Katrina Relief Trip to New Orleans

Thanks for your prayers. We had an amazing trip to New Orleans over Thanksgiving.

We left Orlando at 7 am on Wednesday, arriving around 6 pm at the “Good News Center.” We spent 2-1/2 days there serving people who came for food, supplies and prayer. The center served lunch and dinner each day, and somewhat in the style of a rescue mission, offered music, worship and preaching at each meal. The center was staffed by an ever-changing mixture of Campus Crusade volunteers and church groups.

There was also a “store” adjacent to the main eating area, where people could pick up a free box of canned goods, toiletries and clothing.

Each evening the food tables were put away and the tent filled with cots for the volunteers. The men slept in the store area next door. The bathroom facilities were portable toilets, and we usually brushed our teeth standing by our van in the parking lot, using bottled water. There was a shower facility a ways away, where Dan and Pat managed one shower each during the three days.

Our family performed various jobs during that time. Pat mostly worked in the store and had many chances to pray with and encourage those who came. Katie and Eric worked in the store and the main tent. Dan spent a lot of time playing music and leading worship, working with different team members each time. Katie got to play her flute, blessing the people with Christmas music during a couple of mealtimes.

We spent one morning going into the community, offering care packages and prayer to those we met (most were not residents but workers hired to clean out buildings). Most we talked to were believers who really appreciated the encouragement. We heard a lot of sad stories, and were moved by the hardship so many were facing.

As we were bused through the hard-hit Ninth Ward the last morning, we could hardly believe the scope of the destruction. Street after street of destroyed, uninhabitable homes – even one house knocked off the foundations and sitting in the middle of the street. Each house bore a spray-painted legend showing the date of inspection, a code for the inspecting agency, how many were rescued from the homes and how many bodies were found (fortunately, we saw almost all zeros in that last category).

We left after lunch on Saturday, making it home at 2 a.m. – an 11-hour drive (fortunately for the kids, they were able to use Dan’s laptop to watch DVD’s – they saw the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy on the trip!).

We are so glad we as a family got to help just a little bit, bringing God’s light to a dark and needy place. This work will continue on for many months, and if you want to find out how to bring a group, please let us know (there are also opportunities for cleanup/construction in Mississippi). Again, thanks for your prayers and support.

Sonship Week

The last week of October, Pat and I attended the Sonship Week put on by World Harvest Ministries, at nearby University Presbyterian Church.

The conference was really great, but in the long run it will only be as great as we make it by applying the things we learned.

The main focus is recognizing God’s grace, and our resultant position in Christ. We say that we are counted righteous through Christ and that our sins have been forgiven, but do we really live that way? We know the “lyrics” of the Gospel, but have forgotten the “music.” To put it another way, we have head knowledge but not heart knowledge.

We had four one-hour “discipleship” sessions with a pastor. We received some good insights, especially in the area of facing up to our own sinfulness. It’s easy to judge others and think we are better, but all of us fall short and are in need of His grace (Romans 3:23). When we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son, do we cheer for and identify with the older brother? That’s a clue that we don’t really understand God’s grace.

We were assigned to a Small Group that met after each morning and evening session. We really got to know these people and care about them. The last evening’s prayer session was very powerful.

About the weather – Hurricane Wilma came through Monday morning – Pat and I stayed home that morning with the kids, but that was the only disruption to the conference. We purchased the CD of the talks we missed.

Keep praying for us, that we would daily review the principles from the conference, and live in the grace and freedom and power God offers us.

And if you ever hear that the Sonship Week is coming to your area, we strongly encourage you to attend.

Another cogent quote from the conference:

"Good news: You are much worse than you think! Good news: God's grace is much greater than you think!"

Proud Grandparents

My mom and dad flew in from San Francisco to see the kids march, since it's Katie's last season. Last night was their last football game, and tonight is an exhibition at the Citrus Bowl with about 20 other local bands. Here's a picture of the kids with their happy grandparents.

Grand Champions

The Timber Creek Regiment (Katie and Eric's marching band) had their first competition of the year last Saturday. It was in Plant City, about 2 hours away. The bus left Timber Creek at 2 pm and got back to school at 1 am. Was a long but exciting day. Pat was chaperoning, I was doing my usual picture-taking job.

18 bands competed in 4 classes. Timber Creek swept the top spot in all categories (guard, percussion, music, visual, and overall) and got the Grand Champion award. It was so great to see all their hard work rewarded with this, and great to hear the cheers of the many TCHS parents who made the 2-hour trip.

There were so many trophies that they needed help carrying them all. Katie, being the flute section leader, went and got one, and I happened to get this shot of her with a trophy.

Their Director, Mr. Cox, says it's not all about winning trophies - it's about doing your best and achieving all you can. I agree with that philosophy. But it's nice to get some trophies too! So congratulations to Katie and Eric and the whole Timber Creek Regiment!

Forty-Seven on the Seventh

Okay, not one to toot my own horn, but October 7 is my birthday. I was born in 1958, which means I will be 47. Pat is just 16 days behind, turning 47 herself on the 23rd.

Not much profound to say on this occasion except that I feel great! The Lord has blessed me with a youthful (some would say goofy), energetic outlook on life. I still love music and keep learning and getting better (recently playing a lot of classical-type things on guitar). I am in love with my beautiful, wonderful wife of 20 years. I adore my delightful, talented kids and and so proud of all they're accomplishing in life. (Sorry if this is a bit gushy for you.)

My body is holding up fairly well. Pat and I still manage to go running/walking each Monday-Wednesday-Friday (weather permitting), and we are in decent shape. I weigh 143 pounds, which is 13 more than I did when we got married, but I was *really* skinny then.

I do have a bum shoulder which hurts when I try to throw a long football pass. And when Eric and I wrestle, well, let's just say he's catching up to me in strength (as a 15-year-old should be). But physically, very little about which to complain.


But the best thing about getting older is knowing that this earthly life is just (as Steve Douglass, CCC's President told us) "a drop in the ocean of eternity." We have an incredible eternal life ahead, living in pure fellowship with our wonderful Father, whom we will see face to face instead of dimly. Having read "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn this year, I could go on and on. But just let me say: Read it yourself. You won't be disappointed.

That's my birthday rambling for this year. Maybe on my 48th the Lord will hit me with something profound.

Thanks for stopping by! Leave a Comment so I'll know you were here.

This and That

On September 17, we'll have lived in this house in Orlando for 12 years - quite a bit longer than we've lived anywhere else. This certainly feels like home to the kids, who were 5 and 3 when we moved in.

The Timber Creek Regiment keeps marching on. They've performed at 4 football games now, adding new bits each time (shots above are from practice, in "half dress" - the overalls that go under the jacket). They should have the whole show done in about 3 more weeks. It's really a sight to behold. Well, I think it is - I've been on the field taking pictures every time and not getting to just watch. But that's what comes of being the Historian. Eric and Katie are both doing quite well and having a great time.

We're still talking and praying about our Katrina response. CCC is sending weekend teams to Mississippi, but of course our weekends are quite taken up with the band. It is heartening to see the Southern Baptists, among others, coming through with a big and fast response.

We'd love to hear if the Lord has given you some great response ideas - just leave a comment on this post right here.

We've been talking about a big family vacation this winter, perhaps the last one before Katie goes off to college. Looks like we'll try to head to San Francisco to celebrate Christmas with my family, then the whole bunch of us will head up somewhere to find some snow (my kids have hardly ever been in the snow). Should be lots of fun with the cousins.

Katrina - The Opportunity of a Lifetime

I have nothing to offer in the way of analysis or explanation in the face of an overwhelming tragedy such as Katrina and its aftermath. You can get all the analysis you want online or in print.

All I have to say is this: God has a plan for everything, and I trust and pray that part of His plan is an unprecedented outpouring of help, comfort and compassion by GOD’S PEOPLE. We don’t know why these things happen, or who’s to blame for the delayed response. But we CAN be part of the solution.

We have already made a contribution to the Salvation Army. Our family is going to spend part of Saturday at a local YMCA helping process donations of clothing, food and supplies to be sent to victims.

But there is much more to be done. Maybe this is the time when some of us will do more than give some money. Maybe we will go, as Pat did to NYC shortly after 9/11. Maybe we will house a displaced family (a pretty radical idea when you think of all the potential complications). Maybe we will give a significant, sacrificial financial gift, resulting in us actually going without something or delaying our own gratification.

Think about it. Hundreds of thousands are homeless and jobless, with no relief in sight. The government can only do so much. Those of us who follow Christ, who claim to have had our lives and values radically changed by God, can and should go above and beyond the call of duty. We can reach out in ways we’ve never done; we can dream up solutions no one has ever dreamed up. With God’s help, we can make history.

Imagine years from now, when people remember Katrina, and even more than the images of death, destruction, and sorrow, they will recall that this was the moment that the Christians really responded and demonstrated God’s love.

That’s my dream and my prayer. May the Lord grant us strength and wisdom to see it become reality.

Regiment in Uniform

The Timber Creek Regiment got into uniform for the first time, at the football game at Oviedo HS (we lost the game 35-0. 'Nuff said about that).

The kids wear these bib jumper things on the bus and in the stands, and then get into uniform right before they go onto the field for the halftime show. The outfits have lots of little extra pieces, and Eric was having trouble with his. Good thing big sis Katie was right there to lend him a hand.

All the kids look great in their uniforms, and it's really a thrill to watch them march out onto the field and do the show. What can I say - I'm just a proud papa. And since I'm the official band photographer, I've dubbed myself the "Papa-razzi."

Meant4More Story

We've continued to counsel and minister to people, mostly teens, who visit our evangelistic web site, meant4more.com. Pat especially has written to quite a few girls, some who are in pretty extreme situations. You can definitely pray for her as she tries to speak truth to these gals, and that they will come to embrace The Way, Truth and Life.

Meanwhile, here's a post from a girl who wrote in to another SV Staff gal:

I've been so depressed for so long. I found your web page as an advertisement on another site... I asked Jesus to be a part of my life and to help me become the person he wants me to be. I prayed with all my heart, I really really meant it. I can already feel Jesus making changes in myself. It feels wonderful. But, where do I go from here? I haven't been to church many times in my life. What church do I go to? What part of the Bible should I read. I really feel like Jesus wants me to go to church, to meet Christians and learn more about the Bible but I don't know which one to go to. I hope you have some advice. Thanks so much for you help and your site. This is what I have needed for soooooo long!

And thank YOU so much for being our partners in this. We love and appreciate you!

Eric Behind the Wheel - Katie Cropped - Kids Marching

Wednesday the 17th, Pat took Eric to the Driver's License place to get his permit (he turned 15 on August 7th).

That evening after his flute lesson, we went to the mall parking lot for his first lesson. He did fine, except for the one time we ventured into a slightly populated area. On his right turn he didn't come out of the turn fast enough and was threatening several parked cars. "LEFT! LEFT!" I shouted, and thankfully he pulled out and we made it through the lesson with no damage.

Oh, and I found out later that he's not supposed to drive at night until he's had his permit 3 months. Oops.


That same evening, Katie and Pat were nearby at the mall getting 14 inches of her hair cut off and donated to Locks of Love. Pat had been bugging her for a while, but Katie finally decided the waist-length hair was too much trouble, especially with marching season coming up. It's always a bit sad for me when she's cut her hair. I always recall her bald days on chemotherapy, and see her long, beautiful hair as a sign of healing and restoration (she'll be 8 years in remission on November 1).


Friday was the first football game, at home. Because of the heat, the director had them march in band t-shirts and shorts instead of the uniforms. They've gotten about the first 2-1/2 minutes of the routine down. I was so proud watching Eric march, although because I was busy taking pictures, I did not get to watch him exclusively.

I was taking pictures because I'm the Historian for this year's band. That means taking lots of pictures and video, gathering same from others, and distributing those to our web site, publications, and especially the big show at the end-of-year band banquet. I was reluctant to take this job, since the people before me have been producing a pretty fancy show with video as well as stills. But some good people have pledged to help me, so I feel pretty good about it.

To see my band photos, click the "Timber Creek HS Bands" link on the right. Click on the Photos button, then click on "2005-2006 TCHS Bands," then on one of the albums below that. Each album has a shot or two of my kids (Historian's privilege!).

Can't wait to see Eric and Katie in uniform this weekend at the away game. It will be a great and proud moment, and you can be sure I'll have pictures up soon after.