How far do you trust anyone? Do you include the people around you? To what level do you trust them? Depending on where you live and work really is the judge of how much you trust someone. Do you see the people around you as trusted friends that you can confide in? More and more I see that the trust matrix is being broken down. When I was young you could leave your doors to your house unlocked. That began to change drastically as the crime rose in our community. It wasn’t certain who you could trust. The murder rate in this country has risen drastically over the last 30 years. Of which I believe it is due to one event in 1973. It was the US Supreme Court decision for Roe vs. Wade. The decision to allow abortions in this country. You see there is no law protecting the sanity of life. If you can kill babies then why not adults also. The government has dug a hole that they can’t get out of. One of the greatest efforts of that decision is lack of trust one person has for the other. So it is black verses white. And Hispanic verses black. The lack of trust is so wide spread that nothing real or substantial is being done in this country. No one trust anyone. The media will tell you a half-truth to make you believe a lie. So how do we get back to trusting each other? Trust is always earned. It is developed over time by people who are consistent in their lives. There are trustworthy individuals out there. You are just going to have to find them on your own. And when you do trust will build your security. Trust and believe in Jesus. Let Him be your security.

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I am back home from California. This is the first time I have ever been to California. My parents went on a summer trip to California the year I graduated from high school. But I was to big to go on a family vacation. So, I missed that trip but I wasn’t going to miss this one. God has a plan and a place for all of His children. No matter who you are there is a place for you in the kingdom. And God sees about every one of His children all the time. This trip was about renewal. It was to renew my faith, courage and place in God. I had gotten weary in well doing. It is a tough spot to be in. I needed help. I went with an open mind to receive. I really didn’t know what to expect. But I knew that God was going to be there before and stay with me the whole time. For my friends in California, it was the same. God did such a work in us, we did know what to expect next. His church is on fire. Burning as brightly as the altar of God. The beauty of the countryside was beyond me. I woke up every morning to scenes that were drop dead gorgeous. His home overlooks the bay in Santa Barbara. The Sierra Madre mountains at his front door. The mountains along were beautiful. We say sight I could hardly describe. Sea otters playing in the surf. Elephant seals sunning themselves on the beach. I didn’t want to go to any tourist traps and we didn’t. We eat lunch in a 150 year old stagecoach way station, now a restaurant, in the mountains. More than all of this, God healed me and my friends. I didn’t want to leave, but it was time to bring home what God gave me. More than all the souvenirs, I brought home the love and healing power of God. This gift is not just for me. It is for everyone. It is simple. Just turn toward God and ask for forgiveness. And He will forgive you and bring you into the family. Where you will have a purpose and a home forever.

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Words have meaning. When I was in college I took a course on words. It was an English class on the meanings of words. In the class we broke the words apart to find their origins. The American English language is composed of words from England, France, Germany, Russia, Poland, Italy, Greece, Israel, Africa, Middle East, China, Japan, Polynesia, Spain, Portugal and Native Americans. Our language is a mixture of all languages around the world as our country is. You know who invented the telegraph? The French in the 1850’s because Napoleon III wanted to talk to his troops in Turkey fighting the Crimean War. Today there are so many ways to talk to someone around the world. The capabilities grow every year. There seems to be no stopping it. It is the Age of Information. Words by themselves have no real power. But when they are spoken they come alive. So why is that? It is because we give words power. People sometimes don’t even understand how much power we give words. As the bible says life and death are in the power of the tongue. I have seen it. People say I can’t do it and they can’t. Or they says I wish I would die and they do. The spoken word has changed the entire universe. But it isn’t a broad sword to use on your enemies. You should think before you speak. And when you speak you should mean what you say. God has always meant every word He spoke. As He has said in the bible in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (KJV).

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My friends live on the hill overlooking the Pacific ocean. The town winds around the bay along the shoreline . The homes are beautiful many with Spanish motif.  It is a peaceful  and quiet town. Every now and then you hear the train go by. Although there are many cars, traffic is minimal, except on the freeway.  They live in the middle of the mountains.  There are many earthquakes.  They endure fires every year.  This year one came close enough that 8000 firemen were in this small community by the sea. Last night a fire broke out on the mountain.  Within a half an hour,  the fire traveled a mile across the mountain.  The new unfinished church was in the path. Pray that the fire is put out.  Yet there are many people living there and wanting to live there. The peace of God is in their home, that passes all understanding.  They have lived all over the country.  Going each time God called. The raised their family of 3, here and there.  They have 5 grandchildren. The sweetest bunch of coconuts, little girls you ever want to meet. God gave them this beautiful home on the California Rivera  overlooking the the bay. And my point is that God blesses and rewards obedience to the word of God. And all you have to do is to turn to God and ask forgiveness. Then your real life will begin.

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I have 2 days left here. And I am thinking about going home. It is strange,  but I’m not ready, I don’t want to leave. My life is 2000 miles away,  but my heart is here. My family in California consists of my closest brother and his wife and family.  As they say, he is a brother from a another mother.  And I don’t want to leave again.  I know in my heart,  that I will never see him again. And that what makes me hesitant about leaving. My wife and family are waiting for me. But I have suffered too much loss in my life. I want it to stop. California is beautiful.  Where they live is called the Spanish Riviera.  This is where the mountains meet the sea. I believe even if I lived in Death Valley, it would be beautiful to me.  It isn’t where they live, it6 being with them. We are both getting older with all its frailties.  We are  two old war dogs for Christ. We gave our lives in service to God. And we don’t want to give up. It’s the young people’s time to rise up in service to God. And we must make room for them. God has a plan for every life on this earth.  And to find it, all you have to do is turn to God and ask.

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Every year Americans gather to celebrate the 4th of July,  the day of Independence from the British.  The story is as phenomenal as what happened to our nation. We the people of America worked as a nation and as individuals to build a life worth living. We are founded on moral laws that give us enough room to make mistakes. As a nation, we came back and corrected those mistakes.  Then we moved on.  As individuals and corporately, America was built from sea to shining sea. Then beyond. My friend’s family and friends gathered to fellowship and watch the fireworks.  Why fireworks? It is the reenactment of the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore. There were over 100 British warships bombarding the fort to make the Americans surrender. The Americans had a giant flag that survived the bombardment.  It did because Americans held the flagpole up. As they were killed by the bombardment,  another American took his place. In the morning,  the British stopped the bombardment because the American flag was still there. This is where Francis Scott Key wrote our National Anthem.  And so we celebrate with fireworks and pride in our nation,  America.  By the way,  that flag is in the American History museum at the Smithsonian. God bless America.

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Monday we began to roam across California.  We went north along the coast highway. It was a surprise to me that the rocky mountains go down to the sea.  People even on the coast live on the side of mountains. They call them foothills, but they rise to 2000 feet.  My home state is flat as a pancake.  We are only 26 feet above sea level.  My constant surprise is the people.  I was expecting people to protest my US Air Force cap. We went to see the sea otters and elephant seals.  We toured William Randolph Herst castle, San Simeon. I am always amazed at the amount of money people have spent for pleasure.  I know I am a country boy come to town, but it is beyond my reckoning.  God gave people the ability to acquire wealth. The real challenge is not letting the wealth acquire you. I am overwhelmed by the beauty of God in His creation. God has a plan for each of us. It is a good life.  But we as individuals have to find out what it is. As I have said before, it isn’t easy, but it is simple. God is waiting for you.  And all you have to do is to turn to Him and ask.

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The Southwest United States was settled by the Spanish. From Louisiana to California was Spanish America. With the coming of the Spaniards, the church came with them. With the Spanish soldiers, the priests came to build the kingdom of God. The effect of the Spaniards and the church are still felt today. The architecture is Spanish motif and the church is alive and well even in California, surprise, surprise, surprise. I left 90 to 100 degree weather to come to 70 to 60 degrees, The shorelines are beautiful. The mountains are beautiful. Now if all the people were perfect, this would be a perfect place. We went to a place where the surf was covered with sea otters. We are going today to see the sea lions. God is reminding me that we aren’t alone. Just like Elijah told God that there were no more believers left. God told him that there were over 7000 believers who had not bowed their knee to baal. God has always had a people. Mo where they live. the presence of God has been with me this whole trip. He came along with me and strayed. I give Him the glory and honor for all this beauty. And I ask you have you met my Lord and Savior? And all you have to do is to turn toward God and ask for forgiveness. And He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.

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As beautiful as the mountains are coming to my friends house,  the beauty of these surroundings has me on overload. The effects of seeing this much beauty has captured the hearts of man for 100’s of years.  This city is called the air condition city. There is a constant breeze.  The temperature for 4th of July week is daytime, 70-75 degrees F. And at night it is in the 60’s. It is so desirable,  the homes are in the millions of dollars. If you can find one. I went to their church yesterday.  They rent a school auditorium. I saw the church. It is under construction.  It is in the Spanish motif. Beautiful craftsmanship. From the stones, to the beams, to the building.  But the most astonishing thing about their church is the people.  It is like someone plugged them into a socket and they became electrified.  Their church is so alive and full of the Holy Ghost. I haven’t seen this but in 3 or 4 churches in my lifetime.  My friend and I  walked out of the  church so full of the Holy Ghost, we looked like we were drunk. And all we had to drink was of God. It was hard to stand. I have pictures to put on the blog. When I figure out my phone, you will see pictures. To my brothers and sisters, get close to God. For those who don’t know Him, seek Him and God will find you.

Yesterday,  I took an airplane to California on a vacation. To visit some dear friends of mine.  I haven’t seen them in 10 years. As, we are getting older,  time is becoming more valuable.  Because we have less of it.  They live overlooking the Pacific Ocean on a hilltop. I don’t think I could live there, because everything is up and down.  My knees aren’t the best, but they are serviceable.  But the view is awe-inspiring. I am watching the sailboats and motorboats in the harbor. They have famous yacht races every year. The reason I am here isn’t just a vacation.  It is to renew myself spiritually, by both giving and receiving.  Life can get hard no matter where you live or what you do. Sometimes you need to hide away and rest. I couldn’t have chosen a better spot to rest. There is the ocean, the mountains, the beaches and more. This couple I am visiting were my pastors as well as dear friends.  They cleared room in there home for me. They didn’t have to.  But did it for my well being.  More to come and pictures.