Happy New Year to my friends, family and readers of RKWL! What a whirlwind 2008 has been as the first year in our new southern California life as a family. From 2008 the following is a snapshot…

• Kids finish first time being homeschooled for the 2007-08 and enter public schooling. So far so good.
• Both kids get braces. Ouch. Ouch.
• We sell our house of five years we owned in Redding, CA for a decent price in this economy. Miracle.
• I become even more geeky. We have router issues at home now.
• My wife starts a business, or two.
• I  pass my 4oth year in 2008! Ouch.
• Blogging favorites like Worship Mythbusters and a new blog at Tehilla Music started.
• I performed the wedding for my good friend Zach Tanksley.
• My daughter entered High School, and now leads worship with me.
• We are “post minivan” now as a family.
• Cigars are nice. Ahhh.
• iPhones are nice, too.
• 20th year in ministry passed me by. Wow.
• New friends. Missing old friends.
• A quiet small family Christmas.
• Need for long sleeves reduced to half. New sandals, anyone?

For 2009? Let’s roll…

This famous 2008 Youtube “Obama Is Going to Pay For My Gas And Mortgage” represents the high expectations Obama has to live up to. Biden seems to think that its not domestic, but international issues that bring high expectations for Obama.

“You asked me earlier if I am worried about the exceedingly high expectations that people have for President Barack Obama,” Biden told CNN’s Larry King in advance excerpts of his interview with the talk-show host.

“I said domestically I wasn’t so worried about that but internationally I am,” Biden said, adding that foreign hopes for the incoming administration were overwhelming.

Regardless of your political views, its is obvious expectations by some of Obama are strataspheric and perhaps a challenge in and of themselves. So, I think we should pray for our new leader to succeed. (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray.

You know you are a pastor/minister when…

• Everyone edits their f-bombs and s-bombs when you enter the room.
• You edit your f-bombs and s-bombs when entering the room.
• Relatives hide the booze when you come over their house for the holidays.
• You hide your booze when your relatives come over your house–any day.
• People tell you their deepest struggles within any random casual conversation.
• You avoid all conversations as much as possible cause when you tell people your deepest struggles they laugh.
• You believe people do not think you are human, fragile and normal.
• Everyone around you knows you are not normal….human? Heck, yes!
• You love and hate your job with equal passion and at the same time.
• You have a choice, but not really, since it is a calling.
• The thought of doing anything else bites! Being part of people’s lives and helping them grow and find Jesus makes every minute worth it!

Did I miss any?

[Wonder why blogging has been slow? I spent the weekend in Redding, CA with some very special people.]

I am ending my trip to Redding, CA after sitting in airports waiting for fog to lift to get back home and even experiencing an airport terminal evacuation. Travel this week was about friends.  I was able to spend most of my time at the Miller’s home and enjoy them while showing support as well. Randy and Kristyn are truly an inspiration. Randy is a family man, concrete contractor and guy in the church worship team who ended up in a cutting edge band (The Myriad) touring the US and on MTV! His battle with cancer is just beginning, but being the toughest dude I know and a person of faith I see God healing him.  That, and the thousands praying for him add to an amazing story of God’s grace and the best of Christianity being expressed. Read the rest of this entry »

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