Garden Design

Why do we try to improve God's design? Is it because we don't believe him? Eve didn't. Neither did Adam, or things would be very different now. 

Why do we believe we can do better than God? We can't. 

And the more we try to control the less control we have.

So what is left? Acceptance. We start living when we accept that nothing we can do (beyond prayer) will change anything the way God can change everything. 

We need to accept that, like Adam and Eve, our role is not to be pro-active, but to accept God's plan. We are the recipients of a love that comes from the creator of the universe. How can we compete with that?

Stop trying to affect. Instead, accept His free gift of grace. Mourn for 

those blinded in sin, blocked and abused. Ask nothing of anyone. 

The best anyone can offer is a kind word, or a moment of compassion.

Look to God for everything. He provides all that you need: air, water, sun, food that grows. Everything else is extra, and unnecessary. 

Why waste your life on unnecessary? 

Relax and enjoy God's love and his provision. That was the garden design.

Kevin Bibo

Strength

 “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD 

blesses his people with peace.”

Psalm 29:11

This past weekend I celebrated my birthday.  And yes, I’m 29…still.

This is a time when I can reflect on the year that has passed.  

If there was one theme this past year in my life it would be strength. 

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13  

Typically when I think about strength, I tend to first imagine physical strength. If it is mental, I visualize someone who isn't giving any information up while being interrogated or Chinese algebra.  

I often don't turn to the strength we are given by God when we make it through a rough day at work, or perhaps the kids were really wound up, or maybe your seven year old daughter sings, "Let it go" from Frozen incessantly.

There are many things we live through by God’s grace as He tries to teach us, grow us, and give us strength.  God knows us. He Loves us. He wants to make us better people. 

If you think about what you have lived through and recognize it was God, who gave you the strength to step through the season.  How do we know this?  We are here!  Praise Him for each and everyday you are given.  

God bless,

Ben Linares

Distractions

I had a bit of a scare this week. Well, maybe more of a "what was I thinking?" moment.

Our sons and a friend were using the jacuzzi Saturday night. As is typical when the spa is used the water level recedes quite a bit. This happens when they get in and out of the jacuzzi, as well as evaporation. 

When I got up Sunday morning I noticed the water level was lower than normal. So, to help the auto-fill process along I put the hose in the spa for a few minutes before we left for church. The water level was so low it didn't make much of a dent. So I turned off the water and away we went to church.

When we got home from lunch after church the low water level was bugging me! So I turned the hose back on. A while later we took off for Matt's football game.

Monday morning came and I got up early to go workout. Everything was cool. I got home and was having a bowl of cereal when I had that "oh no!" moment. I looked at the pool and the level was at the top! It was close to spilling over out of the pool. I had forgotten to turn the water off when we 

left for Matt's game! I'm going to hate getting that water bill next month.

We let distractions get the better of us too often. I don't remember what distracted me...probably the Angels game or thinking about final preparations for Oasis Nights but I don't really remember. 

The bottom line is that everyday distractions get us off track when it comes to our relationship with the Lord too. Much like the water level rising in my pool, we let all of the junk of everyday life rise to an unmanageable level sometimes. The way to reduce that level is to turn off the water...in other words, give all of that junk to God.

The Bible even tells us to give all of our cares to the Lord, as 1 Peter 5:7 tells us: 

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Now, if only that verse had come to mind on Sunday afternoon...

Pastor Jason

Stars

I’ve always liked something about the stars in the sky. When I was a young kid I was all about “Star Trek Next Generation.” I used to watch that show every week or whenever it was on TV.

I remember going to my grandmother’s house and watching the older Star Trek shows with her. I’m pretty sure I got the Star Trek thing form her. She even brought me to a Star Trek convention. I liked the idea of “boldly going where no man has been before.”

As I got older I began to learn about how vast our universe was. It fascinated me. I even got to go to space camp and fly a space shuttle simulator.

Unfortunately that’s about as far as I got to the stars. After space camp I started skateboarding to occupy my mind with other things

Then I got a job as a camp counselor and got to teach kids about the stars and do night hikes and stuff. I was able to admire the universe through a telescope once a week. I even saw the rings of Saturn once. The stars became something awesome again. Something exciting, something that is so much bigger than me, bigger than everything around me.

Then I lost interest again. I found a new job working in a machine shop where I don’t even see the light of day sometimes. The stars were still out there but I wasn’t paying attention to them any more. They never leave but the light from cities, cars, smog and all kinds of other things drown them out. Or I just don’t happen to look up.

My family and I went camping this past weekend. We were out of the light pollution. The sky was marvelous at night. It reminded me off all the times I used to look at the stars. It reminded me how small I really was. It reminded me that my universe revolves around something much bigger than me.

Our universe is so big and vast yet our God holds all of that in his hand. He’s even bigger than the universe. Sometimes we forget. We forget because we are so busy with our own insignificant routines. The pollution of our every day lives drown out the vastness and beauty of the one who created us.

Sometimes we need to escape out of our everyday lives and move to a peaceful place that helps us focus on how great our God is.

Austin Mcleod

Seasons

Seasons come and go in California, and elsewhere for that matter. We celebrate holiday seasons. We celebrate spring with all of its fresh rains, its beautifully changing scents and visions, and the moderate temperatures that enliven our activities.  We even celebrate the passing of the summer heat as it gives way to a stormy, cold winter. Well, we would if we had had a winter in Southern California this year.

However, there is a season that many don’t seem to enjoy. It’s labeled as Tax season. It is in full swing. It has nearly run its course. It seems to have reached its April deadline at a neck-breaking pace.

Some have raced to public accountants to meet deadlines. Others have braved the ancient pencil and paper method, pulling the kitchen chair up close to the dining room table and spreading out the contents of dilapidated shoeboxes, only to find that they are having difficulty assigning memories to restaurant receipts in hopes that they are deductible expenses.

Yet others, familiar with technological advances, download popular software that allow for the ease of completion through a series of point and click movements. No matter the method, we are eagerly seeking every credit and deduction due us.

When the bottom line is calculated, we cross our fingers or say a quick prayer that we are getting a refund and not contributing further into a tax system that we may or may not care for. Then, the moment of finality has arrived. “I owe!” Or maybe it’s, “I owe?” Either way it’s phrased, you owe.

I often wonder about the thoughts that raced through Christ’s mind. He knew his purpose and exactly what the outcome was to be. There was no anticipation of what the bottom line would be when all items were taken into account. Jesus didn’t exclaim, “I OWE!” or “I owe?” 

He went in eyes wide open. He paid a debt not His own. A complaining spirit did not arise within that expressed bitterness toward those that were in need of His payment. He willingly paid with His life. And for that I am eternally grateful.

For me, I have nothing in life to complain about. I am deserving of death. If I am afforded some comforts and stability in life, then that is a bonus. Romans 6:23 proclaims:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I have been made alive in Christ. I have been redeemed and I will rejoice through every circumstance in life.

Pastor Rob King

…Whatever things are lovely…

Have you ever felt weary? I don’t mean from working too hard or not sleeping enough. But with the things in life that seem to be a constant battle. I have found that if we don’t focus our attention on God and draw from His strength continually, we will inevitably become weary and our hope may slip away.

So how do we combat this? Simple. We get our eyes off of ourselves and onto Jesus. I came across a quote by John VandenOever the other day that has stuck in my mind. He says, “When we lift Jesus up, high above our troubles, we replace disappointment, fear and death with peace, faith, and life.”

In other words, instead of focusing on our problems, which only produces burdens of worry, robbing us of our joy, let’s do what we and all of creation were made to do: Lift up the name of Jesus!

Our problems, no matter how big, pale in comparison to whom He is and what He has done for us. One glimpse of the cross should dispel any doubt. Philippians 4:8 is an excellent tool to help us refocus our thoughts:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, (Jesus is true) whatever things are noble, (Jesus is noble) whatever things are just, (Jesus is just) whatever things are pure, (Jesus is pure) whatever things are lovely, (Jesus is lovely) whatever things are of good report, (The gospel) if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- (Jesus!) meditate on these things.” (Emphasis added)

So the next time you find yourself heavy laden, and all you have in you is the strength to say His name, be of good cheer…His name is all you need.

Dina Pugh