It has been quite a journey cheering for the Angels this year.  There have been highs and lows.  There have been times when they could do nothing wrong and every batter in their starting lineup was batting over 300!  Then, there were other times when they could do nothing right with missed batting opportunities and dropped fly balls in the infield!

      It is interesting to observe the highs and lows at a sporting event.  The fans get excited when one of our players gets a timely hit or makes a great catch.  But, the same fans can be discouraged and disappointed an inning later when one of our star players strikes out leaving the bases loaded.

      Maybe your life is a little like an avid baseball fan.  There are both highs and lows.  Ups and downs. If you are living on an emotional roller coaster, you need to step back and take a look at your life.

      Don’t let little things rob you of your peace and joy in life.  Don’t let your emotions get out of control.  Find a good friend who can help you keep things in perspective.

      Life does have its ups and downs.  There are seasons of delight and seasons of despair. Some days you can’t wait to get up and get going.  Other days, you may feel like staying in bed.

      We need to remember each day is a gift from God.   It is not to be wasted or taken for granted.  Enjoy each day to the fullest.  Keep little things in perspective.

      As much as I have enjoyed following the Angel’s baseball season this year, I try to remember that it is only a baseball game.  Only one team can be the winner.  One team will go home the loser.

      Earlier this year, the Angels lost a young pitcher who was killed by a drunk driver in an automobile accident.  When the press asked the manager how this would effect their season, he reminded them that baseball is only a game.  The death of this young player was far more significant that the game of baseball.

      If you are looking for hope and perspective in your life, open your Bible and read a few chapters in the Gospel of Mark.  Find a good church in your neighborhood and attend a service this Sunday.  Take a few moments to pray and thank God for the life he has given you. 

     One of the most popular dates on the calendar is Halloween.  I heard that parents are spending more and more money on costumes, candy and other things for Halloween.  It has become a popular event in our culture.

      However, Halloween was one of my wife’s least favorite days of the year.  She admits that she was not very creative at making costumes for our kids.  Every year it was a challenge to figure out some way to have them look respectable when they went out trick or treating in our neighborhood.

      Many parents worry about the safety of their children on Halloween.  Every year we hear stories of a child getting injured crossing a dark street or tripping over their own costume.  Parents also worry about the safety of the candy and treats that their kids collect.

      In recent years, there have been an increasing number of safe local alternatives for Halloween.  Our church is sponsoring a “Harvest Carnival” on Saturday,    October 31^st from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  There will be game booths, a bounce house and lots of free candy.  It will be a safe place for children of all ages.

      I enjoy being part of this annual community event at our church.  I get to say hello to a lot of neighbors and reconnect with the children.  I love to see all the clever and creative costumes that parents have made and kids wear.

      I know that there are a growing number of churches and community groups that are offering these safe alternatives for Halloween.  If you live in the area, please accept this invitation to our Harvest Carnival.  It is free and open to the community.  Our church is located at 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd at the south end of Diamond Bar near Brea Canyon Road and the 57 Freeway.

      Please call if you have any questions.  If you come by, please take time to say hello and introduce yourself.  I would enjoy meeting you.

     There is a verse in the Bible that says, “Keep your life free from the love of money” (Hebrews 13:5).  Another verse says, “The love of money is the souse of all kinds of evil” (I Timothy 6:10).

      Notice that these verses do not say that money is the problem.  It is the love of money that is the problem.  Money can have such a tight grip on someone’s life, that there is little else they think about.  Every waking hour is centered on money.

      One of the best things you can do is to gain control of your money.  Don’t let it control you.  For many people, there money is out of control and therefore, money is controlling their lives.

      There are three critical areas that you need to consider.  First, you need to get control of your spending.  Income will never keep up with spending that is out of control.  Begin by tracking your spending.  Keep a 3X5 card with you and write down every thing you buy and how much you spend.  Do this for at least a week.  Recording a whole month would be even better. People who do this are amazed at where they spend their money and what they spend it on. 

      Then, you need to put a family budget on paper.  Write down what you plan to spend and stick to it.  This is the first step in gaining control of your money.

      The second critical area of money is saving.  Most financial counselors encourage people to save 10% of their income.  When we put money aside each month, it not only creates a reserve for future needs, it also helps us gain further control on our spending.  The best way to save is to have the money deducted from your paycheck before you see it.  If you don’t see it you can’t spend it!

      The third important area of money is sharing.  The Bible teaching the concept of “tithing”.  A tithe was a tenth.  In the Bible, people are instructed to give back 10% of their crops, harvest or other income to God. 

      If you don’t attend a church, you can still give a tenth of your income away to a local shelter, food bank or cancer research center.  When you give money away, you are breaking the grip of money on your life.  Sharing is a healthy habit.  It feels good and others benefit from your generosity.

      If you are looking for sound advice and practical help to gain control of your money, let me invite you to the free seminar we are offering on Sunday afternoon, October 11^th at 1:00 PM at our church.  There is no cost involved and you will not be asked for a donation.  We just want to provide some practical help to people who want to get control of their money.  Call our church office for more information or just come on Sunday, October 11^th at 1:00 PM.

      Don’t let money control your life anymore.  Learn how to control the money in your life.

     Many people are feeling the financial pinch these days.  The economy may be slowly recovering and the stock market may be improving, but you get the sense that people are still facing serious financial problems.

      Some are in trouble with their home mortgage.  Others have been living on a reduced income.  Many are still looking for new jobs. 

     What can you do to get through the financial times?  How can you make your limited income stretch?  How can you begin to dig your way out of the financial hole that you are in?

      Our church is offering a free financial seminar to help people gain control of their money.  We will have a team of people sharing ideas and information on budgeting, spending, saving and more. 

      This seminar is open to the community.  There is no cost.  You will not be asked to buy anything or invest in anything.  It is simply our attempt to provide practical information to people who need help getting a handle on their finances.

      This free financial seminar will be at our church on Sunday afternoon, October 11^th from 12:30 – 4:00 PM.  Our church is located at 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd. near the 57 Freeway and Brea Canyon Road.  You can call the church office at (909) 594-7604 for more information.

      Money is one of the most stressful things in life.  No mater how much you have or how much you earn, it seems like there is never enough.  The truth is that income will never keep up with uncontrolled spending.

      If you know someone who is struggling to get their spending under control, please tell them about this free seminar.  If you know people whose expenses exceed their income, tell them about October 11^th.  If you are looking for practical help with your family’s finances, please accept this invitation to attend.  Call (909) 594-7604 to register today.  Thanks!

     My wife and I have developed a little tradition with several other couples.  We have committed to get together once-a-year with these other friends.  We have maintained this tradition for almost 20 years.

      These friends live outside California.  We first met them when all of us lived in the same community and attended the same church.  We all had young kids and found ourselves spending a lot of time together.

       When my wife and I moved to California, we made an effort to keep in touch with these other couples.   We began to meet together for a few days each year.  Since then, we have met in a variety of locations including San Diego, Palm Springs, Pismo Beach, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

      Sometimes we have stayed in a private home and other times we have stayed at a hotel or resort.  We have even gone on a three-day cruise together.

      The agenda is pretty simple.  The guys golf and the wives shop. (Difficult to do on a cruise!) The wives think that they should be able to spend as much shopping as the men do playing golf.  I’m not sure, but I think the wives usually win!

      The thing that makes this annual event so important is the renewing and sustaining friendships that now date back over three decades.  Even though we have many wonderful friends here in our church and our community, we are thankful for these “old” friends, too.

      There is a verse in Proverbs that says, “A friend loves at all times” (17:17).  Proverbs 18:24 says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”. 

      If you have a circle of close friends, I hope you will take time this week to tell them how much you appreciate them.  A quick note or phone call would be a good way to tell them that you are thankful for their friendship.

      If you don’t have a few close friends, why not take the first step and express your appreciation to someone around you?  Tell them you value their role in your life and tell them you would like to get to know them better.  The best way to make some friends is by being a friend to others.

     We all hear a never ending barrage of commercials and advertisements promoting weight loss.  From “lap bands” to diet pills, we continually hear of new ways to lose weight.  But, I was excited to hear about a new approach that almost guarantees results.

      Last week I shared with you an article that I had read in Parade magazine entitled, “Golf For Life” (August 30, 2009).  This informative article shared some of the health benefits that come from playing golf.  It has been on our refrigerator ever since!  I want to make sure that my wife sees it and understands why I need to play more golf!

      Studies have shown that people who play golf live longer!  In fact, according to the author, playing golf can add five years to your life!  It is important to remind you that this involved walking when you play golf.  Riding in the golf cart doesn’t count.

      A Sports Science Center in Denver, Colorado, found that golfers who walk 36 holes a week (that is two rounds of golf per week) burn about 2900 calories!  According to their studies, this could result in a 40-pound weight loss in one year!  Wow!  How about that for a revolutionary weight loss system.

      Now I can justify playing more golf because it will not only help me live longer but also lose weight!  I’m sure that my wife will understand that she will actually benefit if I play more golf.  I’m just doing it for her!

      I don’t know what weight loss program you have been trying, but I hope you will seriously consider this revolutionary option.  Forget the diet pills and surgical options.  Just dust off the old golf bag and start losing weight the old fashioned way!  Play more golf!

     I saw an article recently in Parade Magazine that interested me.  They shared that a Swedish study found that men and women between the ages of 40 to 79 who regularly golf have a 40% lower incidence of mortality that those who don’t golf.

      This is the kind of statistic that I like to hear!  I taped this article on our refrigerator so that my wife would appreciate how valuable golf is to my health and our marriage!

      Who would have thought that golf would be so beneficial to your health?  I know that it is normally played outdoors with lots of fresh air and sunshine.  I know that there is stimulating conversation among fellow-golfers. Now, the benefits are even more extensive than we imagined!

      Actually, the article said that if you want to get the health benefits, you have to give up the electric golf cart and walk.  I was a little disappointed to hear that.  I like riding around the course in those sporty little golf carts.  I like driving up as close to my ball as possible so I don’t have to exert too much energy.

      The study also pointed out that you need to play twice a week to really get the full health benefits.  I hope I can convince my wife that the additional time and money spent on golf is actually for her benefit, too.  She can expect that I will live longer if I play more golf!  This is really beginning to make sense!

      I’m so thankful that we have a number of golf courses in our area.  Someone should tell the city and county officials how much we appreciate their contribution to our health and lives.

      I’m sure that there are a lot of golfers out there that share my enthusiasm for the Swedes who conducted this research.  I was thinking of caring a copy of the study in my pocket so when someone questions my schedule and priorities, I can pull out the article and show them how important golf really is!

      Do someone a favor and share this helpful health tip with another golfer.  They will be glad you did!  

      Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to China. Here are a few thoughts and reflections from our time there.

      First, the Chinese people were warm and friendly.  Everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles.  Although most people did not speak English, they were willing to provide help when we needed it.

      China is a beautiful country.  We briefly visited the capital, Beijing, and spent most of our time in smaller cities further south.  Highways were landscaped with trees and ground cover. New buildings are going up everywhere.  The new airport in Beijing was amazing.

      The food was good, too.  We enjoyed the variety of food and slowly learned to use the chop sticks.  We managed to find some familiar western food as well.

      We squeezed in a brief trip to the Great Wall of China outside of Beijing.  The wall extended up and down the mountains as far as we could see.  It is hard to imagine how long it took to build this massive structure.

      The highlight of our time in China was spending time with people.  We enjoyed visiting with westerners who live and work there, too.  We enjoyed the hospitality of a Chinese family in a small rural village.  We appreciated the helpful people in restaurants, shops and local markets.

      We are thankful for the vivid memories of our time in China.  It gave us a renewed appreciation for not only those living in China but also our Chinese neighbors living right here in our own community. 

      Let me encourage you to get to know some of your neighbors who come from distant lands and different cultures.  You don’t have to travel to China, India or the middle east.  They probably live on your street, attend your kid’s school, and worship at your church.  Take time to get to know them.

     I recently celebrated my birthday by going to Disneyland.  This year they have offered free admission for anyone on their birthday.  Good idea!

      I’m sure it has been an effective marketing strategy since most people would not go to Disneyland alone.  Friends and family would come, too.  So Disney is increasing their theme park attendance by giving free admission for people like me on our birthday.

      When I signed in at the ticket office they gave me a small badge and wrote my first name on it. It said that today was my birthday.  As I wore that badge around Disneyland, I was surprised to see how many other people had the same birth date that I did!  There were lots of them! 

      I was also surprised by how many people wished me a “Happy Birthday”.  Disney employees said, “Happy Birthday, Mark”. Total strangers said, “Happy Birthday”.  Everywhere I went, people kept wishing me a “Happy Birthday”.  I don’t think I have ever experienced a day when so many people offered so many words of encouragement on the same day.

        It really was nice to hear so many words of encouragement from so many people.  We live in an age when discouragement is prevalent. A lot of people are going through hard times with health, family or financial problems. 

      I propose that we make Tuesday, September 1^st, a day of encouragement.  On that day, you commit to offer a few words of encouragement to as many people as you can.  See how many lives you can touch.  See how many hearts you can encourage.

      September 1^st may not be everyone’s birthday, but you can make it a better day with a few thoughtful words.  A verse in the Bible says, “Encourage one another and build up one another”. (I Thessalonians 5:11).   Let’s try it on September 1^st!

     A few months ago I shared my frustrations with our avocado tree.  Every winter it blooms with thousands of blossoms but we end up with very few avocados at the end of the season.  A few people actually wrote and offered their suggestions to my gardening dilemma!   So far I only see two small avocados on the tree this year. Sad.

      On the other hand, we are having a bumper crop of tomatoes this year!  We planted six small plants from a “six pack” from Home Depot.  We also planted one larger tomato plant.  Four or five of these plants have been off the charts!  We have enjoyed a bumper crop!

      I’m not sure why we have had so much success this year.  We have been giving tomatoes away to neighbors and friends.  I was actually thinking of opening up a tomato stand on our street.  The potential profits are staggering!

      I suppose there is a scientific explanation for this year’s tomato crop.  But, I also know that in the Bible there is a verse that says, “God did not leave Himself without a witness, but He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness”. (Acts 14:17)

      I think that one of the reasons most farmers believe in God is that they see the miracle of crops growing their fields.  They see plants producing food and trees producing fruit season after season.

      Most of us buy the fruits and vegetables we eat in the local grocery store.  Some of us take time to shop at a farmer’s market.  But, few of us really get to watch the miracle of life that comes from those tiny seeds and small little plants.

      If you haven’t given much thought to God recently, try planting a small vegetable garden and watch what happens.  You do need to water regularly and you do need to pull out the weeds from time to time.  But, watch and wait.  Taste and see.  It is difficult to deny that you are witnessing a small miracle.  It is even better when you taste and enjoy the fruit of your labor!