Making Memories

Making Memories is a program at the Westlake church for kids and their Dads. Today the project was making a toilet paper snowman. Troy won the prize. This was followed by some other craft activities which we all enjoyed, including eating pancakes as is customarily done for Shrove Tuesday in some traditions.

In the afternoon, Bryan, Troy, Quinn and I went to a local ski area where there was adequate opportunity for sledding also. We had a great time, all acting like kids.

The first full day

With the help of a Unisom before going to bed last night, I slept until 10am. It's a gorgeous day today. We all walked to the French border to a little bicycle shop, Funny Bike, to have Troy's gear shifter adjusted. Unfortunately it would not open until 2pm (winter hours).

It's a relaxing afternoon-Stephanie working on a quilt, Bryan washing the car, Troy on the Mac, and Quinn bipping around. This morning she quietly asked me if she could use Grandma's laptop to play Solitaire. I was ready to set it up for her on the dining area table but she said she needed it on her lap in the reliner so that she could play Solitaire and watch TV at the same time. Now, where did she learn that?

The reason I travel

Sometimes Mohammed goes to the mountain (i.e. Bill goes to Bogis-Bossey) and sometimes the mountain comes to Mohammed (Lindsey, Lauren, Will, and Lilly will visit us in California this spring).

"Don't do that."

Our classis met this morning at Bell 1. This was a business meeting and standard business was handled very expeditiously under the able leadership of president Rev. Dan Brink. We chose delegates for 2009 and I was selected as 1st alternate elder delegate, which means I will go only if one of the two selected elder delegates is unable to attend.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Rev. Melvin Jackson for lunch. Melvin had told me after his attending Synod 2007, that Synod attendance had been a great experience for him and it made him realize that there's a fundamental difference between black people and Dutch people. Per Melvin, "When someone does something you don't like, black folks say, 'Don't do that.' , while Dutch people discuss it and then make a rule."

That's the beauty of attending Classis GLA events - people from many races, cultures and backgrounds working together for the glory of God.

Nanny Goats

It's time again for Eva's annual production of Nanny Goats. A couple of years ago, one of Eva's student teachers, made a scenic backdrop for the play and that has been used every year since. However, it does take a bit of work putting it up and making the stage in the multi-purpose room look like a meadow with a bridge under which a troll hides (a troll bridge?). Eva and I spent the morning at Starview School adjusting the scenery items and finding ways for this years production to be a big hit. Its actully fun making the scenery for a play when you know that all the attendees will be focusing on their kids and grandkids. They will much appreciate the many hours that Mrs. Postma put into making their kids successful in the 2009 production of "Nanny Goats".

I want what you've got!

At the gym this morning, as I'm straining at my last set of bicep curls, a guy comes up to me, hesitates, and then says, "I want what you've got." Was it my exhausted look, my glance at the clock wishing it was time to go home, or was it the inner peace I feel when I'm almost finished with the workout? None of these.

The guy pointed at his receding hairline and then pointed at my full head of hair. He explained that he's done a lot of research and his situation is caused by genetics. But he's not going to let it go at that. He's going to take action. This fall he is planning to invest $10K to have his scalp rejuvinated. With the treatment he is planning, the hair will be permanent.

My response, "Nothing's permanent." At this he did a double-take, seemed to become a bit reflective, and then went back to his workout. I got the impression that he was reconsidering what he might do with his $10K.

On a Clear Day ...

Clear skies after the recent rains left the southern California basin looking like paradise. I took the pictures from Hillcrest park in Fullerton - one looking at Mt Baldy, the other looking out to Catalina island - Twin harbors.

While the weather is great, the economic picture is still uncertain with potential difficulties anticipated in the future. But at least our state legislature and governor were able to get a budget passed yesterday.

River of Life

John Ortberg just gave me another great picture of the Christian life. God's spirit is a river and I am a tree planted by that river. My goal is to flourish by sending out my roots to partake of the water.

The Bible starts with the river flowing in the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10) and it ends with the river (Rev. 22:1) flowing from the throne. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7,8)

I love this picture!

Take some time to listen to John Ortberg's message from 2009-Jan-11.

Repair or Replace

It doesn't pay to be in a hurry. Last week I quickly loaded some paper in my printer, an MP600 (a multi-function unit) from Canon. The first sheet went in crooked, then crumpled, and then jammed the printer. I quickly pulled the partially torn sheet out the back of the printer hoping that no damage had been done. However, the printer hasn't worked since. In fact, I think the careless use of force in extracting the crumpled sheet bent some part of the feed mechanism and now I consistently get a message, "Obstuction in paper path".



My PC repair guy checked out the printer and said he couldn't see any obstruction and he didn't want to take it apart any further because he was afraid he wouldn't be able to reassemble it. He said the printers inexpensive and not made for service. The manufacturers make their money off the ink cartridges. His suggestion was to buy another MP600 via eBay so that I could use my existing cartridges.



I just placed a bid of $20 on a Canon MP600. With $22 in shipping charges, I could have a usable printer again for less than $50 (my original MP600 cost me approx. $140). An unexpected bonus to this activity is that I found out I had $144.80 sitting in my PayPal account, of which I was completely unaware.

Valentine's Day

I must be getting more mature. I spent the afternoon replacing a new part in the water softener. When it was all done and the water softener still didn't work, I decided to forget about it for this week and enjoy the evening. In times past this afternoon's failures would have followed me into the evening.

Eva and I didn't go out for dinner but enjoyed some pizza and then watched "Love in the Time of Cholera". I especially enjoyed the movie for two reasons. One, at times the movie seemed like a caricature of my relationship with Eva and two, the scenery was reminiscent of my two weeks in Granada, Nicaragua with granddaughter, Lindsey, in 2007.

It was a good movie for today.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is Saturday, Valentine's day. I usually take Eva out for dinner for Valentine's day but that may not work on a Saturday. So I decided to buy her some flowers and bring them to her at school.

First I went to Barnes and Noble at Bella Terra for a card and then to a local flower shop. I found a terrific arrangement of red roses with greenery in a stunning vase. With that in hand, I went to Star View School. I entered Eva's classroom just as the kids were wrapping up their morning lessons and getting ready for lunch.

I had a chance to talk to the kids and told them that Mrs. Postma and I have been married for over 40 years (gasps!) and that I knew her very well and I had something to share with them.
First, that she is the smartest person I know and second, that she is the best teacher I know.

I asked them if they also agreed and they reponded with rousing cheers of affirmation!

A Day of Success

What a great day! I ran a couple of miles and then finished the morning with further reading of both Soul Feast and Influencer. This afternoon I installed the new pendant lights that hang over the kitchen island. And in the evening, I updated the Anaheim CRC website with pictures of Pastor Joel Van Soelen's ordination.







What a relief to have a day where everything seems to goes right.

"Influencer - The power to change anything"

This book is from the authors of "Crucial Conversations", which I read at the Barnes and Noble in Princeton after Bryan told me about it. I have started it and hope that it will give me more insight into implementing change (you'll be releaved to know that I'll start with myself).

I changed my plans for today after talking with John last night. The weather in No. California is stormy and I sense David is having a rough time so I postponed my trip - probably until after my trip to Switzerland in March.

I also talked with Jo today and would like to see her and Duane but that will have to wait. They are continuing to struggle with Ken and his demons. I wish I could help her as I did as a kid - when it was cold at night I would warm up her side of the bed for her.

"Soul Feast" - Marjorie J. Thompson

"Soul Feast" arrived today. I ordered it via Amazon after Pastor Joel mentioned the practice of creating a personal rule of life. This was required at Calvin Seminary and he's considering promoting it for our whole congregation but wants to see how the Council reacts to it first.

It is essentially a statement of how you practice the spiritual disciplines and you tailor it toward your unique gifts and challenges. Calvin Seminary has provided a brief description of a Personal Rule of Life on the web.

I love getting a new book and have finished chapter 1, The Spiritual Yearning of our Time, already. One of the statements I underlined (p.12) was, "If we wish to see, name, and love Christ 'in the flesh' of daily existance, we will eventually need some kind of intentional practice of spiritual discipline."

I think it is time I start developing a Personal Rule of Life.

Out of this World Rainbow

Today was a holiday for schoolteachers - celebrating Abe Lincoln's birthday. It rained most of the day and it felt good to be indoors - dry and warm. Eva took the opportunity to update the scrapbook albums that she is trying to keep current for the grandkids (this is the only time she wishes there were less than six) while I spent most of the day in my office reading and working on the computer.

The rain reminded me of the rainbow we saw Saturday afternoon as we drove to Costa Mesa for SCR. While on the 5 freeeway, as we passed the 57 interchange, there was the most brilliant rainbow to the east - a full rainbow, extremely bright at each end as it touched the earth. And to make it even more impressive there was another rainbow above it, not complete and not as bright but the colors were in reverse order. Spectacular! It was the type of sight that made me think of what the earth might look like once God restores it to the beauty that he originally intended.

What Is God Calling You To Do?

This morning Joel Van Soelen preached his first sermon as an ordained pastor. His text was Genesis 12:1-9 --God's call to Abram. How or when Abram received that call we don't know, but in v1 we read, "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people, your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'

Abram had to step out in faith and that is what God calls us to do also - as individuals and as a church body. What has God called me to do? What has God called Anaheim CRC to do?

Student of the week uses unfair tactics

Eva and I went to the Fish Co. for dinner tonight. My favorite story from Eva's experiences of the week was today's selection of student of the week. This is a Friday ritual and generates a lot of excitement with each student having hunches and premonitions about their chance of being selected for this honor. Last week's student of the week dips their hand into the basket containing all the student's names and selects the new honoree.

Today, Alyssa was sure that she would be selected. She normally wears a slight scowl but now she was full of eager anticipation. The drawing was held. And the winner was -- Maya.
Alyssa was furious and her normal scowl was now full-fledged anger. "Maya? Why Maya?" she yelled. Then she turned to Maya and bellowed, " No fair! I know what you did. You prayed. And that's just not fair".

This is the life in a first grade classroom - where all the girls strong, all the boys good looking and the teacher is definitely above average.

What pulls at your heart?

This afternoon I was driving on the 91 Fwy and was listening to my mp3 player to a message given by John Ortberg. He told the story of a business man who recently made trip to Uganda to see villages devestated by HIV/AIDS. In one village, he was taken to a hut where a 13 year old boy lived taking care of his 2 younger brothers. In front of the hut there was a pile of stones marking the grave of his mother - died of AIDS - and another pile of stones marking the grave of his father - died of AIDS. The man then asked the boy if he had a Bible. Yes, the boy said. And can you read it? The boy's face lit up as he said, "Yes. And I especially like the gospel of John because it says that Jesus loves children."

I almost had to pull over to calm down.

And even now, as I'm writing this, just thinking about the story and my reaction gets to me .

Slow down and save $

Today was a morning to run and workout but I changed my routine so that I could get through to the Municipal Court in Westminster re: my 12/31 speeding ticket (62mph in a 45 mph zone). Yesterday I tried to call them over 30 times and always got a busy signal. Today I called at 7am, just as they opened for business. Success - sort of.

I was able to speak to a clerk right away. I told her I would like to pay for the citation and attend traffic school to keep my record clean and she said, "Fine, that will be $319.50."

I paid and went for a run to put this unfortunate situation behind me.

No radiation recommended

It's been just over a year since my operation - radical prostatectomy. Today I saw my urologist, Dr. Chuang, and discussed the next step. Since my PSA is less than 0.1, he says there's no need for treatment - just monitor the PSA semi-annually for the next 4 years.

I'm thankful for not being tied down to a regular job, for feeling physically fit, and for having grandkids in foreign lands (Switzerland and Texas) that I get to see multiple times during the year. I leave for Geneva on February 25, returning March 14. And then 2 days later, I'll be able to welcome Lindsey, Lauren, William, and Lilly to Anaheim for their Spring break.

God is good!

Tree Trimming

The mulberry trees in the church courtyard will be pruned tomorrow by Dick Van Eck Sr. and crew. They are experts at stripping these trees of all branches so that there is no natural shade in the courtyard until July. Since it is possible to trim trees and leave some branches that will produce shade quickly, I went to church this afternoon to demonstrate a technique that Tony VanderBaan suggested. As I trimmed one section, little Jonah Van Soelen (4 yrs) watched and then started collecting the "sticks". He told his mom that he wanted to stay in the courtyard and help Billpostma (one word). He thinks that's my first name.

Joel Van Soelen Ordination

The ordination of our new pastor, Joel Van Soelen occurred during morning worship service. The message was delivered by Rev. David Deeters, Joel's pastoral mentor during his seminary years. The message was about John the Baptist being a model for Joel, and for us in the congregation, as he enters the ministry. This is based on the words of Jesus, "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. Matt. 11:11. It was an interesting and memorable message.

After the service we had a potluck lunch in the courtyard. I asked for a blessing on the meal and in preparation for that was plagued by the recurring thought that I should included comments about "locusts and wild honey". However, the only comment I made about foreign food was for people to try some of the Cuban delicacies provided by members of Mirtha's congregation.