Sunday,
September 3, 2006
Pastor Kok III's
Sunday Message:
Sacramento
Golden Gate Bridge,
San Francisco
Sacramento/San Francisco Blog
August 30 to September 3, 2006
Please note: I include “local color” in the blog—meaning I write what I see as I pass by.This does not mean I endorse it or condone it. It’s just a way of showing the “local color”—realism. In fact, I do not endorse homosexuality or sexual licentiousness; but when I see something I see something. I don’t gloss over it.
Passing by Pyramid Lake, Visitors Center-1038 am. Five freeway towards Sacramento. Smoky Bear Road. Approaching Hungry Valley. See a lot of scorched land alongside the freeway. Major fire here at some point recently, no vegetation remains. No grass, no trees, no bushes, just black and brown Hungry valley exit closed, painting lines on exit and entrance, needed a break. Got gas for $2.85. Fort Tejon State Historical park at 11;11 a.m. Exit Fort Tejon. Tejon Fields.
Ready to go Memorial Day DVD to Dorothy Direct Bank Specialist at Huntington Bank , to Rick Mele at the County Assessors Office, and to Bruce Goodman Attorney at Varnum , from Lebec alongside the 5 freeway. 1125 am. Fort Tejon was the end of the camel trail from San Antonio Texas, they used 77 camels to transport military supplies. Beauty of these hills as you leave LA –picturesque. [see
Fort Tejon http://www.forttejon.org/ ]
Got off Murray Family Farms exit—fruit stand but nothing that great, also fudge. 1202 pm. Mary Beth was the name of Andy’s girlfriend in Bellflower. Picked up a Subway Sandwich around 1240 –turkey and ham—gas cheap at $2.87 now passing Kern Wildlife Refuge Turnoff. Still heading on the 5 north. Picked up sub . now pssing Los Hills Paso Robles exit. Entering Kings County 112 pm. Lots of scorched land as I drive north, in the median as well, blackened spots. Rest area at 144 pm. Leaving rest area. 146 pm.
Lots of scorched land—mile after mile. Pea Soup Andersons—a great stopping place along freeway 5. They have free bread & cheese and clean restrooms. And they are famous for their Pea Soup which I’ve ordered to go a few times but not today. I don’t find it to be all that great to be honest. 330 pm leaving Pea Soup Andersons [see http://www.psamgmtco.com/restaurant/html/psoup.html
and http://mysite.verizon.net/ressnm4z/id5.html ]
Got gas at the Pilot for $2.95 gallon. A few pictures, let Lola walk. 341 pm 99 miles to San Francisco. To Scott Vanderwell in Ann Arbor “give chance at redemption..’just ask nicely” . that’s at 353 pm. .. ride along river, 5 freeway north. Response to John Steigenga who wrote in subject line “please note” .. to John I reminded him of the Peters family at LaGrave CRC. And to Raymond Blacketer in Cutlerville Mi—pasteor there.. 2000 young pastor. Stopped at Cesar Chavez Park ..first stop in Sacramento 559 pm at I and 10th st. Gold Rush Days are September 1 to 4 here [
See http://www.sacramentolifestyle.com/Gold_Rush/Gold_Rush.html
http://www.calgoldrush.com/ http://www.gotouring.com/razzledazzle/articles/oldsac.html ]
Response from Emily—the model in Santa Monica GRCh 1972 She’s an Eagle/Knight! Leaving the capitol building over to Old Sacramento [see http://www.oldsacramento.com/ . ] Old Town O’Gradys old Time Photos. Too Grand Saloon.
California military museum, City Café, getting ready for Gold Rush Days, Steamers, Indo Café, Centra Pacific Railroad Depot, Gallery of American West closed, River City Tattoo, Round Table Pizza, 730 pm. , Rocky Mt Chocolate Factory, Leather Factory, Capitol Ink, Tatoo & Body Piercing, Old Sac Candy Barrel, Visitors Center, Man on horse—the Pony Express. Tents set up for Gold Rush Days . Railroad Museum, also Greek Festival. Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento Memorial Auditorium...
Tour of the Capitol Building: [see
http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/english/index.html ]
Partial Transcript: " early 1900’s.. couple of things. Victorian era early 1900’s they’ve been working for 22 hours straight, , they are sleep deprived. But could make for some interesting things. ..were going to start with the senate..built between 1860(?) and 1874
Make it look like it did in the early 1900’s… either one of these windows.. as well .. as .. very helpful used to be . had stacks of paper this big around their desk, bill their working on, letters from constituents, now it’s all in pdf format, shoot of e-mail, in senate .. they can have their e-mail privileges revoked—see how easy it is to see what is on their screens.. is that a truck, looking at ebay..
electronically.. don’t want to confuse our legislators..green yes, red no.. 80 in the assembly, 40 in the senate, don’t know if we’ll get a chance to go in there, it’s smaller and it’s red. They don’t vote electronically in there, they do it by roll call. Here 40,000 each, they represent about 1,000,000, controversy about re-districting, an amendment here ended up dying. One of the most powerful offices, speaker of the assembly –runs this room like a teacher in the classroom, the seats are assigned by the speaker of the assembly.
To leave the room they have to ask for permission. They have to have a hall pass, if absent, They need note to be absent. … and he can hold them in detention. Rule here all have to vote—not always enforced, sometimes—it’s called a “lockdown” .. sleeping on the floor, once somebody escaped.
I don’t want to bother these folks any more.. I think she’s.. probably in his office, getting ready.. .. .. governors office, nothing left, no old.. that is about the biggest back stab you can give somebody.. lended up during the Japanese restitution.. [she mentioned the governor who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice—Warren—he was in favor of Japanese internment but later said it was the biggest mistake of his life]
Painted by Nathan Matthews—depicts California history, the native American era .. development of California.. over there is ..time machine and then go back to ancient Venice.. towers..nothing really. Who is the statute of here? Mini-Columbus.
Did you see the Columbus up stairs? In the rotunda? Any other questions. Senate—always open if they are in session..these people are public servants. They work for us. You will have to turn in your camera. When in there, quiet. You can’t lean over the side. No feeding the legislators [ha ha] . 3rd floor. [the doors aren’t open yet]
There is one person in California who has to get permission before he can go in.. do you know who that is? The Governor [I said]. Who? The governor. Yup. There was one governor who went in without being invited and was immediately kicked out. Look at the portraits—can you tell who it might have been? Jerry Brown. .. yup. Ronald Reagan had just built a .. but Jerry Brown said no—and lived in a small apartment. Drove his old Buick. ..
He refused to have his picture taken? No. these are paintings. these are all paintings? Wow.. yeah they are acrylic /oil… what are they doing out there? I know its not an anti-war protest. It’s economic recovery. Where’s Ronald Reagan –in front of what building? The Capitol. Duekmejin—inside the Capitol. Grey Davis near the Capitol ?NO—near Pt Lomo (?) you want to know what painting was almost taken down because it was so controversial? 1930’s .. light colored, outside, and smiling.. governors at the time—were supposed to look like that [pointing at a [portrait of a grim-faced governor dressed in black by his desk with papers in his hand] Richards.. dark, indoors, paper in one hand showing they are working. This painting broke the way for new style of portraits. Im going to poke my head in here and see.
Thought: Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life” ---the fact it sold so many copies—reveals the thirst for theological transcendence in a grounded concrete way. The only real “purpose driven” activities are good—and they are good for others---and the Body of Christ is involved—no Lone Rangers. Intentionalism is another way to talk about it. Striving to make things better. With others. Some alone—but combined and united with others. Going beyond the minimum—beyond the job requirements. People can see it and feel it—it’s not just words and not just the minimum. 110% or more . Pray for Scott Vanderwell and John Steigenga. Kosters family. Holwerdas--,
Postcards ready to go: Old Governors Mansion to Steve Brinks , Shirley Zink, Brian Kok, Steve Kok; Capitol Bldg to Jim & Linda, Gary Kok, Andy Kok; Arnold Postcard to Bob & Cindy, Kevin Vredeveld, Andersons and to Dave Dejong. And to Shelly the supervisor at Lincoln St PO [note re. her inappropriate comment the other day]
August 31, 2006 two more Memorial Day DVD’s to go –to Jonathon Anderson Varnum and to William Doornbos Varnum from Sacramento PO—Fort Sutter Station at 710 a.m. on August 31, 2006 slept in parking lot near P & Alhambra . picked up coffee at Café Au Lait at 21st & P. stopped in at Newsbeat & Café Connection across from the Capitol Building. Saw the assembly in session—the last day of the year did she say? Roll call at 10:30 but not too many were there. He went straight down the list without hesitation.
I connected with Ted Roelofs by e-mail [who writes for the GR Press]. He’s my mother’s cousin. He grew up in Wisconsin. His mother lived in Wisconsin as an adult but she grew up in Holland along with Leo [Leo Peters, my grandfather] . Ted’s mother met her husband, Gene, at Calvin College.
Ted Roelof’s sister is named Gene Ann, which explains my confusion from my mom’s photo album—thinking she made a mistake. I send him an e-mail with two photo attachments of him as a child [just happened to have them on my computer].
Leaving McKinley Park at 12 noon. It’s a big grassy park—reminds me of Garfield Park in Grand Rapids. I respond to an e-mail from Sandra Pleune. It turns out she is the sister of Jim & Joe Pleune. She says, “They are blessed”—not explaining what she means and I just responded to her saying we used to go over to their house across from GRCH and puff on a few cigarettes during break, adding that I don’t condone smoking . I used to take a few puffs socially at parties but never was a real “smoker.” Just like my mom & dad drink alcohol occasionally—but I wouldn’t call them alcoholics.
I got gas at the Bon Faire at Alhambra & Y—also Broadway—a 3 way intersection, right across from the Salvation Army. Roy Robinson ..Community Center . Passed by Sacramento , at 215 pm. Now passing Raley Field—must be minor league team. Stopped at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament—beautiful Church. ( see http://www.cathedralsacramento.org/ ,http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/ )
And then I head over to Old Sacramento—planning on a River Otter boat ride. I park my car and leave it running because I have video recording inside. I walk my dog at a grassy lot 100 feet from my car and as I do I notice two police officers on horses by Candy Heaven scrutinizing my car.
I wonder what they are looking at so I walk back over and say “That’s my car, what’s the matter?” The gal was nice the guy a jerk: he growled at me about leaving my car running while not in it “This is the #5 city in the nation for stolen cars.”
I said, “My car is locked—I have an extra set of keys” He growled back, apparently oblivious to what I just said: “ They don’t care who they run over if they steal your car and we don’t want to chase them. It is illegal to leave your car running in the city. “355 pm. “Yes sir” I responded. I wondered if it really was illegal.
E-mail response to Sarah Hoekwater Chicago nursing program GRCH 1995 , ten years younger than me. To Neil deKoning in Woody Knook, Alberta. Found Frank Sisung—from PRCH—he married Barb Boorsma who works at Nordic Products –an administrative manager they live in Alto Michigan she was GRCH 1980 E-mail to David Duthler president of Duthler Foods GRCh 1982. 436 pm. Old Sacramento.
Partial Transcript of the Captain on the River Otter: The Tower Bridge is a Lift Bridge—like a giant elevator, operator is up on top, counterbalanced weights. [ see
http://home.pacbell.net/hywaymn/tower_bridge_history.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge_(California)
http://geography.about.com/library/photos/blzz33.htm . propellers.. blue charter service almost exclusively—with captain and crew Spirit of Sacramento does 1 , 2, 3 hour runs.. they also give parties. Their 2 and 3 hour includes meals. Hotel no longer operational built in 1921? .. hotel. Restaurant, lounge .. meeting room.
Delta King & Queen .. during WWII were commandeered as hospital ships. Delta Queen still operates on Mississippi .. not able to be resurrected. .. floating hotel. Mystery Theatre—sometimes in there sometimes in spirit of Sacramento too. You run every day? Every day until Monday. Monday’s a holiday. Monday is our last full operational day.. Friday Saturday Sunday until the end of October..
[there’s several “special” people on the boat—i.e. developmentally disabled] —oh yeah that breeze is nice.. train is coming.. still serves to this very day, trains. Handle both Amtrak and freight. And this is a Swing bridge.. 90 degrees. Originally called the_________ now called the I St. Bridge.[train coming right now perfect timing]
Original 1911 gears, the electric motors have been replaced. We are now accelerated to full speed. Sacramento’s new water intake 186 million gallons per day.. 5 to 8% of Sacramentos water needs. Series of numbers bottom of.. we were at high this year at 28 feet. Record high 36 feet..importance of river. State of art facility—take needs into 22nd century remotely operated and monitored.
Appears to be original pump station for city water built in 1903 along with first electric plant, .. do something with that building? Taken for.. last month.. proposals , make final decisionj, gather money, has to be compliant with .. pcb at loow levels. No sleeping quarters allowed—must be retail or garage, something elevated. Sell it until … oops we can’t sell this.. Sacramento river, suddenly a line, clear blue water—that’s the American River. “Oh I see what you mean” [says the special fellow across from me]
It’s 5 to 8 degrees colder than the Sacramento—parkway all the way to Folsom Lake, 28 miles, primary mission not recreation—primary is flood control, levy system to do that, people standing on top of.. secondary levee is guarding the highway.. river goes up.. volume & velocity, gently enter Sacramento River, no longer need it for flood control, recreation, golf course, fish hatchery, county and state park system, continuous bike path 31 miles to Folsom Lake all off the road. Also includes equestrian trials, mountain bike, mid 60’s flood control for American River.
Getting hot? I’ll cool you off, going around, like the watercraft.. personal watercraft trying to figure out what we’re doing, just like we’re trying to figure out what they are doing.. every day, figure something illogical. . people who bought Anyone getting off at the Virgin Sturgeon [a floating restaurant] . Around the corner, how to get down from the parking garage, anybody recognize it..? from the airport—it’s an airline ramp.
Land on other side of levy is below river level most of the year, rainy days, that land needs to be de-watered drainage ditches takes the water, six big pumps.. out to the Sacramento river. Irrigation variety of services. Golf course.. used to go up to_____..no longer restaurant in November it sank, along with______ It demolished most of it.. waiting for approval to build another restaurant.. straight ahead.. river view customs starts at 1.5 million.
See the tree in the shadows. Bark stripped away—five to 8 feet.. beaver tree. Beaver munches..but most of the time it is under the restaurant eating tortilla chips from tourists.. about 30 pounds overweight, talk about our “growing America” includes our wildlife. Don’t want to run over at High speeds.. just below the surface.. wide open. Right hand side. May see a blue heron.. coyote raccoon, river rat, … ballistic.. up here.
Up above, three feet above.. only 3 feet. Boat from Gulf of Mexico—the Annabelle, 105 feet long 8000 gallons of fuel, 3 big engines, most of below deck is maintenance and engine room, two small double state rooms, two bunk beds, tiny head off the galley.. serious off shore boat.. with that you could go to Hawaii.. chain saws.. block that area, clear the debris.. big stuff.. anything in its path.. go back to keep somebody in there at all times 7 to 10.. unless special charter they get overtime.. who pays them? Cal Trans. For the services its Cal Trans. All .. downriver as well. Lot of bridge crossings, most are drawbridges. Lower Sacramento Valley.. couple of lifts, on lower Sacramento, I have not been up river very far. One thing is I don’t have a summer vacation. My wife has to tell me to turn the cell phone off at night otherwise I would be busy 24/7. [yeah right, tough job, driving the boat up and down the river all day]
Back from the River Otter at 610 pm.--, passing by Hard Rock Café Sacramento. Hotel Marshall.
The next day, Friday, September 1, 2006—I walked through the streets of Old Town Sacramento—first day of Gold Rush Days. The streets are covered with dirt, and horses and wagons, and cowboys, etc, roam the streets.
Lots of booths—with different activities—a blacksmith, a young girl playing violin, a man playing banjo, old-fashioned rootbeer samples, a shootout in the street. I stop in at the Visitors Center and ask for a list of activities and just as I do an older man and his wife step in and ask about something.
The lady at the visitors center responds testily and they get in an argument. Last time I stopped in at the visitors center I observed some negative behavior from some of the employees as well. There is a certain sort of localism in Sacramento which can sometimes become supercilious—even when they are working—some of them tend to think of themselves as overly-entitled local yokels.
Leaving Old Sacramento I go over to Discovery Park which is located at the intersection of the American & Sacramento River (see http://www.sacparks.net/our-parks/american-river-parkway/
It’s a great park, with lots of access to the river. And it’s a hot day so I let Lola go swimming while I prepare for the Sunday Message. Lots of photos to upload and attach to the e-mail message.
But I take time to go swimming as well. The water is cool, but not too cold for swimming. Lots of “skimboarders” along the waterfront. It’s a popular activity these days. I leave for the post office around 11:00 a.m. and drop off the mail I had. Then I go back to Discovery Park. I spend most of the day at Discovery Park, and later in the afternoon drive through downtown Sacramento and stop at a Starbucks—I’m still doing my sociological study of Starbucks—noting the music, types of customers, and the clerks. That’s a message I’ll be delivering in the future.
Saturday, September 2, 2006—I decide to head to San Francisco for the Labor Day Weekend. Saying that always make me think of the Jimmy Buffet song “heading up to San Francisco for the Labor Day Weekend show, I got my hush puppies on…” I never listened to a lot of Jimmy Buffet growing up but know a few of his songs—some of them not appropriate for children. I actually spent time in southern California evangelizing at a popular concert venue—the Verizon Ampitheatre—where Jimmy Buffet seems to come on tour at least once a year.
The faithful buffet fans always show up with their costumes and flowery Hawaiian shirts and party in the parking lot for several hours before the concert. I’m there with my pocket Bibles and Christ My Pilot Cards—most of the evangelizing I do is “under the windshield” after they go in to the concert. Face-to-face evangelism doesn’t work in these settings—when they are putting down their 5th or 6th or 12th beer—they are not in much of a mood for talking about God and discipleship.
Those who know me or knew me when I was younger —also know that evangelizing at concerts is new for me—I used to be one of those enjoying the secular concerts as much as anybody else when I was younger. That’s what God will do to you—totally transform your life. By the way, I got an e-mail from Scott Brill—a former classmate of mine from GRCH ! Talk about Jimmy Buffet fans—he had to be one of the #1 fans growing up. He’s a great guy and so is his brother, Rick. I hope the two of them are doing well and growing in Christ.
And that brings me to the topic of alcohol. The Reformed tradition is not anti-alcohol, like the Baptist denomination. IN fact, the CRC in Canada is known for being fairly heavy drinking and smoking church goers (or used to be).There used to be a joke about the CRC "coffee hour" in Canada--not always coffee they were drinking.
I personally don’t drink at all anymore and never smoked in a regular way—only a few puffs now and then. I just say “be careful” about drinking or smoking—even if you say it’s in moderation it can lead to addiction. Be careful. Abstinence is still the best choice—but I don’t believe it should be mandated as it is in the Baptist church.
picked up oil at the Valero --$4 for a quart. 50 cents charge for using debit card. Now in West Sacramento at 8 a.m. see an Auto Zone, Kragen, Cash Gas- $2.85, heading towards San Francisco. Picked up oil at Rite-Aid in W. Sacramento—Latonya was the clerk. Robert & Magrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts at UC Davis.
Nice creek passes through the campus. 826 a.m. made the drop for EDD . Three hot-air balloons in the distance. Pass the Jelly Belly turnoff—the factory where they make the famous jelly beans. Response to Ellen DeVries at Ivanrest CRC. Passing over the Carqunez Bridge, Carqunez Strait, 915 a.m. California Maritime Academy and St. Peters Chapel—not far from here. Exit Pinole. Picked up soda at 7-11. Entering Albany at 942 a.m
Entering San Francisco I can see the Golden Gate Bridge from across the bay . Approaching Berkeley at 943 a.m I can see the outline of downtown San Francisco 80 freeway south, approaching Bay Bridge. Paid the $3 toll for Bay Bridge. I see the Trans America Building—the pyramid building . Now I’m right up next to it at 1010 a.m Jackson Square Historic District. At Sansome & Pacific. Starbucks right next to TransAmerica and one block away another Starbucks—both on Clay Street.
Passed by the Embarcadero Center—now on the road. Past Pier 1 , Port of San Francisco. Past the Fog City Diner. Stairs up to the Coit Tower. Lots of XXX stores on Broadway St at Columbus. The “Little Darlings” Theatre (xxx). Leaving Coit Tower (see http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casfmenu/a/coittower.htm ) at 11:30. Supposed to be a tour of the murals at 11 am but the guide didn’t show up. I took the elevator ride to the top of Coit Tower for $3.75—no fog today—clear view. Lots of tourists.
Street Singer: “ I’m wild again, beguiled again, whimpering simpering again, bewitched , bothered and bewildered am I. I couldn’t sleep. And wouldn’t sleep. Until I could sleep where I shouldn’t sleep. Bewitched bothered and bewildered am I. Thank you so much .
Lost my heart but whatever, my mistake I agree. Ahh she’s such a laugh and I love it, although the laughs on me. I‘ll sing to her, bring spring to her, and I worship the… that clings to her, bewitched, bothered, and bewildered am I. Well she slept enough, she’s kept enough, and yet where it counts she’s adept enough, bewitched bothered and bewildered am I.
When she talks she is seeking words to get off her chest, horizontally speaking ahh she’s at her very best thank you so much, I have seen a lot , mean a lot, and now a lot like 17 a lot, bewitched bothered and bewildered..
before you get offended Rogers &.. lyric, I didn’t write it , vexed again, perplexed again, oversexed again, bewitched bothered and bewildered am I. Thank you —I stayed up until 2 am learning that.. have a hunch no one’s going to be doing remakes of Britney Spears in 60 years or may be they will. I’ll be gone by then, no doubt about that. Back in 1968 I was a kid here —used to be the most wound up obnoxious guy in town .. world needed shaking up.. now I’m singing.. “
I’m on the Cable Car—heading up Hyde towards Lombard. At Lombard I jump off and walk back down. I pick up eight cable car postcards for $1 and go back to my car.
Cable car postcard to Pete Harkema, Bosschers, MVG, Andersons, MacQuarries, Bellflower Koks, Jack Jr, Gary Kok, . made the postcard drop from Mason & North Point Street drop box , across from Best Western . Lombard Ave is not actually the crookedest st some say--.Cathedral of St. Mary at Gough St & Gehry—beautiful big building. At McAllister & VanNess there’s the Theatre Gallery, Library Museum, and a beautiful building on the left—which is City Hall. Found some steep streets around 20th & Vicksburg. 345 pm.
Park at 19th & Dolores—Dolores Park—packed with people, some doing hula hoops, some lying out in the sun, I look it up on the web and it says this about it: “popular relaxing people, many people, particularly gay men hang out at the southern end-giving it the nickname “Speedo Ridge” or “Delores Beach” among some locals. There’s two women holding hands walking down the street.
And more xxx shops “Sin City “ near Taylor & Golden Gate. “Crazy Horse Gentleman’s Club” [shame on them] now heading towards Golden Gate park. Railway Museum at Steuart St near Embarcadero. Poked my head in. Right next to St. Patricks Church is a place called “Beard Papas’—sweet & natural cream puffs—a line for the cream puffs but not for church –which is holding a service on Saturday evening. More triple xxx Golden Gate Adult Superstore at Mission & 6th. Barbary Coast another XXX store at 9th & Mission.
And here is Haight Ashbury (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haight-Ashbury ) at 502 pm.—lots of people here, lots of shops. This was the hey day place for hippies of the 60’s and where musical groups such as Grateful Dead started, as well as Jefferson Airplane (Starship), and Janis Joplin. They all lived in this area according to _ And there's the Soul Patch store.
At the corner of Haight Ashbury today is a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Here’s a store called Pipe Dreams that sells drug paraphernalia. And Dreams of Katmandu—not sure what that is. Beautiful thin Victorian style houses at Central & Page on Central St. These Victorian houses were originally cheap rent for hippies back in the 60’s. There’s “Fat Slice” –a pizza shop. Red Victorian Restaurant & Bed & Breakfast. Land of the Sun. Escape from New York Pizza-Hot Slices. Not much parking available on the side of the street. Cold Steel America—Tattoos & Piercing. Rock n Java Coffee House. Amoeba Music (huge sign).
And here’s Golden Gate Park, right next to the Haight Ashbury neighborhood-. Supposed to be larger than Central Park in New York. Lawn bowling. National Aids Memorial Grove. Statute of General Grant with his head doused in white pigeon droppings. And here’s the DeYoung Museum. Also the Japanese Tea Garden. And that’s only a little bit of Golden Gate Park. I’ll come back later.
Stopped in at the 6th St Taco Bell and ordered a couple burritos to go. I haven’t eaten all day. There’s a place called “Pizza Orgasmica—the Original Sin. We Never Fake It” at 10th & Clement [shame on them]. Now entering the Douglas Mac Arthur Tunnel at 552 pm.
630 pm. I’m at the Golden Gate Bridge and I’m going to walk it. There’s a place to park and view the Golden Gate and I pull in . I don’t have enough quarters to keep the meter going so I’ll have to take my chances. I wonder how long it takes to walk across the bridge and back? Well, now I know—it’s 7:36 pm and I’m back ! It’s a great walk, and it’s clear today—no fog. Back in the car and looking for a place to sleep. I sleep in my car by the way—so I’m looking for a good place to park –where I won’t be bothered. END BLOG, BEGIN WORSHIP
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Good Morning, It is Sunday September 3, 2006 and I am sitting next to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco ! It’s been a great few days in central-northern California—most of it in Sacramento (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) and now the last two days (Saturday, Sunday) in San Francisco . And you can see and read from the blog (above) and pictures (below) what I observed and experienced. And last night to end the week I walked across the Golden Gate ! It was a great walk—took about an hour and the air was cool and clear. Very nice.
Let’s begin the worship service with a few songs:
Song: Hail Happy Morning !
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/a/hailhapp.htm
Song: Hallelujah ! Jesus Lives !
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/j/hjelives.htm
Song: He is Coming Again !
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/e/heiscoma.htm
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Blessings ! Praise Your Holy Name! And I am grateful to You for giving me a safe trip so far without incident. My car is still running well and I am relatively healthy—healthy enough to hike Mt. Whitney this summer and to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and back last night. Thank You Lord. And thank you for giving us this beautiful day—wherever we are we can find beauty in the day—because it is Your day. And Lord I ask for Your blessing upon today’s morning message. Give me the words to say, the thoughts to think, the feelings to feel—and to deliver a message to others across the nation and around the world which will be edifying and inspiring and informational to them. Let me not compromise Your Word, Lord, for the sake of appeasing others. Give me the strength to deliver Your message with integrity and truth. Hear my Prayer Oh Lord. And for those who receive my message—I ask for Your blessings upon them Lord. Give them renewed strength to keep doing Your Will—to not grow weary of doing good, until that day when You take them to be with You Lord. Hear my Prayer, in Jesus’ name, Amen. !
Scripture: 1 Cor 6:9-11
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" NKJV
I was not actually intending to preach on this topic today—but being here in San Francisco it seems to behoove me to speak about it now—the matters of sexual licentiousness, including, or maybe especially—homosexuality. As much as we have become a “politically correct” nation we must , as Christians, continue to speak candidly about the intentions of God for His people; and being God’s people I believe we have the right and obligation to speak up for the rest of the world and try to create a community worldwide that reflects God’s purpose –not just the Christian community per se.
There are those who say—the heathen world will live as they must, but we live differently. I say we encourage and try to disciple the “heathen world” with the hope that they can change. Therefore, we, as Christians, do not endorse XXX shops or “gentleman” clubs. Nor do we, as Christians, endorse homosexuality and frivolous lifestyles.
Various churches and denominations are now allowing “homosexual pastors” –but I say that is an oxymoron. If you are a person in Christ you are not homosexual or inclined in such regards to be homosexual. This trend in denominations—down the very SLIPPERY SLOPE—is increasingly bothersome and frightening.
The real church—the true people of God seem to becoming a smaller and smaller circle of believers; when in fact we should be going in the opposite direction—enlarging the Kingdom of God—in Spirit and in Truth. But we can’t do it by compromising the Word of God.
In the above passage Paul speaks about the problem of sexual licentiousness (“adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals” etc) . He is very clear that this sort of behavior is not part of God’s intentions for His people.
And yet some churches seem to be increasingly “tolerant” (as if that is a good thing) about bad behavior. “Tolerance” has been preached to us so much by those trying to lead us astray—that if you are not tolerant of everything you are a bad person. The only problem is that these people who preach tolerance are not tolerant of true Christians. They are not tolerant of intolerance.
Don’t get me wrong—I don’t like the “church lady” personality that they depict ( or used to) on shows like Saturday Night Live or the totally negative and critical church personality who is always finding the failures in others. That sort of personality has actually created an opening for the “tolerance” preachers because the negative personality is so difficult to be around (remember I mentioned the library lady at Fuller Seminary? That’s a good example. She's the kind that makes me want to go smoke a cigarette just to prove that I'm not a "Christian" like her). By the way, my dad admitted in a letter he wrote a few years ago to smoking cigarette butts with a few friends as kids that they found by the church while growing up in Bellflower.
And last week I mentioned the person who goes around preaching that “_______ is a sin” (go back and read last week’s message if you want to refresh yourself. I do not want to be regularly re-using the concrete language I used last week every week--that was for the purpose of a few very concrete thinkers who need very concrete language—check your e-mail or check the posted sites—although I have not yet posted last week’s message, it will be in the future).
I said that because these sorts of personalities open the way for problems. It just doesn’t work to go in preaching “Don’t do this, don’t do that” in places such as Haight Ashbury which I drove through last night. IT doesn’t work to preach “Don’t do this” or “Don’t do that” in neighborhoods where XXX Shops and Gentleman Clubs flourish.
To reach people caught in the clutches of sinfulness—the negative approach (i.e. “Don’t) does not always work. They have become immunized to the negative talkers. And they generalize it as Christianity saying sex is bad, or feeling good is bad, etc. The liberal media and Hollywood has jumped on that bandwagon (or did for a while) making Christians look like complete fools—and not just fools for Christ.
So we approach the world in a different way—more positive. IN that regard the Crystal Cathedral does have some merit to its style. It emphasizes the positive and pushes or pulls people in the right direction through positive preaching (i.e “Do this, and do that” ) rather than negative (i.e. “Don’t do this, don’t do that”) .
So as Christians we say the physical body is good and sex can be pleasurable but it is not the “Be All End All”—as some would make it seem. IT is not all that matters. We put the matter in perspective to other parts of God’s kingdom. We remind the world and our fellow Christians of the importance of a relationship with God, and of social relationships with others in Christ. We don’t let the anti-Christians get a stronghold on us by attacking our vulnerabilities. We change our ways according to how we are being attacked.
And let me thank some of you who responded so graciously last week to my message. I revealed some things to you that left me vulnerable and yet none of you have taken advantage of those vulnerabilities. God bless you.
And I told you about the “hole in the door” incident which I would do again to alert people to the problem I perceived to be happening at a young age, which my father was unable to properly address and correct at the time.
And pray for my sister, Julie, as she needs to continue to grow in Christ (I hope) (she does attend church) but has not put Christ first in her life. And pray for my brother Andrew—I mentioned my relationships with girls (and included a few pictures of these former gal friends with last week’s message) and the difficulty of getting family support to enter into a committed relationship.
Well, one reason I don’t or didn’t bring home my girlfriend was that my brother Andrew (now an attorney at Varnum Law in Grand Rapids) had a tendency of staring at girls’ breasts, including girls with whom I might have had a fledgling relationship. This of course, made them uneasy and had a tendency to frighten away potential significant relationships.
So pray my brother Andrew who may have been fighting an obsession but hopefully has overcome it. He’s married today and I try to defend him as a brother but occasionally must be candid about some things.
And ironically, although you wouldn’t expect this from a girl—my sister Julie may also have had a little bit of this tendency to notice body parts even of other girls—and I mentioned her blurting out some things not really acceptable socially—and this tends to make normal girls I am with somewhat uneasy.
Therefore I do not have a lot of nurturing from family in regards to developing relationships. I also mentioned my Aunt Martha (“your female friend better be gone when I get there”)—again I repeat that her behavior was unacceptable and made me aware of some issues there as well. My “female friend” was not some “chick” I picked up at a bar. She was a GRCH/Calvin graduate—just like Martha herself. So I’ve had to distance myself from some of my own family because they have not been helpful or nurturing to me and my need for relationships. And it’s a shame. It’s a real shame.
I especially need support from my parents—and need to keep reminding my dad, Jim, that I am not “competition” (since he is in ministry too) but am part of the Body of Christ trying to do ministry , like him; and would hope and expect for the same support that he received from his parents and others when he was starting out in the ministry.
But if I don’t get it from them I have to hope to get it from you—the Body of Christ wherever you are. And I am not talking just about financial support (although that helps) but emotional, spiritual , and moral support as well (or even more so). Your e-mail responses and encouragement to me is very helpful . Thank you very much.
And back to the message—as the Body of Christ we are “in but not of the world” and can show the world a better way of life. We should be good & positive examples of what it means to be the Body of Christ. In the passage mentioned above—many of the sinners to whom Paul is preaching had actually changed their ways and were no longer living sinfully the way they had been before. Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this, in part :
He [Paul] puts them in mind what a change the gospel and grace of God had made in them: Such were some of you (v. 11), such notorious sinners as he had been reckoning up. The Greek word is tauta - such things were some of you, very monsters rather than men. Note, Some that are eminently good after their conversion have been as remarkably wicked before. Quantum mutatus ab illo! How glorious a change does grace make!
It changes the vilest of men into saints and the children of God. Such were some of you, but you are not what you were. You are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified in the name of Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.
Note, The wickedness of men before conversion is no bar to their regeneration and reconciliation to God. The blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration, can purge away all guilt and defilement. Here is a rhetorical change of the natural order: You are sanctified, you are justified. Sanctification is mentioned before justification: and yet the name of Christ, by which we are justified, is placed before the Spirit of God, by whom we are sanctified.
Our justification is owing to the merit of Christ; our sanctification to the operation of the Spirit: but both go together. Note, None are cleansed from the guilt of sin, and reconciled to God through Christ, but those who are also sanctified by his Spirit. All who are made righteous in the sight of God are made holy by the grace of God.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)
Henry believes that no matter how wicked they had been they still have the chance of redemption. That’s real grace. And he mentions “justification” and “sanctification” and the differences in meaning and the order of operations—and that’s important, but not to dwell upon if you don’t understand it.
The important thing is what’s happening to you—as a sinner being regenerated—and ultimately “Sanctified” by the Holy Spirit. You see –the order of redemption realization of being a sinner unable to save yoursel, and subsequent confession and then after confession the process continues—you can argue what comes first—the presence of the Holy Spirit or the profession of Jesus Christ as Savior—or maybe it is simultaneous. That’s a theological debate.
What’s important is that healing is taking place. IF I am a doctor concerned about a wound you have on your leg—I may debate with other doctors about what should be done first or what comes first the chicken or the egg but what really matters is that the person is able to walk again. And that’s what matters to me—for fellow Christians or potential new Christians—that you can “walk again” in Christ, and grow stronger.
I mention specific names and addresses and say “shame” on people because for some that’s what is needed first—a realization of shame and failure. And then not only realization but acknowledgement.
If you realize your sin but try to cover it up—there’s no acknowledgement and still no need for redemption and for the love of Christ. And that is the case for all of us—the acknowledgement that we cannot do it alone—that we cannot control our own destiny. That is especially the case for addicts—those who are desperately trying to control—or maintain the illusion of control. All we can do is put up our sails—we cannot control the wind.
And so I am here today to remind you to let God be in control. Maybe your sin is not an obvious one—maybe you’re not an alcoholic or a drug addict or a sex obsessed XXX customer; but maybe it is something seemingly less sinful—workaholism—trying to control your destiny by working longer and longer hours.
Maybe it is some sort of avoidant or escapist behavior drawing you away from your responsibilities –to family or to your own spiritual life. Maybe you are obsessed with sports—watching them on TV or playing them.
Whatever is drawing you away from God and the Body of Christ is sin or potential “sin.” Maybe you think—I love to read books—and that’s good—it is educational and sharpens the mind--and all my teachers tell me to read, read read— it seems very innocent--but if all you do is read books and don’t think or care about others then it is drawing you away from helping others and being part of the Body of Christ and is sinful.
The left hand does not say to the right hand “I need some time away. I need a vacation from you all” The heart does not say to the head, “I’m going fishing. Take care of yourself for a while” . The Body of Christ cannot separate itself from other members. IT's a non-sequitur (it doesn't make theological sense) Sure, we do take time out to regenerate, just as the physical body sleeps; but we don’t abandon the other members of the Body.
And pray for my mom and dad—who are real independent personalities—despite my dad being a pastor at a fancy church——he needs to be reminded that he is part of the Body of Christ, which is much larger than the Crystal Cathedral and larger than the CRC.
And that everything he earns and all that is purchased at the Cathedral comes via donations by the members of the Body of Christ. They share with the Cathedral –trusting the Cathedral to share likewise—trusting in pastoral prudence to use the offerings in a benevolent matter. Pray for the Cathedral leaders not to become selfish, or to think they deserve more because they work harder than others.
In fact, by criticizing the Cathedral I risk offending my dad who is a contributor to Mustard Seed Ministries, but I must be honest, nonetheless, for the betterment of the body of Christ. And pray that my dad will not take the criticism in the wrong way, but that he will be pleased by it--for the sake of betterment.
In fact it’s ironic because I received an e-mail from my dad earlier this week—as I was trying to set up a time to meet with him—and I was pushing him to schedule a time right away and he responded “I’m working, you aren’t” which stunned me because the fact of the matter is—I am working very much so—I’m just not on the IRS tax list right now.
But just because there’s no W-2 forms to fill out doesn’t mean I’m not working. And just because he goes to the office doesn’t necessarily mean he is working. Lots of people have offices and don’t do much in them—but nonetheless they get paid for being there.
I know my dad, Jim, does his Care & Kindness Conference annually. I know he visits people in the hospital when they are sick or dying. But I don’t know how much he actually does or doesn’t do. There’s no way to verify if he is actually working. So I said to him –at least I produce a message every week—and you can see for yourself the results.
He was posturing just like the captain of our boat in Sacramento earlier this week (read the blog above for specifics) who at the end of our little cruise down the river felt compelled to remind us that he didn’t get a summer vacation and that his wife has to force him to turn off the cell phone otherwise he would be busy 24/7. I’m sure people are calling at 2 a.m. to book reservations on the River Otter.
In fact, he must have been speaking to me because I was thinking what a nice job –cruising up and down the Sacramento River in the middle of the summer heat—with a canopy overhead to shade him. Not a bad job at all. But rather than just be thankful for the job and be benevolent to others he had to put in a cheap plug for himself. I can think of a lot worse jobs to have.
So let’s be thankful for what we have and not become “Arminians” thinking we can work our way to heaven, because all that comes down to is the appearance of work, rather than actual work itself. That's the kind of worker who suddenly straightens his collar and stands up straight only when the boss comes by.
Salvation is by faith, not works. The outcome of faith is the fruits of the Spirit—which leads to “work” and progress but not in a grudging manner. We work in a thankful manner happy to be healthy enough to contribute.
By the way, I mentioned Dave Dejong last week and some of you responded graciously and I can feel the power of the Body of Christ healing that chapter in his life and our life—which is all of our lives. If he is sincere and is growing in Christ, let the Body of Christ respond accordingly. Let Dave Dejong be a true follower of our Lord and Savior. And bless his family—may they grow in the Word.
Song: Sanctifying Power by Leila Morris
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/a/n/sancpowr.htm
Song: Showers of Blessings
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/b/sblessin.htm
Prayer: Dear God, It’s been quite a week—lots of traveling for me; and you have carried me through. We praise Your Name. And thank you for your blessings—the Showers of Blessings you continue to bestow upon us. And I’m thankful for simple things---like being able to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
That’s a blessing. To be able to look out and see the boats in the bay—some people are blind and can’t even enjoy that. Thank You Lord.
And thank you for grace—and regenerating and sanctifying us with the Power of the Holy Spirit ! We are blessed beyond words. It’s just a knowledge we must continue to reflect upon. We have so much; meaning we have so much to give—and continue to remind us of that truth Lord.
And thank you for Gold Rush Days in Sacramento—that’s a nice little thing to do for the kids in the community—giving them a sense of history. Let the world be a blessing to You, Lord. And let us, as Christians, help show them the way. Let us speak out against that which is contrary to Your Will, Oh Lord –but let us do so in a way that does not make us vulnerable to those who are against You.
Let us be calculated and tactful about how we do what we do FOR YOU, Oh Lord. Let us be smart and engaging in Your Name—the Only True Name, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ! Thank you God. Amen.
And that’s all for today. Thank you for listening, reading, and responding.
Sincerely
Philip A. Kok
J.P. Kok
Pastor Kok III
Song: Singing I Go !
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/singinig.htm
KEEP the FAITH I! it's about FAITH, ABOUT GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, LOVE ..peace, joy, kindness, care, happiness.. about doing what's right.. treating others better than yourself, about servant leadership, .. it's about hoping for the best from others, even when we live in a world with too much anger and mistreatment of others.. KEEP HOPING for the BEST from others..and DO UNTO OTHERS AS u would HOPE they do UNTO U..
