Church experts, cont'd

Some people have been wanting to know more of what I'm talking about in reference to my last post. I realize it's kind of vague, but to write about church and all the weird politics and issues that go along with it is very difficult. And I surely don't claim to have it all figured out. It wasn't until the last 3 or 4 years that I even had a clue about what goes on at a church outside of a Sunday morning service. And I still feel like an outsider much of the time, even though my wife is a pastor and I've seen and heard what goes on in the running of a church.
I wanted to include actual quotes that we've heard, but to do that wouldn't have been very discreet, even if I'd have left out the names. I'm not out to hurt someone's feelings. Well, I can put one in... We mentioned in a recent conversation that we have a lot of friends that we know are Christians but don't attend a church regularly, for whatever reason. The person we were talking to said, "If they aren't going to church, maybe they're not really Christians." This is another thing I don't get: how some people seem to think they know, by someone's actions, if that person is saved or not. I believe you can sometimes have a good idea, or suspicion, but how can anyone know? It seems like that's something only God and the individual knows for sure.
Some have also commented on the Johnny Cash lyrics. One person said, "what's wrong with being heavenly minded?" To that I say nothing is wrong with being heavenly minded, but if all you do is think about when this life is over and spending eternity in heaven, but you do nothing on earth to make it a better place, then that's no earthly good. I feel the song was written for busy-bodies and know-it-alls who gripe and complain about everyone else, but they themselves are no better.
The main thing is, I'm just frustrated that the church seems to be a lot like the world, in that it too has it's share of people who are self-centered, greedy, attention-seeking, petty, overly critical and full of selfish ambition. I've always thought that "church people" would be some kind of different. I never expected perfection, just a noticeable difference.
To be fair, I've met a lot of awesome and godly people at church too. But they are the exception. Maybe that goes along with what Jesus said about the road being narrow, and many being called but few being chosen.
I don't know, maybe I'll figure it all out someday. Maybe it's not for me to worry about...

Church: Everyone's an expert

This post was gonna be about some thoughts we've had lately - really over the last two years or so. It has to do with people; "church" people specifically. To be honest - they drive me crazy. I don't mean all Christians, I just mean "church" people. There's a distinction. They can be some of the most hurtful, manipulative and critical people you'd never suspect would be at a church. I'd written about a page worth of thoughts, but as I re-read it, it seemed disjointed and too long. Too long for this blog anyway. Basically, and without getting personal, here's what it was - in the short time I've been married to a pastor, and been a volunteer at a couple churches, and been around "church" people, I've seen and heard a few things that just make me scratch my head. So consider this a form of venting.
And Johnny Cash said it better than I could have, and in fewer words... Check out the lyrics to this song - "No Earthly Good."

Come hear me good brothers come hear one and all
Don't brag about standing or you'll surely fall
You're shinin' your light yes and shine it you should
You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good

Chorus:
No earthly good you are no earthly good
You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good
You're shinin' your light yes and shine it you should
You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good

Come here me good sisters, you're salt of the earth
If your salt isn't salted then what is it's worth
You could give someone a cool drink if you would
But you're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good

Chorus

If you're holdin' heaven then spread it around
There are hungry hands reaching up here from the ground
Move over and share the high ground where you stood
So heavenly minded and you're no earthly good

Chorus

No earthly good...

Ash Everywhere, Pool Ruined!

Check out our apt. complex pool and hot tub. Looks more like a pond, as a result of the winds and nearby fires. Julie is considering taking a swim now, if only for the exfoliating factor on her skin...

Santa Ana Winds & Malibu Fires

You've probably heard the news about the fires today in Malibu, which is about 20-25 min. away from Camarillo. The Santa Ana winds come every year from the desert to the So Cal area, and the fires were most likely started by electrical wires that had been blown down. A friend told us that arsonists or pyromaniacs will sometimes start the fires when the winds come so that they're harder to contain. They say the winds have been between 50-80 mph in some areas. The smoke has drifted our way, darkening the sky and dropping ash like a very light snowfall (see the pic of Julie's thumb). Right now I can smell smoke here in our apartment. We drove around a bit today, trying to see what we could see. Most of these shots are of the northern outskirts of Camarillo, and it was only about 2 in the afternoon and sunny when we took them.

There's Some Weird Trees In Californy, Pt. 1

California has a lot of different kinds of trees. Some are huge and majestic, others are pretty gnarly and just plain weird. Before we moved out here, I didn't know I liked trees so much. Maybe I was influenced by Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings books, in which trees play a big part. Here's a few that Loretta and I saw on a walk tonight at dusk, hence the slightly dim lighting. What the...?! This tree looks like it fell down or was cut down. It's actually fully alive and only laying down...
Weird roots! If you believe that God created and designed everything, as I do, then you may look at something like this and conclude, "God is weird." I mean that in a good way. For another example of His weirdness (or, His Weirdness...) check out Loretta's long ear.

Some more pics of where we live

Here's an outside view of our wing of the complex. That's our balcony with the guard dog peeking through the bars. ;)

This is the exercise room, which we used last night for the first time and nearly died.

The pool and hot tub, neither of which have we used, but it's nice to know they're there.

Community grill area, available to all Rosewood renters for individual use. We use it quite a bit.This is the lounge area in the rental office where you can go watch TV or play pool or use the computers. They also have little get-togethers or movie nights for all the renters.

My job

Here's where I work, Coastal Embroidery, for those who were wondering. These are the machines we use and in one you can see a letter jacket being sewn. The guy in the picture is one of my bosses, Don Tillquist. He and his son Brian run the business, although Brian is the actual owner.