Extraordinary Man Among Women Among Us!! Ephesians 5:23-25 tells us the husband is the head of the household should love and care for his wife. NOW---Picture This--- Right here in our church family we have a man that is providing for and trying to satisfy the needs of--- Get this--- FIVE adult ladies, Four in his home, plus a mother in law that has come to visit for five weeks. Yes, our beloved Worship Pastor and Music Minister, Randy Miller, is under the same roof with his wife Yvonne, two adult children Jamie and Sarah (recent high school grads), and his mother Jean. Yvonne’s mother, Charlene Reed, lives in Boaire, Georgia, and is here on vacation. Then to add insult to injury, they have three dogs, all female, Toy poodle Misty, German Shepherd Lady, and Lab Gypsy. The Miller clan lives in a gated community in Northwest Bakersfield. Yvonne cares for preschoolers in their home during the week, Jamie and Sarah both have part time jobs and are preparing to enter Bakersfield College. Jamie has been active in band and ballet, Sarah has been in band, choir and ballet, and both teach ballet and have been involved in Bakersfield theatrical productions. Randy’s mother Jean also lives in their beautiful home. Randy splits his working hours between our church and Thompson Junior High School, where he is a music prof- essor, leader of the school orchestra and marching band, among other things. He has a BA in Music from Cal University, Stanislaus, and a Masters in Education from Laverne University, Randy has a servant’s heart. He helped lead our recent Vacation Bible School, and is planning to go with a mission team that will do work in New Orleans. He is also returning to school seeking an ad- ministrative credential. We are indeed fortunate to have Randy on our staff. Randy reminds me of the guy in the circus that has plates twirling on sticks and has to hustle to keep all the plates twirling. It boggles the mind that Randy can keep all of his plates twirling, when five of them represent women he loves and cares for. It is even more amazing when we look inward, and if you are like me, our hands are full caring for just one lady in our empty nest. So-----Hats off to you Randy. As they say, your crown is heavy with stars. Keep those plates twirling. Grandpa Dick

“Morongo Wildfire Started by Lightening”- What is GOD Thinking? Our recent visit to friends that live on five acres in Morongo Valley near Yucca in the high desert was cut short by a wildfire that was blown by strong winds over a northern mountain Rim toward the Valley. We retreated to the desert floor and heard the next day that our friends, Bob and Liz Tyree, were forced to evacuate their home. The paper said the fire was started by Lightening from a thunderstorm. Firemen stopped the advancing fire just three blocks from their property. Now, help me to understand and get this straight. GOD created the earth and every living thing, including the trees, bushes and Yucca plants in the valley, and GOD created storms and thunder and lightening, and GOD created fire. So He must have his timing off to make all these things happen in sequence to cause such destruction and peril to creatures, including humans, who dwell in fire threatened areas. Maybe GOD has lost control! But surely not, because the way I read the Bible, HE knows the grand scheme of things even before they happen, knows each of his creations whereabouts and cares about our individual well being. So, pondering this epic situation, I turned to the internet to gather some facts about forests, trees and whatnot, and the interaction thereof, and how GOD put this all together. The U. S. Forest web site had several pages on the necessity of forest fires. It seems that most fir and pine trees, called conifers, (they all have cones to hold their seeds) require extreme heat to cause the cones to open and allow the seeds to germinate. The released seeds need a bed of nitrogen rich soil to grow from. The fires generate the heat, and the ash is the “potting soil” for the seeds. I also found out a bunch of other reasons GOD allows fire: one is to remove old debris; another is to cause animals to relocate to food rich areas, and so on. This Grandpa is fascinated by how God planned all this but I’m boring you, so in conclusion, let me simply say this: If you think GOD has lost control, think again. Everywhere I turn it is evident that HE knows exactly what HE is doing. But then, you already knew that, didn’t you. Grandpa Dick

Johnny, A Boy Willing And Not Ashamed!!! Little “Johnny” came into the AWANA welcome desk clutching his Mother’s hand and hiding within her flowing skirt. The timid ten year old was being introduced to our world of AWANA club activities for the first time. I watched his big eyes reflect anticipation and wonder as he was welcomed into the group, then invited to join the opening flag and Bible salutes, songs and prayers. His new teacher somehow new she needed to stand by him and soon his anxiety began to subside. His group went to game square next, divided into teams and the first game was explained and started. Johnny caught on quickly, and soon shared the thrill of his team’s success at the games. I could tell by the smile on his face that he was having fun and not ashamed of being at church. After game square Johnny’s new teacher led the class in a time of crafts, Bible study, and memory work. Although new to all this Johnny learned one of the scriptures from his new workbook. The time flew by and soon the class went to closing, awards and refreshments. Johnny was given an award for his memory work. His mother came to pick him up and found him eating a cupcake and laughing with his new classmates. While the teacher was telling Johnny’s mother about his fun day, Johnny came running over to show his mother his memory award. Now, Johnny can’t wait for next week. If you have a “Johnny” in your family you should try make sure he doesn’t miss AWANA, Sunday nights at 6:15 pm. AWANA has classes for preschoolers through sixth graders. Let your child or grandchild be proud of being in AWANA. After all, AWANA means “A Willing Worker And Not Ashamed”, from 2nd Tim.2:15. See you in AWANA. Grandpa Dick