May 25, 2013

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Feel Good Friday: Disney Does It Again

May 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Disney Does It Again

Alright Disneyland fans, this “Feel Good Friday” blog is going to have you jumping for joy.  Move over 7-Eleven stores and Denny’s Restaurants, Disney will celebrate the start of the summer season by keeping three theme parks open for 24 hours straight on May 24th.  The Magic Kingdom Park in Florida, along with Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure Park in California, will stay open from 6 a.m. on May 24th to 6 a.m. May 25th.

Imagine that, “The happiest place on earth” open for 24 hours.  Is it just me, or does buying stock in the energy drinks Monster and Rockstar on May 23rd sound like a wise investment?

Enjoy Your Weekend :)

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Pray for the Warren Family

April 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Pray for the Warren Family

I know most of you heard the tragic news about the 27-year-old son of popular evangelical pastor Rick Warren.  If you have not, then you should know his son passed away at his Southern California home this past Friday evening.  Pastor Warren remarked about his son Matthew, “He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He’d then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.”

I share this news because my heart truly weeps for parents who lose their children.  Rick and his wife Kay are going to need our prayers long after the memorial service, so please join me in adding them to your prayer list.

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/55255142/83722623/Church_Pastor_Rick_Warrens_son_commits_suicide

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Halloween

October 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A good friend of mine, in fact I would consider him one of my professional mentors, had a bit part in John Carpenter’s “Halloween” movie from 1978.  Ed was on the set in South Pasadena, California as the Fire Safety Officer when they were filming the opening scene with a young Michael dressed in his halloween clown costume and holding a knife.  How did my friend end up getting the role?

The actor hired to play Michael’s father ended up being a “no-show”.  So the director turned to Ed and said, “Ever think about being an actor?”  Ed did what every American would do when faced with stardom.  His tongue swelled and his mouth pickled as he said, “Yesth.”

The director then said, “Great!  Are you married?”  Again, Ed responded in his most professional tone, “Yesth.”  The director slapped him on the back, led him into the house and said, “Call your wife, I’m gonna make stars out of the both of you.  Oh, but you can’t join the Screen Actors Guild.  Deal?”  Ed began to dial his home, “Yesth”.

And so…the next time you rent “Halloween” and see Michael’s dad grab him by the shoulders and say, “Michael!  What have you done?”  Realize the man acting in that scene was arguably one of the best firefighters to ever wear the badge.  He is a true hero.  He may not have become a movie star, but he certainly took bad situations and made them a little better for thousands of people over the course of his career.

Ed – You truly made a positive impact in my career and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have worked along side you.  THANK YOU! – Rick  

            

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Contemplate, Deliberate, and Meditate: Part 4

October 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“We forget that God has not distributed His gifts with absolute equity.  Does that seem unfair?  No, He will judge in fairness.  Everyone is accountable for the resources he or she has been entrusted with.  No more, no less.  The distribution is determined by the wisdom of God.” – Chris Tiegreen

 Actions Speak Louder Than Words

In 1946 while on a train to the mountain town of Darjeeling, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu a.k.a. Mother Teresa, was recovering from tuberculosis.  At some point during that train ride, Mother Teresa receives a calling from God “to serve him among the poorest of the poor”…and the rest is history.

In the 1940’s while at Forest Home Christian Camp in Big Bear, California, William Franklin Graham Jr. a.k.a. Billy Graham, recognized the Bible as the “Perfect Word of God”…and the rest is history.

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Anne M. Baxter: A Pew Perspective

August 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I have been asked to be a guest blogger tomorrow, Tuesday August 21st on the website of Anne M. Baxter.  If that name sounds familiar it is because she is the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Northern California representative that interviewed me about Donovan’s Law back on May 11, 2012.  You can read the interview if you like, it is entitled “Why Did I Write A Book? The Anne M. Baxter Interview”.

Tomorrow, I will be blogging about the liquid concoction made with water and coffee beans that over 100 million people enjoy every day.  Let me just send this teaser your way; whether you like coffee or not, you may want to know that experts have found there are some health benefits to slurping down a “Cup o’ Joe” after all.

If you get the chance, check out my blog tomorrow at http://pewperspective.blogspot.com/ .  I would recommend you do so while drinking a cup of coffee.  Then after you read my blog, check out the attached website I will be placing at the bottom of the blog.  By the time you are done reading, that cup of coffee you have may be the best cup of coffee you will ever enjoy.

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Every Hour of Every Day

May 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Photo By Geri-Jean Blanchard

In keeping with the theme of “prayer” from last Friday’s blog, I found a news article about a church in Oklahoma that has attempted to keep a prayer vigil going every hour of every day, 24/7, since 2003.  The chapel at St. Joseph’s Church in the city of Norman has designated this feat as “Perpetual Adoration”.

Once again, referring to last Friday’s blog entitled “Leaving California and Heading to Colorado”, the courts may have the power to remove the National Day of Prayer throughout this great nation, but it will not stop the people from praying.  In fact, it may cause the follower’s of Christ to enter into a deeper and more meaningful prayer life.  Of course I believe it would be detrimental to the psyche of our great nation if the National Day of Prayer was removed, but I do not believe that an act like that would hinder the prayers being offered from the people of this great nation.

Luke chapter 19, verses 39 – 40 read, “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’  But Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!’”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/15/247-prayer-at-one-oklahoma-church/

 

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Leaving California and Heading To Colorado

May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Photo by Marina Nisi

I don’t know if any of you remember this, but in the early 1990’s there was a movement of Christian organizations leaving California and heading to Colorado.  I was a little concerned at the time for two main reasons.  The first reason for my concern was the uncertainty this would create in California.  With some of the most prolific Christian organizations exiting the west, I could not help but wonder how that would affect our future here in the Golden State.  I think we know the outcome at this point. 

My second concern was for the State of Colorado.  With such an influx of biblical based organizations entering their beautiful countryside, I had a feeling that a battle was about to develop.  I have read over the years some of the court cases that I believe were the result of those battles.  But it was not until I read this recent article that I realized the battle ground has truly developed. The article read:

“A Colorado court has ruled the state’s proclamation for a Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.”

Congress designated “The National Day of Prayer” to be held each year on the first Thursday of May.  However, back in 2008, an organization known as Freedom From Religion filed in the Colorado courts that this was unconstitutional.  In 2011 they lost their case but they fought the verdict and had it end up in the Colorado Court of Appeals where the latest decision was recently announced. In Ephesians Chapter 6, Verse 18, we find God has something to say on the topic of prayer:

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/11/colorado-appeals-court-declares-day-prayer-unconstitutional/

 

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New Laws 2012

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

No one is a stranger to the fact that any new, signed legislation that occurs throughout the year usually means a new law will go into effect sometime in January.  It’s been estimated that a combined 40,000 laws were passed throughout our nation in 2011.  So here are just a few of the new laws to take effect here in California:

  • Production, distribution, and sale of beer with added caffeine is prohibited.
  • Sale, trade, or distribution of shark fins, usually used for cooking, is prohibited in most circumstances.
  • Local governments will not be allowed to require private employers to use E-Verify to verify the legal immigration status of a potential employee.
  • Citizens will no longer be allowed to “open-carry” an unloaded handgun.  Violators pay $1,000.00 plus 6 months in jail as a misdemeanor.
  • Teaching material that reflects poorly on gays or particular religions will be prohibited.
  • Courts are now authorized to revoke a driver’s license for 10 years if a person is convicted of three or more DUI’s.
  • California’s Child Passenger Safety Seat law will now require children to ride in either a car seat or booster seat until the age of eight, or until they reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches.

For a more thorough and complete list of these and more new laws, you can visit:

http://www.californiality.com/2010/12/new-california-laws-2011.html

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