Pastor Phil Owens

Children Are Precious

2011-11-19T14:13:00.001-08:00

A few folks from our church (Prospect Avenue Baptist) volunteered at the city of Santee's holiday event at Santee Trolley Square. Upon our arrival at 4:30 we learned that we were assigned to assist with skates at the synthetic skating rink. (I didn't even know they made plastic skating rinks.) We spent 3 hours helping the youngsters put on and take off ice skates. It was a bit tough on 50 year-old knees. But it was very refreshing to see so many sweet-spirited, polite children from our community.
It reminded me of a couple things: Children are precious to God and they should be to us. And children are a great responsibility - those kids had been taught by their parents to be respectful and to express gratitude. Thank God for folks who take their responsibilities as parents seriously.

Christmas Party in Santee

2011-11-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to our Christmas party! I have been listening to Christmas music for over a week. Just designed and ordered 10,000 postcards.

Don't miss the fun Sunday December 18 at Prospect Avenue Baptist Church in Santee. http://www.prospectbaptistsantee.com/#/events/concerts

Prospect Avenue Baptist Santee

2011-08-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Looking for a good church in Santee? We are hosting a get-acquainted dinner on Saturday, 9/10. Check out ProspectBaptistSantee.com

Titus 3:9-11

2011-07-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

The NKJ changes the transliterated "heretic" to "divisive man."

⁹ But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Are You Following Heresies? - Answers in Genesis

The Doctrine of Creation and the Making of Modern Biology

2011-07-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Doctrine of Creation and the Making of Modern Biology

"The popular science press may be on the cutting edge for bringing us the latest and greatest news from laboratories around the world, but when it comes to integrating historical and philosophical ideas into our modern conversations, it is woefully shallow."

Prospect Avenue Baptist Church Santee

2011-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hey, check out our new church website!

www.prospectbaptistsantee.com

Old Photos, Good Times

2011-06-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Came across this today. Ben sang "Wayfaring Stranger" at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention in Nashville. I believe this was in 2008. That other guys is world's greatest fingerstyle guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel.

Good Eats! (Please don't sue me, Alton Brown. I love your show.)

2011-04-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that my wife can take the simplest, most inexpensive ingredients and *voila* turn them into a gourmet feast?

I don't cook. But sometimes my smoker does.

My Little Boy is a Man

2011-04-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know Ben know that he's been a man since he was about 15. But now he's graduating college. And he loves God and people. And he loves wisdom. And he is committed to excellence. And I am sitting here thanking God for His grace, and wondering how all this happened and where the years went. I was blown away when God granted me my heart's desire 22 years ago. But he took that initial blessing and turned it into a channel - an aqueduct - of goodness in my life. I am overwhelmed. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Children are a heritage from the Lord

2011-04-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to God for my sons and the woman who gave them to me. Can't wait for us to all be together this summer.

My Wife Likes to Cook

2011-02-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

This is beef braised with tomatoes and onions, roasted potatoes and carrots, and yeast rolls.

From SanteePatch.com. Purdy Kewl.

2010-12-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Playing the Guitar Is an Elevated Art for Ben Owens

Santee native Ben Owens, the award-winning fingerstyle guitarist, plays a
Christmas show at the Prospect Avenue Baptist Church.
By Cynthia Robertson

Christmas music is, well, just that—until you hear Ben Owens play it.

The [21]-year-old plays guitar at a higher level. Owens is part of a lively group of musicians called the Prospect Avenue Bluegrass Band. Last weekend, Owens and friends played at the Prospect Avenue Baptist Church.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Silent Night," and "What Child is This?" never sounded sweeter nor livelier with Owens strumming along with half a dozen other members of the band.

It takes a family to raise a musician. Every member of Owens' family is a lover of music, if not a player. His parents raised him on guitar music. Though he himself has played the guitar for little more than eight years, Owens is on his way to making a name for himself in down-home style music. Still, he closes his eyes as he plays the guitar, as if in prayer.

"Playing the guitar was something that I'd always wanted to do," said Owens, who grew up admiring the music of Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel.

At the same time, his cousin and good friend, Ricky Ruis, had started learning to play after his parents had given him a guitar.

"We both really got into it," Owens said. "We got into fingerstyle about the same time and then it was off to the races. I think it's awesome that the best fingerstyle guitarists in the world are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet."

Owens can consider himself in the company of the professionals. In September, he won first place in the "Open Category" in an annual fingerstyle guitar event, called the International Home of the Legends Thumbpicking Contest. The event took place in Kentucky.

"It was actually pretty special just getting to play there," Owens said.

The competition was held in Muhlenberg County, KY, which is where fingerpicking originated. The "Open Category" in which Owens competed gave contestants the freedom to play whatever they wanted.

"I was honored. I was also featured in the big, closing Saturday night concert. It was a blast," he said.

At the concert at Prospect Avenue Baptist Church, Ruis and Owens did a rousing performance together, neck and neck with their guitars in a medley of Christmas carols.

Having just flown in back home from finals at [Bob] Jones University in Greenville, SC, Owens had a lot to sing about. But he is the first to recognize that any natural talent is what he calls a "gift from God."

"So, I think that's the real source," he said. "I don't know if I'd refer to myself as an exceptional player, though I have worked and do continue to work hard at it."

While majoring in humanities at college, Owens has his vision set on getting a degree in music. He already has an A.A. in music from Grossmont College.

"I'd like to combine humanities with music," said Owens, who wants to become a minister.

He has a good role model in that career as well, since his father is pastor at Prospect Avenue Baptist.

Owens calls himself blessed with parents who have always been supportive and willing to work hard to help grow him as a musician, a performer and a person.

"Music was always important in my family," he said. ""I have memories of all of us sitting around playing music as a way to enjoy each other."

As a result of loving the music, Owens has practiced quite a lot and he intends to always. He has also gotten personal advice from some of his favorite guitarists, including Tommy Emmanuel, Pete Huttlinger, John Knowles and Richard Smith.

"I think everyone recognizes that music—and art in general—has remarkable emotional power," Owens said. "I'd agree with G.K. Chesterton that art is the signature of man. The ability to create music and to be moved by it totally sets us apart from the animal world."

Owens believes that his abilities and the faculties to appreciate music could only come from a Divine Creator.

"For me, implicit in playing music is a recognition of God's existence and an expression of thanks for all He's done. But that's not original to me. J.S. Bach had a similar idea," he said.

Owens has a sense of disappointment in the general direction of music these days. He said that most of what is "force-fed" to young people in the mainstream media these days is not the best of what's out there.

"However, thanks to people like Tommy Emmanuel, there are a lot of young people who are getting a taste for good music. I've also met some pretty promising young songwriters and composers," he said.

Psalm 33:3. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

2010-12-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

This picture features some of the instruments of Ben Owens and Bryan San Miguel. It represents layer upon layer of blessings from God through these two men who have devoted their talents to His glory. It also represents a mess of great pickin' and singin'.

Christmas In The Country - Santee, CA Patch

2010-12-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas In The Country - Santee, CA Patch: "Christmas In The Country
Posted by Phil Owens |

Where: Prospect Avenue Baptist Church, 8836 Prospect Ave, Santee, CA 92071
Date: December 19, 2010
Time: 5:00pm–8:30pm
The whole community is invited to our annual Christmas block party. We start at 5:00pm with an indoor acoustic concert featuring all your Christmas favorites. This year we have those amazing guitar monsters Ben Owens and Ricky Ruis plus Bryan San Miguel and his Prospect Avenue Bluegrass Band (with some really awesome vocalists too).

Then at 6:30 it's all the soup you can eat - 3 awesome flavors with all the fixin's. Eat in our cozy dining room or outdoors beside one of our cheery bonfires as the kids take turns on the hayride wagon. We'll also have loads of delicious baked stuff, and coffee and cocoa.

Everything is free. It is a neighborhood favorite! We hope you can join us this year!

Features: Open to All
Website: http://ProspectBaptistSantee.com
Phone: 619-890-7588
Email: plowens@pacbell.net
Price: FREE!"

Thankful For God's Gifts

2010-11-28T07:10:00.000-08:00

I brined this 14lb. Butterball for 3 days, then smoked it with oak chips for 9 hours at 250 degrees - breast down and tented with foil at about 5 hours (I also threw a ham in at this point). It was the best we've ever had. Then Toni prepared a bunch of incredible side dishes - roasted squash, cranberry sauce and stuffing from scratch, yeast rolls made with homemade buttermilk and served with homemade butter, and more. I am continually amazed at the grace of God who has given us so many incredible gifts. He made animals and plants to taste good, and He fine-tuned our taste buds to appreciate them. Really it is an awe-inspiring thing.

Wisdom of God from Proverbs 6

2010-11-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

The Malicious Man

¹² A worthless person, a wicked man, who goes around speaking dishonestly,

¹³ who winks his eyes, signals with his feet, and gestures with his fingers,

¹⁴ who plots evil with perversity in his heart—he stirs up trouble constantly.

¹⁵ Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly—beyond recovery.

These People Are a Blessing.

2010-11-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

It's Not a Baby . . .

2010-10-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

This is why they always sound like they are lying. They are.

2010-09-20T11:02:00.001-07:00

Thank You, Lord!

2010-08-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful world! The beauty of creation and the wonder of family are reason enough to believe in God, and to praise Him for His goodness. We had a great week together touring California.

Ben and Jameson Owens Play the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention

2010-07-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

We hauled the boys and their gear to the airport Tuesday morning for their week-long guitarfest in Nashville. They have been having a wonderful time performing, enjoying concerts, and jamming at the Music City Sheraton. I am so grateful for this blessing from God in their lives, and for all the dear people who made it possible - especially Mark and Carol Pritcher and the Taylor and and Anderson families, Phil and Cindy, and Chris and Meagan.

Today Ben and Jameson performed with Tommy Emmanuel and Roland White. Tommy is probably the greatest fingerstyle guitarist of all time, a living legend who plays more than 300 dates a year all around the world. Roland is a Bluegrass original whose first band, The Kentucky Colonels, played "The Darlins" on the Andy Griffith Show back in the early sixties. My boys are on cloud nine. Hopefully we'll have some pics and video later.

The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

2010-05-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

¹ Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
      But a just weight is His delight.
       ² When pride comes, then comes shame;
      But with the humble is wisdom.
       ³ The integrity of the upright will guide them,
      But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
       ⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
      But righteousness delivers from death.
       ⁵ The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,
      But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
       ⁶ The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
      But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
       ⁷ When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
      And the hope of the unjust perishes.
       ⁸ The righteous is delivered from trouble,
      And it comes to the wicked instead.
       ⁹ The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
      But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
       ¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
      And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
       ¹¹ By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
      But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
       ¹² He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
      But a man of understanding holds his peace.
       ¹³ A talebearer reveals secrets,
      But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
       ¹⁴ Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
      But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
       ¹⁵ He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,
      But one who hates being surety is secure.
       ¹⁶ A gracious woman retains honor,
      But ruthless men retain riches.
       ¹⁷ The merciful man does good for his own soul,
      But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
       ¹⁸ The wicked man does deceptive work,
      But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
       ¹⁹ As righteousness leads to life,
      So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
       ²⁰ Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
      But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
       ²¹ Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
      But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
       ²² As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
      So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
       ²³ The desire of the righteous is only good,
      But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
       ²⁴ There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
      And there is one who withholds more than is right,
      But it leads to poverty.
       ²⁵ The generous soul will be made rich,
      And he who waters will also be watered himself.
       ²⁶ The people will curse him who withholds grain,
      But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
       ²⁷ He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
      But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
       ²⁸ He who trusts in his riches will fall,
      But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
       ²⁹ He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
      And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
       ³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
      And he who wins souls is wise.
       (Proverbs 11, New King James Version)

God Blesses Ben Owens

2010-05-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Ben and his buddy Nate spend the night near Nashville and end up meeting up with Tommy Emmanuel for dinner. What are the odds?? Well, Tommy plays over 300 shows per year; he is almost never home. Looks like it's gonna be a good trip. Thank you Lord.

The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

2010-04-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

¹ I will extol You, my God, O King;
         And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
² Every day I will bless You,
         And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
³ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
         And His greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall praise Your works to another,
         And shall declare Your mighty acts.
⁵ I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
         And on Your wondrous works.
⁶ Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
         And I will declare Your greatness.
⁷ They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
         And shall sing of Your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
         Slow to anger and great in mercy.
⁹ The LORD is good to all,
         And His tender mercies are over all His works.

¹⁰ All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
         And Your saints shall bless You.
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
         And talk of Your power,
¹² To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
         And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
         And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who fall,
         And raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
         And You give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open Your hand
         And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
         Gracious in all His works.
¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
         To all who call upon Him in truth.
¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
         He also will hear their cry and save them.
²⁰ The LORD preserves all who love Him,
         But all the wicked He will destroy.
²¹ My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
         And all flesh shall bless His holy name
         Forever and ever. (Psalm 145, New King James Version)

He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

2010-04-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

¹ As snow in summer and rain in harvest,
      So honor is not fitting for a fool.
       ² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
      So a curse without cause shall not alight.
       ³ A whip for the horse,
      A bridle for the donkey,
      And a rod for the fool’s back.
       ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
      Lest you also be like him.
       ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
      Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
       ⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
      Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
       ⁷ Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
      Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
       ⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling
      Is he who gives honor to a fool.
       ⁹ Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
      Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
       ¹⁰ The great God who formed everything
      Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.
       ¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit,
      So a fool repeats his folly.
       ¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
      There is more hope for a fool than for him.
       ¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road!
      A fierce lion is in the streets!”
       ¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
      So does the lazy man on his bed.
       ¹⁵ The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;
      It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
       ¹⁶ The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
      Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
       ¹⁷ He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
      Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
       ¹⁸ Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
       ¹⁹ Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
      And says, “I was only joking!”
       ²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
      And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
       ²¹ As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
      So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
       ²² The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
      And they go down into the inmost body.
       ²³ Fervent lips with a wicked heart
      Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
       ²⁴ He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
      And lays up deceit within himself;
       ²⁵ When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
      For there are seven abominations in his heart;
       ²⁶ Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
      His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
       ²⁷ Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
      And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
       ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
      And a flattering mouth works ruin. (Proverbs 26, New King James Version)

Thanks For Coming Everyone!!

2010-04-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

Hey, we did it! We covered the existence of God, the trustworthiness and inspiration of the Bible, the deity of Christ, the problem of man's sin, and finally God's gracious provision of salvation. The pace was good, attendance was excellent, and the chow was superb. Among the resources we gave away to each participant - our own 120 page 'Foundations' outline, 'God Wrote a Book,' 'God of Wonders,' 'More Than a Carpenter,' 'The Case for Christ,' and 'The Answers Book 2' from Answers in Genesis.

We are so grateful to everyone who served and attended; looking forward to seeing everyone at our Lasagna finale this Thursday. We hope you all can make it to our special summer series with Ben Owens Wednesdays @ 7 beginning June 2. God's richest blessings to all.

Great Bible Teaching in Santee

2010-04-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to this summer Bible series at Prospect Avenue Baptist Church.

Two of My Favorite Things - Together

2010-03-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Good Clean College Fun

2010-03-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ben and his pals finally took their jam session outside. Wish I could have been there to hear them.

No God, No Music. Period.

2010-03-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Awesome Creation Resource

2010-03-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

You can watch the chapters online here. If you would like your own free copy on DVD, come on out to Prospect Avenue Baptist Church in Santee.

People Like Chelsea King Are Made, Not Born

2010-03-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

Over the past five days we read repeatedly that Chelsea was every parent's dream child - straight-A student, disciplined athlete, accomplished musician, peer counselor, and someone who brightened everyone's life. (One of her school mates commended her on her kindness.) On the day she was attacked she had been up early to attend a peer counseling meeting before 7am, after performing in a concert the night before; and she still had the drive to put in a training session before going home to do homework.

Chelsea was an overtly good person, intent on making other people's lives better. And you can bet that the lists of her attributes and accomplishment will never do justice to who she was. People like Chelsea are greater than the sum of their parts. And people like her do not happen by chance. All the credit goes to her dear, loving parents, Brent and Kelly King. May the sweet memories of Chelsea, their dream child, comfort them all the days of their lives.

Please Help Find Chelsea King

2010-03-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

Latest information here.

New Small Group Study

2010-02-16T14:23:00.000-08:00

Click the jpeg for a better view. We would love to have you. You will learn a ton! Plus awesome freebies and a big lasagna dinner finale!

February 6 Haiti Update From Mark Rose

2010-02-08T12:07:00.001-08:00

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. YOU CAN DONATE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE WEBSITE LISTED BELOW.

I am writing this from downtown Port au Prince on the edge of a huge tent city where thousands of Haitians are sleeping in the streets under tarps, plastic, and anything they can find to protect them from the hot tropical sun when temps soar to 95 degrees daily. No words, television news reports, or photos can describe the devastation caused by the earthquake. There is a real danger here from many things like hunger, disease, and exposure...but the greatest danger is to the Haitian people as a race and culture. I can see how the entire nation could fall and cease to exist under the weight of this suffering.

The Haitian people are afraid to go inside any buildings and millions sleep outside. Aid is piled up in warehouses as all of us seek a way to get it to the people. It is slow and needs your prayers.

I addressed this letter to you and a man named Ryan from New Philadephia, Ohio (FBC), who will lead our team of medical professionals. Ryan is preparing to depart with doctors and nurses this weekend. Here they are greatly needed to say the least. Mostly, we ask your prayers.

Our team of 9 Americans (including me and Robyn) are living in tents at the CAD Orphanage in Gontier, Haiti which is just outside the city. They moved orphans from three orphanages destroyed in the quake to this site and we are putting up tents for 250 orphans. We will have them up and ready in a couple of days. Our team is strong in spirit and lifted by your prayers and donations that have gotten us this far an enabling us so far to feed these kids and care for them. But as I write we have $800 left. Don't panic! We have about two tons of rice and beans, tuna, and other foods in our warehouse and this will last about three weeks. But we need to sustain this site for six months until the children can be moved out of the tents and in to better shelters that protect them. It is a race against time as temperatures continuet rise by ten degrees each month into summer.

Thousands of injured are being moved from the USS COMFORT hospital ship to a field hospital near our location. There they conduct amputations and all types of surgeries. The patients (mostly children) are then put in tents to recover. It is hard to see. It IS ALL THAT CAN BE DONE. So, by God's providence, we have this small team of medical professionals coming in this week. We planned for them to work at our site which is smaller than the field hospital site. But we now must share them with the field hospital up the road where they are badly needed. Pray for them because this ain't easy living. We sleep in tents on the ground, eat almost only rice, and must endure the hot temps. But God has given us strength by your prayers. We need you to pray and help us if you can.

If God has blessed you with a roof and some food, I pray you will be able to send what you can to help finance our work here for the next few months. You can donate thru our website online at www.russiainlandmission.com or you can mail at donation to our ministry address at:

Russia Inland Mission

PO Box 1304

Hixson, TN 37343

By law, your donations in FEB and MARCH 2010 can be deducted from your 2009 taxes. All donations will go to the relief effort and none of it will be used for admin or overhead. I am going to try and send a photo of one of the orphanages destroyed by the earthquake where 5 girls and one staff member was killed. The rest of the children who survived are with us.

Please pray for our special service today. We are going to fix the children a feast meal and preach the Gospel to them. We want them to know that God sent us and that HE has them in the palm of HIS mighty hand...that they survived for a reason, that God will bring them to a home some day where no earthquake or famine can hurt them...where they can once again be in a home that cannot be destroyed...a home in heaven.

In Christ,

Bro. Mark Rose

Cracked Maton

2010-02-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

Ben was wearing his gig bag backpack style when he slipped on the ice at school. OUCH!

Turn up your speakers and enjoy!

2010-01-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

Two Ben Owens originals:
"Waltz For a Friend" in honor of the late Verna Lembcke.
"Goin' Home"

Check Out My Boys!

2010-01-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

God's Beautiful World

2009-12-29T17:11:00.000-08:00

Went down to La Jolla with the family yesterday. It was gray and gloomy until the sun dropped below the clouds; then we enjoyed the splendor of a Pacific sunset. So refreshing. After dark we ate at a taco shop, then went home and watched a cowboy movie wherein the bad guys got swift justice. A good day.

A Clue That Something Might Be Wrong

2009-12-28T19:33:00.001-08:00

When devotion to one's "deity" requires one to sew explosives into one's underpants, perhaps it might be time to seriously question one's religion. After hours of thinking things through, this guy elects to go ahead with setting fire to his crotch in order to murder hundreds of people? Really?

And, did I miss it, or are "moderate" Muslims everywhere not publicly condemning Mr. Underpants Suicide Bomber?

Thank God for Bryan San Miguel

2009-12-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

Here is Bryan playing one of his guitars to accompany our kids. He also plays mando, fiddle, and banjo, and has taught a bunch of other people to play instruments as well. He meets with our teens every Wednesday to teach them to serve the Lord with music and instruments. He first learned to play guitar so he could sing to his wife at their wedding. He is a great man and a dear brother.

The True Meaning of Christmas

2009-12-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

Bryan, Rhanda, and Ben closed out our concert with "How Deep the Father's Love," a modern hymn by Townend and Getty:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Christmas Merriment

2009-12-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

The Prospect Avenue Bluegrass Band (in one of it's various forms) performing at our church Christmas party this past Sunday. (L-R) Bryan, Timmy, (behind Timmy is Justin on bass) Jake, Wyatt, Jameson, (and love-of-my-life) Toni. That's a bunch o musical talent in one place.

Toni's Boys

2009-12-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

We got up at zero-dark-thirty to get Ben to the airport. (Everyone has hat hair except Ben.) He had a full travel day, 6 hours by plane and 5 by car. We pick him up again this Thursday. Yay!

Thanksgiving Gift

2009-11-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

November 27, 009 - Ben and Jameson wowed'em at Lord of the Strings on one Jerry Reed and two Django Reinhardt tunes. My sons are such a blessing. See if the video below doesn't just bless your heart...

Ben Owens Concert in Santee

2009-11-20T20:37:00.001-08:00

Ben will be appearing in concert at Prospect Avenue Baptist Church, Sunday, November 29 @ 6PM. Come on out and bring a friend! We'll have froo-froo coffee drinks and all manner of cookies too.

Fort Hood Massacre Avoidable

2009-11-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

"WHY do police officers have to save SOLDIERS on a military base?
WHY is our own military disarmed on military installations?
Had our military personnel been armed, as they should be, the response to a lone psychopath attempting to inflict mayhem would have been swift and sure! One dead terrorist, hit multiple times from multiple armed soldiers."

I too wondered why our soldiers were unarmed. I do recall seeing troops returning from deployment who carried their rifles as they exited the aircraft. Why are they not trusted to carry at least a sidearm on base?

Check out this interesting video about the Swiss.

Nidal Hasan, Terrorist or Nutcase? Wrong Question.

2009-11-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

The question of whether the mass-murder at Ft. Hood was an act of terrorism or the act of a disturbed/deranged individual misses the point. It creates a dichotomy where none should exist by the use of the term "terrorism." We need to begin substituting "act of war" in place of the term "terrorism." Those we call terrorists are really warriors. Their attacks are not merely acts of terrorism, they are acts of war. This does not preclude them from being deranged.

The Muslims who have attacked us are warriors for Islam AND they are deranged. They fully believe they are duty bound to make war against the west as part of Islam's plan to conquer the world for Allah. Their decision to attack and kill is a response to the preaching at their mosques, not to taunts on the playground. Indoctrination from their preachers - not bullying from their peers - is the motivation to kill. They become deranged/deluded/disturbed in their thinking at the mosque. Then they commit acts of violence. The suicide bomber is certainly deranged, but that does not make his killing of innocents any less an act of war, in his own mind and in reality.

Furthermore whether Nidal Hasan did or did not have connections with "terror groups" is of no consequence. They are united in their ideology. "Allahu Akbar" is both an exclamation of praise to their "god" and a war cry. His actions and his statements prove that he is a jihadist, a warrior for Islam.

Americans readily recognized that Pearl Harbor was an act of war. Yet we term 9/11 an act of terrorism. The distinction is imaginary. We recognize that those who attacked Pearl Harbor represented Japan. But we try to evade the glaring fact that those who attacked us on 9/11 (and at Ft. Hood) represent Islam.

Apparently Nidal Hasan had formerly expressed sympathy (more than once) with those who are making war against the United States. Yet the Army has stated that while his statements raised questions, no formal investigation was ever launched. They are now investigating the worst massacre on a domestic American military base. An ounce of prevention might have saved lives.

President Bush coined the term "the war on terror;" it is politically correct and essentially meaningless. While we do not believe that we are at war with Islam, our enemy believes otherwise. To deny that Islam is at war with us makes us unsafe. It puts Americans at risk, as was clearly demonstrated this week.

I recommend this documentary.

Let All The Earth Fear The Lord

2009-10-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Psalm 33

The Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History

¹ Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
         For praise from the upright is beautiful.
² Praise the LORD with the harp;
         Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
³ Sing to Him a new song;
         Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

⁴ For the word of the LORD is right,
         And all His work is done in truth.
⁵ He loves righteousness and justice;
         The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

⁶ By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
         And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;^[a]
         He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
⁹ For He spoke, and it was done;
         He commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰ The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
         He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
¹¹ The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         The plans of His heart to all generations.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

¹³ The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men.
¹⁴ From the place of His dwelling He looks
         On all the inhabitants of the earth;
¹⁵ He fashions their hearts individually;
         He considers all their works.

¹⁶ No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
         A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a vain hope for safety;
         Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope in His mercy,
¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death,
         And to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ Our soul waits for the LORD;
         He is our help and our shield.
²¹ For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
         Because we have trusted in His holy name.
²² Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
         Just as we hope in You.

Awesome Interview With John Sanford

2009-10-17T19:01:00.001-07:00

‘I was totally sold on evolution. It was my religion; it defined how I saw everything, it was my value system and my reason for being. Later, I came to believe in “God”, but this still did not significantly change my intellectual outlook regarding origins. However, still later, as I began to personally know and submit to Jesus, I started to be fundamentally changed—in every respect. This included my mind, and how I viewed science and history. I would not say that science led me to the Lord (which is the experience of some). Rather I would say Jesus opened my eyes to His creation—I was blind, and gradually I could see. It sounds simple, but it was a slow and painful process....'
More here and See also

Great Stuff From Tom Cantor

2009-10-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

The following is excerpted from Tom Cantor's delightful booklet "How a Jew Became a Scientific Creationist."

(Read the full text here)

"Being a creationist is both intellect and soul liberating, because Creation reveals the faithfulness of the Creator. For example, the human body is the work of a faithful Creator. The intricate layout of all of the blood vessels with each one attached to its correct terminus, all working together for the overall function of transporting nutrients, wastes and oxygen to and from cells, shows the work of a faithful Creator. The ear drum receiving tonal sound waves and moving less than the diameter of an atom and then transferring those movements to 3 bones, which in turn go through a transducer, converting movement into electrical signals that are interpreted by the brain as different tones, shows the work of a faithful Creator. The interdependency of plant and animal as the plant both uses our exhaled carbon dioxide and produces the oxygen we need, shows the work of a faithful Creator. These are but a very few of the many parts of the Creation that all display the work of a faithful Creator. Allowing the Creation to speak of the Creator’s faithfulness is an encouragement to call on that Creator for the greatest need we have — which is to be saved from the penalty of having sinned against the sinless, Holy Creator. The Bible clearly identifies who the Creator is."

Colossians 1:13-17

“…His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

"The Creator is the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only is He the Creator, He is the Savior from sin. He has promised to save everyone who calls on His name for salvation from sin. The Bible encourages needy souls to commit the keeping of our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ as a faithful Creator."

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart

2009-10-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation;
         Whom shall I fear?
         The LORD is the strength of my life;
         Of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked came against me
         To eat up my flesh,
         My enemies and foes,
         They stumbled and fell.
³ Though an army may encamp against me,
         My heart shall not fear;
         Though war may rise against me,
         In this I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I have desired of the LORD,
         That will I seek:
         That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
         All the days of my life,
         To behold the beauty of the LORD,
         And to inquire in His temple.
⁵ For in the time of trouble
         He shall hide me in His pavilion;
         In the secret place of His tabernacle
         He shall hide me;
         He shall set me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
         Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
         I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

⁷ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
         Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”
         My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
         Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
         You have been my help;
         Do not leave me nor forsake me,
         O God of my salvation.
¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me,
         Then the LORD will take care of me.

¹¹ Teach me Your way, O LORD,
         And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
¹² Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
         For false witnesses have risen against me,
         And such as breathe out violence.
¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
         That I would see the goodness of the LORD
         In the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
         Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart;
         Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Powerful Healing in a Tube (no kidding)

2009-10-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

MelaGel works. It lessens pain and promotes healing in all sorts of cuts, scrapes, burns, etc. This is not a commercial (and I don't sell the stuff) but I think everyone ought to have a tube in his first-aid kit and medicine cabinet. You can read about it here, but you can probably find it cheaper on Ebay.

God of Wonders

2009-10-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

I found an awesome new creationism resource. "God of Wonders" may be the finest film on creationism ever - a plethora of amazing examples of God's genius, and stunning cinematography. We viewed it in church the past two Sunday nights, and everyone loved it. We have it in the church lending library, and you can view it online here.

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?" Job 12:7-10

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire

2009-10-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

Psalm 20

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

¹ May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
         May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
² May He send you help from the sanctuary,
         And strengthen you out of Zion;
³ May He remember all your offerings,
         And accept your burnt sacrifice.  Selah

⁴ May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
         And fulfill all your purpose.
⁵ We will rejoice in your salvation,
         And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
         May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
         He will answer him from His holy heaven
         With the saving strength of His right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
         But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
⁸ They have bowed down and fallen;
         But we have risen and stand upright.

⁹ Save, LORD!
         May the King answer us when we call.

Where Credit is Due

2009-10-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we went on a field trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. At the beginning of the tram tour the guide told us that the cheetahs were "elegantly designed for speed." I appreciated the nod to the Designer; but, alas, it was to be short lived. In the next 20 minutes we must have heard the word adaptation at least 100 times. Giraffes adapted long necks due to the intense competition for grasses as a primary food source.

I do understand that there is a certain amount of resident "variability" in the genetic information of all living things. But I think the tour guide was either tacitly or intentionally teaching Lamarckism - the inheritance of novel traits acquired through use or disuse of body parts. Giraffes stretched for leaves, and little by little their necks grew longer, and their offspring inherited the new genetic information for longer necks. A cat gets his tail slammed in a door, and her kittens are born with crooked tails - an oversimplification to illustrate that Lamarckism is a failed theory. This stuff just does not happen. Charles Darwin promoted his own version of Lamarckism called pangenesis which was also proven false with later experimentation. He even proposed a feedback loop from the environment to somatic cells to sex cells to offspring - all false.

While the zoo folks have repeated this nonsense to one another so often that they believe it in spite of the evidence, it is - at the very least - annoying to those of us who would just like to enjoy our visit, without all the brain-washing.

On the other hand, Sunday we had a wonderful lunch at church - smoked brisket, sweet and spicy beans, and cole slaw. Our amazing God has filled the earth with plants and animals according to His ingenious design that every living thing should reproduce "according to its kind" as stated 10 times in Genesis chapter one and proven by billions of experiments each year. (Ask any farmer.)

They even taste good when you cook them. It did not have to be that way. And it did not happen by chance or by accident. We should praise Him for it. "Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17 (ESV)

Ephesians 6:17 - The Helmet of Salvation

2009-09-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God."

From John MacArthur's Commentary on Ephesians:

When the coal truck delivered a ton of coal on the sidewalk in front of her house, a little London girl took her small shovel and began carrying the coal into the basement. When a neighbor man who was watching told her, “You’ll never be able to get it all in,” she replied, “Oh, I will sir, if I work long enough.”
The test of a person’s character is what it takes to stop him. Some people retreat as soon as the first shot is fired, while others fight through battle after battle with no thought of giving up. Satan will try every means to discourage and deter us, reminding us of defeats and dangers and setting every possible object in our way to destroy our assurance in Christ. The Lord allowed Satan to strip Job of every good thing he possessed except his life, yet that man of God declared, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15). The book of Job demonstrates the character of true saving faith in revealing that it is not connected to what benefits and blessings a person has or loses. Job’s helmet deflected every blow against him, and he maintained his faith in God’s love and care.

Six Evidences for God's Existence

2009-09-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

An article by a former atheist. I like this; check it out.

Quieting a Noisy Soul

2009-09-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

On our trip back east our friend Bobby Sass told us about "Quieting a Noisy Soul;" it's a seminar series my Jim Berg, dean of students at Bob Junes University. I purchased it from Amazon for under $100, and Toni and I have been previewing it this week - we like it a lot.

From the website: "Quieting a Noisy Soul is a unique multimedia program for personal growth and change combining DVD video sessions, an audio CD for daily meditation upon applicable Scripture passages, an mp3 CD for convenient review of the seminar sessions, and a powerful interactive study guide that aids your personal application of the seminar truths. No Christian program provides such a comprehensive, structured means to saturate your mind with the truths of Who God is and how He intends for those truths to deliver you from your guilt, anxiety, anger, and despair."

I plan to use this as our Sunday evening curriculum after we finish our current series. Visit the QANS website.

Another Phase of Life

2009-09-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

With each new phase of life I realize how little I actually know by experience. Over twenty years ago God gave me what would prove to be one of the greatest treasures in my life. He changed my life. And last week I had to wave good-bye to him. As I watched Ben's car disappear in the distance I cried my heart out, and for hours a scene kept looping through my mind of that happy little 4-year-old boy - shirtless, barefoot, with sun-bleached hair - calling out to me with glee in that sweet little kid voice. Where did the time go?

I know I always teach that we are raising them to leave us, but I don't think I ever really accepted that it would happen to me. He's only gone away to college. But he's a continent away. And he's starting his own life. Wow.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with Ben. Please take good care of him.

Ben Owens at the Creation Museum

2009-07-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all! Just got an email announcement of July events at the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum. Ben is on their daily blog! I thank God for Answers in Genesis and for Ben.

The Church

2009-07-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

When I think of the church I usually picture the local church - and, more specifically, our local church. Today I am thankful for the universal church - the body of Christ at large.

Ben is scheduled to perform at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention in Nashville July 8-11 and at The Creation Museum near Cincinnati July 13-31. He sorely needed to make the trip to earn money for college, but due to his age he was unable to rent a car or even a room. Imagine planning a 3-week trip with no transportation or housing.

This is where caring Christian friends came to the rescue. Chris and Meagan (Taylor) Anderson, Dr. Mark and Carol Pritcher, Ivan and Connie Gunn, Dr. David and Deb Menton, and Mike and Lesley Riddle all offered to help with both housing and transportation. What an answer to prayer these folks are. May the Lord bless them all for their generosity and hospitality.

The Land of the Free

2009-07-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

I think sometimes people get the wrong idea about freedom and liberty - i.e., that we have to liberty to do wrong. Americans have the freedom to travel pretty much wherever and whenever we please. Yet there are innumerable laws that govern our "freedom of travel." Order, safety, and the general welfare demand it. And there are consequences - both natural and legal - for violating those laws.

Same with the laws of nature. You have the freedom to cliff dive. Land on a rock, and the laws of physics exact a severe and potentially fatal penalty.

In the end we are really only free to do right. There are consequences for doing wrong. There will be an immediate or eventual natural (cause and effect) consequence for doing wrong. And ultimately there will be a divine consequence. God has appointed a day in which Jesus Christ will judge the world in righteousness. He has given assurance of this to everyone in that he raised Jesus from the dead.

In light of this coming judgment, God commands all people everywhere to repent of their sins, and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Happy Fourth.

Day Dreaming

2009-07-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

Last fall our church sent us on a much needed vacation. We will always treasure their kindness and the memories of our time together in the Sierras. It is so refreshing to get away with the one you love; even just a day helps a lot.

I thank God for the gift of marriage.

Lord of the Strings Concert Series Scholarship

2009-06-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Tim and Tina Johnson are founders of Lord of the Strings Concerts in Dana Point, Ca. Their labor of love provides a venue for fingerstyle guitarists (and a few other select acoustic musicians) from around the world. They host 24 to 26 shows a year in two venues in Orange County. They have helped dozens of artists fill dates in their schedules, and in the process they have become the premiere venue for virtuoso-class fingerstyle guitar in SoCal. Their concerts are totally family friendly, and they and their team are extremely gracious hosts.

This year in an effort to help promote fingerstyle guitar among young people, LOS launched a scholarship program which was personally funded by LOS patrons Steve and Cindy Olson. They generously provided $1000 to their very first scholar/player...Ben Owens. I am grateful beyond words to Steve and Cindy, and to Tim and Tina for this gracious gift to my son's education.

Tim, Tina, and crew gave our whole family first class treatment last night - free admission, reserved seating, the privilege to hang out with some salt of the earth folks, and the pleasure of seeing Ben open the show and play several duets with Pete Huttlinger. In addition to being a world-class solo guitarist (and a really nice guy) Pete also loves to promote and encourage younger players. Both Pete and his wife Erin are always kind and accommodating.

Last night was a total blessing; an act of kindness and generosity made a lifetime of fond memories for me and my family. Thanks to everyone at LOS.

The Cattywampus Boys

2009-06-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

Great friends and great music, (l-r) Pat Ruis, Bryan San Miguel, Scott McCarty, Ben Owens, and Jameson Owens. These guys make all our events fun.

Daily Proverb - 26

2009-06-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool's back.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!" As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, "I was only joking!"

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Other Pets

2009-06-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Fluke the whale, Steve the sea turtle, and our grizzly bear, Brownie.

Ben's First College Degree

2009-06-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ben completed his studies at Grossmont College for his associate's degree in music, classical studies. He ended his four semesters with 72.5 units, and was one of 17 grads to maintain a 4.0gpa in a class of 1300. That makes 10 consecutive semesters of 4.0, and a heap of good guitar pickin' ;)

We are grateful to the faculty at Grossmont for their virtuosity, grace, and kindness. Ben had a great time there and was sad it ended so soon. A special thanks to Fred Benedetti for mentoring my son in a new musical direction.

Girl of My Dreams

2009-06-19T12:55:00.001-07:00

WoooooooooHooooooooo!! She's the one who made me a father (and it almost killed her)! And she's the best thing that ever happened to me. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother...

Alice Der Voondermutten

2009-06-19T12:37:00.001-07:00

Man's best friend loves everyone. She's bright, sturdy, fearless, even-tempered and athletic - equally at home chasing small critters or sleeping at your feet.

Integrity, Justice, and Foolishness

2009-06-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Excerpts from Proverbs 19

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the Lord.

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.

There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

A disreputable witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

I sure love my kids

2009-06-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day weekend, guys! What a pleasure and privilege it is to be a father. I am so thankful to God for my boys. I pray for strength, wisdom, and discipline to do right by them - and their Mom!