I come from Canada,I also am able to accept these foundings as most likely correct.Coming from Canada to the U.S. it is evident as to how much more religion plays upon every day life here in the states.

We took a daytrip up to yosemite yesterday(March31,2007),It was my first time ever being there.All I can say is,these few pics do not even come close to doing justice to exactly what it was that befell me when we came out of this tunnel that went through a mountain and a vista exploded before me.ABSOLUTLY AMAZING!!!!!....We have many more pics which I will add here and there as well.The ones you see are...1-the first shot of the yosemite valley when you exit the tunnel 2-Bridalveil falls 3- Travis and me with el capitan in the background

HEYYYYY...LOOK WHAT DENISE AND I WON ON POGO...ACTUALLY DENISE WON MOST OF THE BADGES NEEDED....SHE LOVES HER HOG HEAVEN SLOTS.....LOL

Hello once again.I was browsing news headlines tonight and i came across this article by Neil Macdonald of the CBC.He makes some very good and interesting points,one of which I had no idea about.Canada after many years of wallowing in huge debt has righted its ship and is sailing along nicely.Canadians as Macdonald states hated the changes that had to done but sucked it up and quit whining.The facts are right are there for all to see.Canada has indeed forged its future by making financial sacrifices(without dismantling their precious universal medical system,among other government controlled departments]Anyway here it is...Macdonald explains it much more clearly than can I.

NEIL MACDONALD:
Washington's reluctance to pay the piper
March 3, 2007
The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran a rather pointed editorial cartoon the other day. It featured one of those "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbons you see on bumpers all over the United States.
But underneath it, the cartoonist wrote: "Offer void if injured mentally or physically, requiring quality care, therapy, recuperation and/or disability income."
In other words, all the good intentions and kind words are just ashes if the bills aren't being paid. And while Americans are a people of remarkably good intentions, they are not particularly diligent at paying bills.
Ask the grievously wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Centre, the famous military hospital here in Washington. A months-long newspaper investigation recently exposed dreadful, mouldy living quarters and overloaded services. It also chronicled the desperate existences of veterans who sink into profound depressions waiting for disability allowances and proper treatment of their terrible physical and psychological wounds.
So much for the cherished American vision of a grateful nation welcoming its veterans home and sparing no expense to care for them.
The fact is, many of them were sent to war without proper armour in the first place, because top-grade armour costs money, as does first-rate post-battlefield health care. And paying these sorts of bills ultimately requires raising taxes, and that is something the American public is not prepared to tolerate, no matter what all the magnetic yellow-ribbon bumper stickers might say.
Get out the calculator
The war in Iraq costs $2 billion a week. But this hardly seems like a nation at war. The good times roll on, with no sacrifice evident anywhere, except of course in those families who have lost sons or daughters.
Mercedes sedans and Lexuses, often with a yellow ribbon on the bumper, are common in big American cities. All over the country, people are blithely remortgaging their homes to build new in-home theatres or to finance luxurious improvements (all tax deductible here).
On an individual level, Americans are racking up colossal amounts of personal debt. This is a country with a maxed-out credit card. Average monthly balance in each American household is between $9,000 and $12,000. The average load of unsecured consumer debt per U.S. household sits at about $35,000.
It is no wonder, then, that American voters send their elected representatives to Washington with a clear guiding principle: No new taxes.
In fact, President George W. Bush and the (until recently) Republican-controlled Congress went much further: They cut taxes, and pushed up spending at the same time. Not the best combination, from a fiscal standpoint.
So, unsurprisingly, the entire Iraq war is being fought essentially on borrowed money, which of course adds to the federal deficit, which of course feeds the national debt, which, as of this writing, stands at nearly $8.8 trillion dollars US, a figure with so many zeroes as to be nearly incomprehensible.
Add in the grey heads
What's more, what's coming down the road in the way of anticipated expenditures could make that bit of red ink look like chump change.
Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman and the man who controls the central bank strings, made a game effort to explain the numbers to legislators here this week.
The big demographic bulge known as the baby boomers is getting ready to retire, he noted. Meaning they will start to collect social security, and will likely require considerably more medical attention.
Those two items represent an unfunded liability that can also be measured in the trillions, and no one has done a thing to prepare for it.
Bernanke delivered a simple lesson about the public ledger sheet. Basically, that the money has to come from somewhere.
Either taxes have to go up, and considerably, or spending has to be slashed on an unheard-of scale. Keep borrowing, and the public debt balloons so fantastically it becomes an unmanageable fiscal crisis.
"This is sort of like a snowball rolling down the hill," said Bernanke, striving for a metaphor to impress a panel of skeptical politicians. "It's already a pretty big snowball, but it's going to get a lot bigger a lot faster."
In denial
Republicans, of course, argue that their tax cuts provide such an economic stimulus that the treasury will become much richer. Bernanke doesn't buy it. Tax cuts, he told the politicians this week, "usually do not pay for themselves."
"Whatever it is, you have to pay for it," he said. "That's what I'm saying."
And, of course, the longer politicians wait, the more severe and the more disruptive the eventual reckoning will be. "I think the right time to start is about 10 years ago," said Bernanke. Not a pleasant prospect for the legislators.
"We have difficulty explaining to the American public why the deficit is such a serious matter," House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt told the Fed chairman.
But the explanation is actually simple. If something isn't done, it means a reduction in Americans' wealth and spending power, which is a very bad thing indeed, not just for Americans, but for the rest of the world, especially America's closest trading partner, Canada.
Something can be done of course. Canada did it. In 1995, the Wall Street Journal shocked Canadians by declaring their country an honorary member of the Third World. "Bankrupt Canada?" was the headline on the editorial.
Canada's debt at the time was 68.4 per cent of its gross domestic product. Thirty-five per cent of federal revenues were drained by interest payments on the debt. The deficit that year was $30 billion.
Today, of course, Canada runs surpluses, and has for almost a decade. Its debt is now less than 30 per cent of GDP.
The Canadian government cut spending dramatically and raised Canada Pension Plan payroll taxes years ago to deal with the anticipated burden of retiring boomers. The public wasn't happy, but accepted it.
The U.S., meanwhile, is creeping towards the kinds of debt levels that would qualify it for the Third World status that the Wall Street Journal once applied to Canada. Whistling past the graveyard was one characterization Bernanke agreed with this week.
You won't see the Wall Street Journal's editorial page say that nowadays, of course. But it's all a frightening prospect, or should be.

First we have a picture of my nephew Connor Churchs team after a hard fought game.His mom tells me he is having best season yet.Connor by the way will be celebrating his birthday soon in March.He will be 12.

The second picture is of his younger brother Graedon scoring a big goal in a game 7 situation.He is 10 I think..(sorry boys uncle mal is getting old).Please notice these boys classy uniforms.When I was there age our uniforms were heavy woolen things with nothing but a big yellow "E" sewn on the front.Geeez i AM old.

Differing Perspectives on Death
For the entire existence of mankind, we have struggled with the question, "What happens after death?" Our answer to this dilemma has great implications for our life here on earth. Although many avoid the issue, we must sooner or later address the question. There are many competing answers to this question.
Atheists believe that at death one ceases to exist. There is no afterlife or eternal soul that continues in eternity. All there is to look forward to is our inevitable death, the future death of mankind, and the universe. It is in the face of this future that the atheist must seek to find meaning and purpose for his own existence.
The Eastern and New Age religions that hold to a pantheistic worldview teach that one goes through an endless cycle of reincarnation until the cycle is broken and the person becomes one with the divine. What form a person becomes in the next life depends on the quality of life lived in the previous life. When one unites with the divine, he ceases to exist as an individual, but becomes part of the divine life force, like a drop of water returning to the ocean.
Those who hold to the animistic or tribal religions believe that after death the human soul remains on the earth or travels to join the departed spirits of the ancestors in the underworld, also called the realm of the shadows. For eternity they wander in darkness, experiencing neither joy nor sorrow. Some of the spirits of the deceased may be called upon to aid or torment those on earth.
Islam teaches that at the end of history, God will judge the works of all men. Those whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds will enter into paradise. The rest will be consigned to hell. The Koran teaches that in paradise men will be drinking wine and entertained by heavenly maidens and that they may take several of these maidens for their wives.
Most worldviews must accept their belief in the afterlife on untested faith, but the Christian hope is sure for two reasons; the resurrection of Christ and the testimony of God's Word. The Bible gives us the true view of what happens after death. However, many Christians have a misunderstanding of the afterlife. Some believe that they become one of the angels, others believe they go into a state of "soul sleep," while others believe they will be floating on clouds playing harps. It is up to us to examine some popular misconceptions of what lies beyond the grave and perceive what the Bible teaches.
Christians can be assured that death is not something to be feared. Instead, at death we arrive home in heaven. To live means we exist in a foreign country. Death has lost its sting and now is a victory through the resurrection of Jesus our Lord.

Well it has been almost a month since our last blog.There never seems to be enough time to sit down and enter any news lately.Not too much is happening around here.Denise is working very hard although she did take a weeks worth of vacation recently and I have to say it was a most relaxing and enjoyable time for both of us.Much needed indeed.Darylene got her first semester results back from Fresno State and as per usual she received straight A's.Seems she is just continuing on from high school.We received a letter here at home from President Wealty of Fresno State congratulating here on a 4.0 grade point average.
I am still continuing my own personal diet although i did lighten up a bit during the holidays and enjoyed some good food.We purchased an exercise bike recently which both Denise and I have started using.It has been exactly one year since I started this diet and I have lost approx 110 pounds.However my doctor says I still need to lose more.I think I need to exercise more now rather than crash diet.Sensible dieting and exercising are where my priorities should lie now.Diabetes and high blood pressure are basically borderline now and if I continue to control weight and food intake then all should be well.
One other thing ,If all goes well we will probably go to Canada for vacation this year.BC and Alberta perhaps.If not then there are many other options for us.Disneyland again,but for a longer time.Universal could be included.Also we have considered touring the Grand Canyon,Arizona etc as well.We shall see.

We know this a couple of weeks too late,but here we are at church just before Christmas eve service.Hope everyone had a joyous and fulfilling holiday season!