My wife and I were board and thought it would be fun to watch the movie Martian Child. The movie stared John Cusack; he played a widower/writer. He wrote about fiction in outer space, and was expected, by his agents, to become the next J.K. Rowling of the alien fiction genera. In the midst of all that was going on in his personal and professional life he felt a void. He began to explore the idea of adoption (his wife and him had planned to adopt before she passed away), and found himself in the process of adopting a boy. The first time he met the boy, he discovered the boy hated the sun, played under a box and believed he was an alien from Mars. The boy was perfect for an intelligent space writer. I am not going to give away anymore, but if you have a chance to see it, do. I say this because so many times, we can think our kids are from Mars, with strange languages, dances, emotions  and feelings. I could go on but I won't; the great part is, father in the movie took the time, ebraced his martian excatly where he was, and in the end it paid off. No, it was not all fun and games for the father, but we can relate and learn from it. Please if you have the opportunity, put down American Gangster and pick up Martian Child.

Love you all

_pastor tim

My wife and I were in Mi Mi's café early one morning waiting for my father-in-law for breakfast and I noticed a father with his young son (probably 12). As I watched them the father was on his blackberry emailing, texting, checking stock, weather, checking surf conditions (oh that's me), doing whatever on his phone and his son was sitting directly in front of him, staring. After about five minutes of this the son pulled out his Nintendo DS, and began playing his game (living in a fantasy world). I continued to watch, not looking away, and at this point I began to actually time this, the father never looked up from his phone, but periodically the son wood look up from his game and see his father still doing whatever, then look back down at his game. Their server came to their table, and without putting his phone down the father ordered for himself and his son, then back to his phone. By this time the son no longer looked up. They received their food (never saying a word), and continued in their own little worlds. About two minutes later the son began eating, and then the father began eating; still holding his phone, still never saying one word to one another. They finished eating and the father paid the check, all the while holding his phone open. And they left. My heart melted. _pastor tim

“My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then”

Cat’s In The Cradle
By Harry Chapin

We will be leaving the church @ noon on Friday the 15^th and returning on Monday the 18^th @ 3pm. Your teen will want some spending money because we do stop for food on the way home and there is a snack shop at camp, but they do need food before we leave (we do not eat dinner till 6). Your teen will need a bible, journal, clothes (warm, for 3 nights, but no more stuff than a large duffel bag), sleeping stuff (sleeping bag, pillow), NO electronics or anything illegal. The camp is located in Running Springs and you can get the address if you Google Camp Cedar Crest (909-867-2531).

I hope this helps you, and there is an info sheet that I have been passing out at UTURN for 2 weeks that you can pick up at the office or at UTURN Wednesday night. Love you all.
_pastor tim

In preparation to become a father I am reaching out to people, books, and the bible for advice on becoming a father. My desire is to allow Gods love to flow through me to my baby girl.

One thing my wife and I are doing to prepare is we are apart of the Preparation for Parenting life group, here at The Sanctuary. It is awesome and in the first week they spend a whole chapter and a one hour video on one foundational principal of being a parent and it makes so much sense. The authors write “A healthy husband-wife relationship is essential to the emotional health of children in the home. When there is harmony in the marriage, there is an infused stability within the family. A strong marriage provides a haven of security for children as they grow in the nurturing process. Healthy, loving marriages create a sense of certainty for children.” (Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, 20) I believe that every time a child is mentioned we can interchange it for teenager. Let’s do this together, as I believe for my family and this ministry, my wife and I relationship, oneness, unity, and togetherness matter. God first, but wife second. Let’s practice this together and see the miraculous things God will do in our families. Love you all.

_pastor tim

Camp was great; God met each teen in a unique and special way. If you haven’t gotten the scoop from your teen yet, take them out and ask them all about it.

_pastor tim