Summer Sizzle

Heat continues to be a major factor for us here in Sacramento. The temperatures have been close to or over a hundred degrees for most of July and this week looks just as toasty. We were able to take a day at the lake with Jennifer and her friend, Sara, on Thursday and we had a ball. Jennifer and David ended up sore after an epic battle to see who could throw whom off the jet ski with more alacrity. David ended up being thrown straight backward and he hit his tail bone on the rear deck of the ski. Jennifer was simply unrestrained in her enthusiasm for the ski and spent a total of several hours on the ski by herself and with David, Daniel and Sara. Darla and I mostly watched the proceedings figuring that we can use the ski anytime. We plan to get back out to the lake tomorrow with Jennifer and some of her friends. They ran the ski so much that we had to pull it out of the water late afternoon and run over to the local gas station. The tank only took 12 gallons so there were over 6 left, but David is a full time worker and was bringing us dinner, so we didn't want to present him with an empty ski.

We haven't seen Jennifer other than last Thursday as she left that night for Santa Cruz with Sara. They stayed with some friends and Jennifer truly enjoyed the 69 degree highs and overnight lows in the 50's while she was there. After the broiler of Kuwait, the cool weather was welcome. They stayed over Thursday and Friday night and were back on Saturday evening. She spent yesterday with her Mom and they went to church. She said that she will join Darla and I next week at our church and we look forward to that.

Darla and I took the boys yesterday to Linden and a final goodbye to the only home that the boys have ever known Earl and Frances to have. We spent the afternoon playing in the pool and Darla took some pictures. It was a melancholy afternoon, but the farm was just too big of a burden on Earl and I can see that he is demonstrably more relaxed. He has a lot of work with the house and grounds in Paradise, but it will be a labor of love and won't be predicated on time constraints. He'll be able to up and take a month's vacation without worrying about the farm. They also bought a rental three doors down from Alicia's house in Roseville. The boys will be keeping up the lawn and I'll be the contact for any problems or repairs that need to be done.

I played golf in the three club tournament on Saturday and I can only say that I'm glad I have 11 other clubs on a regular basis. It is really difficult to attempt to play with such a limited number of clubs. I shot 44+44=88 and struggled most of the day. I only managed four pars and missed some putts along the way, but was routinely chipping to the green for birdie and then two putting for bogey. It was tough. The groundskeeper burned several of the greens in the last week by sanding them and not watering enough during the week. There are several areas with large burn spots. Moron. Our next tournament is in Reno on the 14th. I hope to spend some time with Jennifer next weekend.

We had a guest speaker yesterday at church. Our pastor, Rick, is going through a series on Hot Topics and we heard from a man who was immersed in the gay lifestyle in the seventies and eighties and has emerged through the grace of God into a family man, married for eighteen years with two children. His sermon was not on the evil of homosexuality as one might expect (like a reformed smoker who is hell bent on eradicating tobacco), but more on the theme of reaching out to the gay and lesbian population and inviting them to experience the healing power of Jesus Christ. The man's name is Steve Dallas and he is a powerful speaker. He told the story of a middle aged pastor who felt the call to reach out to people suffering from the Aids epidemic. He started a ministry that befriended those suffering from Aids and he ministered at the local hospital's Aids ward. The gay and lesbian population soon heard of his works and invited him to be interviewed on a local gay radio program. Soon his church was visited by the gay population who wanted to hear from this compassionate minister. They came and heard and returned to hear him preach week after week. Finally, several of the church leaders met with the pastor and asked him what he was doing as their church was being overrun with Gays. The pastor said that there was plenty of room next to the adulterers, tax cheats, idolators and bigots for any sinner. Steve's point was that as Christians, it is much easier for us to espouse our ideology than it is to live up to it. Powerful and convicting stuff.

I was in the office at 6:45 AM this morning as I have several accounts that I'm working on. The depressing part of the day was that I had to turn on my headlights when I left the house. The Summer is quickly escaping. In fact, Daniel returns to school next Wednesday and David starts college the end of this month. August is here.

Well, that is the drivel that is on my mind this week. I'll try to remember my camera when we hit the lake this week and put some pictures on the blog next week. I hope all are well and living La Vida en Cristo. Ciao.