Last Week in June

After having been gone for essentially a month, my family and I have truly enjoyed being together this past week (although Jenna didn’t get back from San Felipe until Thursday night). Carrie and I have spent some good chunks of time researching and finalizing plans for our upcoming trip to the East Coast -- we are very excited about the time we will spend in Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. We will visit historic and cultural sites, see old friends, and share in some memorable family adventures.

I have also enjoyed some quality time with my girls, whether in swimming together, going for bike-rides, hosting cousins for a sleepover, practicing volleyball, watching some movies (Jessica and I are enjoying our annual trip to Middle Earth with the Lord of the Rings trilogy), and enjoying meals together on the patio (the weather has been perfect this past week, especially during the mornings and evenings). I also continue to run several days each week (James Stephens and I did a 12 miler on Saturday) and am trying to figure out what my next race will be (perhaps a marathon or half-marathon in late fall).

Cousin Swim Party



















This Sunday morning, I visited two churches: South Bay Calvary Chapel in Gardena and RockHarbor Church in Costa Mesa. A few observations:
* I lowered the average age at Calvary and raised it at RockHarbor. 
* With shorts and a Hawaiian shirt I felt underdressed at Calvary (lots of coats and ties) and about right at RockHarbor.
* Calvary had a wonderful diversity of ages and races; RockHarbor was predominantly young and white.
* Both churches made effective use of audiovisual technologies.
* Both churches made appeals for volunteers for a wide variety of ministries; I was especially impressed with the missional efforts in India, Mexico, and area childrens’ homes in which RockHarbor was heavily invested.
* Both churches are gearing up for VBS and both advertised a variety of activities for middle school and high school students.
* The worship at both services was led by a praise band -- there were moments during both services in which I connected with the lyrics but I deeply connected with RockHarbor’s emphasis upon confession and dependence on God.
* Women did not have a meaningful speaking role at either service -- I’m not sure if this was typical or exceptional.
* Calvary’s preacher used the King James Bible and RockHarbor’s the NIV. Both preachers based their sermons on a variety of scriptures.
* Nether church offered the Lord’s Supper for the entire congregation though RockHarbor made it available at the close of service; both took up an offering (duh!).
* I ran into four people I knew at RockHarbor, including Tadd Wooton’s brother Troy and his family (I performed their wedding 8 years ago). 
* Both churches are large: Calvary has about 10,000 members and RockHarbor 5,000. Though different in makeup and personality, both are obviously having a sizeable impact in their communities and beyond.

South Bay Calvary Chapel





















Fun Reunion: Troy and Shannon Wooton, Hudson and Finley


























P.S. While I was in Orange County, I had to return to my favorite Mexican food hole-in-the-wall, Taco Mesa. Yum!!!

Taco Mesa: Home of the best blackened chicken tacos on the planet