Comments for jwestfall.com Blog http://jwestfall.com/blog Real Faith, Real People Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on The Adventure Continues… by "T" Reese http://jwestfall.com/blog/2008/08/24/the-adventure-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-9533 "T" Reese Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:08:35 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/2008/08/24/the-adventure-continues/#comment-9533 Hey! For some reason - you guys stay on my mind. For many reasons, but primarily for the sermon that John preached on Jeremiah 29 - "plant your gardens/marry and multiply". It has stayed with me now through a move to Southern California, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX back to Nashville, TN. Now a classic midlife divorce. For me, the reality is that we are all in exile and home will be on the other side. I haven't seen you for 17 years - I know this because my baby is going to graduate from high school in May. So, I have living proof that something pretty wonderful happened during your stay in Walnut Creek. Of the friends from WCPC I keep up with - Patty and Shawn's Benjamin is graduating from Biola next Spring and is the top candidate for "the first wedding" from our group of families. Tom and Patricia Alston's, Katrina, is graduating from Biola as well. The youngest of our crowd, Ryan and Richard Alston are called the "Twin Towers" at school. There are no small people in our lives. On the whole, everyone is ok and some things haven't changed. Matt Sears mom still lives and terrorizes the family and the neighbors, Sandi and Richard Grove are still married and the complaints are the same - Cathy Sears still runs at a frenetic pace taking care of all in her path, Shawn's church still meets in a Middle School and thankfully Squirrels breakfast still has homemade scones. I wonder how you are - Sandi keeps me updated. You could be concerned for me considering, but actually I am ok. God has me. I hope that is true for you. Man, I wish someone had said to me in order to have a strong faith, you are going to have to go through some fires. I may have made another choice. Eileen, I remember having lunch with you and Sandi right before I left Walnut Creek. That was a hard move. I am so glad our paths crossed. You seemed to have a direct connect on the Lord because you knew something was up before the words hit air. Hoping your boy is well. My boy has been a real challenge (he bit a kid in the nursery at the age of 9 months) Mom has not forgotten. (TO THIS DAY). Just in the last week or so there has been a shaft of light - I have prayed over that child for 20 years - God surely doesn't answer on my timetable! He is teaching me to wait - I didn't ask for that. Anyway, I think I am going to have Jeremiah 29 painted on my wall.. It really has been a touchstone. Just a few weeks ago, I heard a sermon on that particular scripture. So, thanks. If any of those dark and creepy people at WCPC give you grief, send them to me. I'm the perfect storm - fat and angry :) Write back if you have time. "T" Reese Hey!
For some reason – you guys stay on my mind. For many reasons, but primarily for the sermon that John preached on Jeremiah 29 – “plant your gardens/marry and multiply”. It has stayed with me now through a move to Southern California, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX back to Nashville, TN. Now a classic midlife divorce. For me, the
reality is that we are all in exile and home will be on the other side.

I haven’t seen you for 17 years – I know this because my baby is going to graduate from high school in May. So,
I have living proof that something pretty wonderful happened during your stay in Walnut Creek.

Of the friends from WCPC I keep up with – Patty and Shawn’s Benjamin is graduating from Biola next Spring and is
the top candidate for “the first wedding” from our group of families. Tom and Patricia Alston’s, Katrina, is graduating from Biola as well. The youngest of our crowd, Ryan and Richard Alston are called the “Twin Towers” at school. There are no small people in our lives.

On the whole, everyone is ok and some things haven’t changed. Matt Sears mom still lives and terrorizes the family
and the neighbors, Sandi and Richard Grove are still married and the complaints are the same – Cathy Sears still
runs at a frenetic pace taking care of all in her path, Shawn’s church still meets in a Middle School and thankfully
Squirrels breakfast still has homemade scones.

I wonder how you are – Sandi keeps me updated. You could be concerned for me considering, but actually I am ok.
God has me. I hope that is true for you. Man, I wish someone had said to me in order to have a strong faith, you
are going to have to go through some fires. I may have made another choice.

Eileen, I remember having lunch with you and Sandi right before I left Walnut Creek. That was a hard move.
I am so glad our paths crossed. You seemed to have a direct connect on the Lord because you knew something
was up before the words hit air. Hoping your boy is well.

My boy has been a real challenge (he bit a kid in the nursery at the age of 9 months) Mom has not forgotten. (TO THIS DAY). Just in the last week or so there has been a shaft of light – I have prayed over that child for 20 years –
God surely doesn’t answer on my timetable! He is teaching me to wait – I didn’t ask for that.

Anyway, I think I am going to have Jeremiah 29 painted on my wall.. It really has been a touchstone.
Just a few weeks ago, I heard a sermon on that particular scripture. So, thanks. If any of those dark and creepy
people at WCPC give you grief, send them to me. I’m the perfect storm – fat and angry :) Write back if you have time.

“T” Reese

]]> Comment on Stereotypes R Us by matt G http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/09/29/stereotypes-r-us/comment-page-1/#comment-8908 matt G Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:27:07 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/?p=26#comment-8908 Apologies for stumbling across this months after the New Year. After reading this and thinking about the story, did it occur to anyone else, that when the "helpful" owner slid the card to you and said “This will help you with your problems!”, that God may have been suggesting a different path for you? What if the real intent was to attend an AA meeting, not to treat you for alcoholism, but to help save those abusing their God given bodies, and your wife in turn to do the same at the NA meeting? His plans fequently differ from ours and place us on paths we did not intend, but raather on paths that serve His plans more fully than our own half-baked attempts. Apologies for stumbling across this months after the New Year.

After reading this and thinking about the story, did it occur to anyone else, that when the “helpful” owner slid the card to you and said “This will help you with your problems!”, that God may have been suggesting a different path for you? What if the real intent was to attend an AA meeting, not to treat you for alcoholism, but to help save those abusing their God given bodies, and your wife in turn to do the same at the NA meeting?

His plans fequently differ from ours and place us on paths we did not intend, but raather on paths that serve His plans more fully than our own half-baked attempts.

]]> Comment on “Aiti Mon Cherie” by tsduff http://jwestfall.com/blog/2010/01/19/aiti-mon-cherie/comment-page-1/#comment-8831 tsduff Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:54:59 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/?p=29#comment-8831 Without hope there is nothing. I don't have the words to describe my paralyzing anguish over the Haiti nation's suffering. Simply witnessing it on the news makes me turn away in dumb horror - unable to get hopeful about anything. I thank you for your offering of John 12 - it makes sense once I think about it. I hope you are right about God being in the business of making all things new again - and that it isn't just a cliche. Without hope there is nothing. I don’t have the words to describe my paralyzing anguish over the Haiti nation’s suffering. Simply witnessing it on the news makes me turn away in dumb horror – unable to get hopeful about anything. I thank you for your offering of John 12 – it makes sense once I think about it. I hope you are right about God being in the business of making all things new again – and that it isn’t just a cliche.

]]> Comment on Stereotypes R Us by MNLV http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/09/29/stereotypes-r-us/comment-page-1/#comment-4156 MNLV Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:25:31 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/?p=26#comment-4156 Reminds me of a video I recently stumbled upon... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk Reminds me of a video I recently stumbled upon…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk

]]> Comment on Stereotypes R Us by Dottie Odell http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/09/29/stereotypes-r-us/comment-page-1/#comment-4107 Dottie Odell Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:10:56 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/?p=26#comment-4107 I am reminded of how often my view of things around me is colored by things that happened in my childhood. That's a great deal of what obscures the "glass" of my life. Thanks for reminding me again that I have to look at things from God's view. I am reminded of how often my view of things around me is colored by things that happened in my childhood. That’s a great deal of what obscures the “glass” of my life. Thanks for reminding me again that I have to look at things from God’s view.

]]> Comment on Stereotypes R Us by tsduff http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/09/29/stereotypes-r-us/comment-page-1/#comment-4077 tsduff Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:14:08 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/?p=26#comment-4077 Reminds me of another time when you were mistaken for someone else - (evening service - jeans and flipflops...)... Stereotyping is usually not a good thing, though I'm quite guilty of doing it myself. Getting to know a person is a much better idea, as first impressions aren't always as they seem. Reminds me of another time when you were mistaken for someone else – (evening service – jeans and flipflops…)… Stereotyping is usually not a good thing, though I’m quite guilty of doing it myself. Getting to know a person is a much better idea, as first impressions aren’t always as they seem.

]]> Comment on Stereotypes R Us by Kim Chan http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/09/29/stereotypes-r-us/comment-page-1/#comment-4075 Kim Chan Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:50:29 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/?p=26#comment-4075 John, What a journey you took me on. You gave me a laugh and something to ponder. Great idea Damien, of the Blog. Keep writing. KIM John, What a journey you took me on. You gave me a laugh and something to ponder. Great idea Damien, of the Blog. Keep writing. KIM

]]> Comment on Time to Get Busy Being Born by Terry http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/comment-page-1/#comment-2032 Terry Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:01:22 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/#comment-2032 John, I like your thought that spiritual birthing takes time and may be a painful, difficult process. My spiritual journey has taken some drastic detours in the past 4 years since losing Bernard - and I'm more confused than ever as to what I really perceive as "the truth" anymore. Thanks for giving me hope that all is not lost. T John, I like your thought that spiritual birthing takes time and may be a painful, difficult process. My spiritual journey has taken some drastic detours in the past 4 years since losing Bernard – and I’m more confused than ever as to what I really perceive as “the truth” anymore.

Thanks for giving me hope that all is not lost.
T

]]> Comment on Time to Get Busy Being Born by peter larson http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/comment-page-1/#comment-1769 peter larson Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:16:42 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/#comment-1769 Dear John: I enjoyed reading some of your blogs. Harbor Church sounds like a place I'd want to worship if I wasn't a pastor with a flock of my own! Dear John: I enjoyed reading some of your blogs. Harbor Church sounds like a place I’d want to worship if I wasn’t a pastor with a flock of my own!

]]> Comment on Time to Get Busy Being Born by Susie Weber http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/comment-page-1/#comment-1738 Susie Weber Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:26:02 +0000 http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/#comment-1738 Hi John: What a great encouragement for today and a reminder that God's timing is perfect. In our "microwave society" of instant gratification and answers, we have to remind each other that sometimes in God's timing silence is part of the journey for His answers. I get way too impatient on the journey instead of waiting & listening for God's signs in the silence. Thanks for the reminder! It keeps me hopeful. Warmest greetings, Susie Hi John:
What a great encouragement for today and a reminder that God’s timing is perfect. In our “microwave society” of instant gratification and answers, we have to remind each other that sometimes in God’s timing silence is part of the journey for His answers. I get way too impatient on the journey instead of waiting & listening for God’s signs in the silence. Thanks for the reminder! It keeps me hopeful.
Warmest greetings,
Susie

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