Here's a Tribune article spotlighting Lifewater International, with whom several of our folks have gone on missions trips. Tim Cleath is Zambia with Lifewater right now in fact. Dan Stevens spoke at our Missions Conference a couple years back. . .
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/business/story/292934.html
I want to thank the many people who attended our fourth 9/11 American Thunder Rally and barbecue supporting our troops at Mitchell Park on Sept. 9.We collected a truckload of goods for the Military Parents of the Central Coast. The San Luis Obispo County Band played patriotic music. Vandenberg Honor Guard posted the colors. Col. William Hatch’s uplifting message was drawn from more than 30 years of military experience after his graduation from West Point.
Special thanks go to the following businesses for their generous donations: Bob’s BBQ of Santa Maria, Burke Construction, Milo Ferini Farms, Glacier Ice, Animal Care Clinic, San Luis Sourdough, Grizzly Academy, Lehmkuhl’s Cookies, Goni’s Brownies and the numerous individuals and donors without whom this memorable and profitable event would not have happened. San Luis Print and Copy, KVEC, KPRL, KGDP and KUHL promoted the event extensively.
Last week, on 9/11, I traveled to Germany to visit my daughter. She just had a baby daughter. While waiting for a connecting flight, I was contacted about the San Luis Obispo soldier who had been in a serious accident in Iraq. His parents were wondering where I was going in Germany.
My daughter, an emergency room doctor serving in the Air Force, had just been transferred to the large Army hospital at Landstuhl, Germany. Our local soldier, Lance Iunker, was being transferred to that hospital the same day that I arrived.
Lance was in a transport accident after a night mission in Iraq. Seven soldiers died and eight survived with major injuries. I met with him and other members of his unit who were not in intensive care. We talked and prayed together.
While Lance said my visits were very encouraging to him, believe me, his and his buddies’ faith, demeanor, character, mission, dedication and love of America gave me much more. It was but two days after our fourth barbecue and rally to honor our troops in San Luis Obispo that I had this opportunity to meet with wounded heroes fresh from the battlefield.
Lance stated that he was in the Army because he wanted to give something back to his country because of the freedoms our country had given him and others.
Another soldier had a young child whom he had not even seen yet. Still, he commented that this was the price of freedom.
Lance’s position in life is rooted in his firm faith in God, he said, and in knowing that even in this challenge his life was part of God’s plan.
It was a humbling honor to be in a military hospital with true patriots. I marvel at their strength of character.
Our volunteer troops are to be honored and supported, just like those who heeded the call at the birth of our nation.
Liberty is not won in a weekend. I salute our troops.
Matt Kokkonen is a financial planner in San Luis Obispo and the organizer of the 9/11 barbecue supporting the troops.
Missy Grant kindly pointed out in a comment on the last post that I missed Colette Joyce's great Viewpoint article in the Saturday's Tribune. . .
SanLuisObispo.com | 06/16/2007 | Viewpoint: Don’t give up too early on saving your marriage
The article is outstanding! A terrific example of "salt & light" presence. Collette noticed a trend, and gently and wisely responded with a letter to the editor offering a differing viewpoint. She doesn't come off as jamming her viewpoint down everybody's throat, but she craftily points out the damage and cost of divorce.
Because I liked it so much and I want you to read it so bady, I've taken the liberty of copyng and pasting it in its entirety below. Let's look together for other ways to engage our community and culture on life issues like Colette so wisely does.
Wouldn't it be awesome if the Trib received not one, but twenty letters like this one the next time a similar trend emerges?
Viewpoint: Don’t give up too early on saving your marriage
By Colette Joyce
W hile cruising through a recent issue of The Tribune (May 29), I came across a couple of divorce articles.
I was pleased to see the “Divorce doesn’t always equate to disaster” article. Focusing on women who had to “start over” after being left by their husbands, this article gave quotes and tips from women who had made the best of their uninvited situations and had experienced positive results.
Next to this article was a large picture of a wedding ring poised to be flushed down a toilet, accompanied by the “Unhappy Ending” article.
Whereas the first article referred to situations beyond the person’s control (such as infidelity, desertion or abuse), the guidelines in “Unhappy Ending” appeared to be for those who “had decided to end their marriage.”
While these guidelines might be appropriate for a spouse in an abusive relationship, they seemed to oversimplify or encourage the divorce option for others.
Although it’s heartening to hear that situations sometimes end positively after divorce, we all know that divorce is painful at best. We have a social responsibility to exhaust all possibilities before turning to divorce. No one ever said marriage would be easy, but we took a vow. It’s sacred. Our decisions impact others as well — extended family, children and friends.
Let’s not trick ourselves into thinking it should be so easy.
Most of us are working hard at our marriages. Anyone considering divorce probably already believes they’ve exhausted all possibilities. But, subconsciously, it might appear easier to flush a marriage than to save a marriage.
So, why not consider a few additional thoughts before you throw in the marital towel:
1. Know your goals and test your motives. We all tend to seek advice we’d like to hear. And we often tune out advice that’s in our best interest — simply because we’re tired or it sounds painful.
Don’t kid yourself—be your own devil’s advocate. Rather than unintentionally screening out contrasting advice, seek it. Focus more on what you can do to improve the marriage than what you think your spouse should do. If you think you’re ready to head down the divorce path, call good ol’ Aunt Sally or a pastor and listen open-mindedly to what they have to say.
2. Choose a counselor wisely. Interview several counselors. Even counselors have a bias or point of view about marriage. Is their goal to save marriages or to seek personal fulfillment for their clients? Will you be paying someone to tell you what you want to hear or to help you heal your marriage? Remember, counseling is a business, too. A counselor may think you’re a happier customer if he leads you out of a messy marriage. But temporary solace doesn’t equate to long-term happiness.Will your counselor be there to help you down the road when the sadness of the custody arrangement or financial calamity seeps in? Select a good marriage counselor —one who concentrates on restoring your relationship rather than making sure it flushes smoothly.
3. Compare your situation now with future realities if divorced. If you’re considering divorce, you are obviously not happy with your relationship as it is. But take a moment to look ahead and imagine a few likely scenarios after divorce.
People wait an average of three years to remarry after divorce. Consider whether you’re ready to have parenting discussions about your children with the new spouse or significant other.
4. Enlist support for marital healing. Ask for the support of your friends and family as you strive to save your marriage. This is counter-intuitive because we tend to want to keep things quiet when we’re having troubles.
5. Spend at least as much time and money on your marriage as you would on a divorce. Spend some time remembering the reasons you fell in love with your partner. Pull out pictures of the fun times you had. Go on dates, even if it’s awkward at first.
Also, don’t flinch about spending some cash on your marriage — for dates, counseling, gifts, retreats, etc.
Even aside from the great emotional cost, divorces are expensive— with estimates often topping $10,000 or more.
Have you considered all other options for the problems you’re facing? Counseling? Temporary separation? Reducing stress by hiring a housekeeper? A special marriage retreat? Prayer? Think hard before flushing.
Finally, even if your marriage is in good shape, you’ve probably witnessed many friends’ wedding ceremonies and pledged to help them succeed. So, be good listeners and offer constructive advice without making unkind remarks about someone’s spouse. Offer to baby-sit so couples can go out together. Get creative. Let’s encourage and assist one another in our marriages!
Colette Joyce is a freelance writer who lives in San Luis Obispo. She and her husband, Chris, have three children. They’ve been enjoying and working on their marriage for 19 years.
Kari Appleton was featured in a Tribune's Home insert article about Dave O'Brien's Forest Garden Center in Arroyo Grande. . .
SanLuisObispo.com | 06/15/2007 | Design notebook: nursery helps bridge interiors with exteriors
Michael Leece was mentioned in a Tribune front page article about local high school graduations. Michael was the Valedictorian this year at San Luis Obispo High School. Congrats, Michael. I had no idea.
SanLuisObispo.com | 06/16/2007 | Graduation Elation
I also noticed pics of several of our Grace young people in a pictorial spread about local little league in Friday's edition of the SLO City News. Let's see, I think I saw Sam Secord, Matthew Mundorf and Conner Trett. Was there somebody else, too? I can't remember.
I would post these pics, but the SLO City News does not yet have any online presence.
SanLuisObispo.com 05/27/2007 A, B, C, D. . . gee!
I had a chance to meet them as they visited our church yesterday, the same day of the article. How cool is that?
Don Maas, one of our faithful ushers brought them to me to introduce them, as he often does. I said, "You were the couple on the front page of paper this morning." They said, "That's us."
How cool is that?
The article says they just moved to SLO. If they choose to make Grace their church home, we will have a wonderful opportunity to affirm the sanctity of life and also reach out and love this family and their 4 new little girls.
These are crucial days . . . be praying for Isaac, Carmen, big sister, Leonor, and baby girls, A, B, C and D!
“We’ve had a dynasty here since Ernstrom has been the coach,” Thom said. “Since Moby Dick was a minnow, as he says. Having Ernstrom as a coach, he’s excellent at putting kids in the right races.”Fulfilling his callings with excellence as unto the Lord!
Did you catch the Malley Family on the front page of the Living section of the Trib yesterday in this article on religious toys?
San Luis Obispo Tribune 03/25/2007 Let there be fun
Nice job, Penny!
I was quoted at the tail end of the article. The reporter Sarah Linn tried to call me on a Thursday, but we didn't connect until Friday.
When she finally called I was in the backyard, high up on a ladder trimming an apple tree. I got down and walked around the yard as we chatted. When she explained the angle on the article, I said, "You better give me some examples of religious toys, because I'm not sure I'm familiar with what you're talking about." I think she was a bit surprised by that. She explained a bit more and I fired off a few thoughts including the fact that our kids don't really play with these "religious toys." At the end of the conversation, I said, "We'll see what you pull from that collection of random thoughts. I don't feel like I was real crisp or focussed." Sarah said, "I've got some good stuff. It will be great."
My crazy life! I think I've shared before how much this stuff freaks me out. I want to shy away from the media, but I'm really trying not to. This is part of being a pastor of a church in this community. We want to be a church in the community, serving the community. Trying to make the most of every opportunity.
I don't know where Sarah is spiritually, but I thought we connected well. I appreciate Sarah and her pursuit of stories like this one. I say it all the time. . . . I love it that our paper features stuff like this.
I'm curious . . . Do you buy and enjoy religious toys like the ones described in the article?
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