Family Impression

This week I met with a friend and he explained a horrible story of betrayal to me concerning the ministry lasting over 27 years to support Miracle Ranch Orphanage Foundation. He described to me how the supporters of this ministry have been deceived for years. Tony (Antonio) Herandez, the director of this orphanage, Rancho El Milagro is evading accountability for the alleged heinous crimes against close to 40 known victims. Please pray for justice and healing for these victims. An ongoing investigation is in progress to remove this director. Also, there are efforts in place to alert the financial supporters of these orphans that their contributions are currently supporting the defense of this alleged criminal, and not being used for the safety of the orphans. If you know anyone supporting an orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico, please check the background of the directors. It has come to light that two accused pedophiles, John Swink and Rev. Dalton Weber were on the board of directors with Tony Hernandez back in 1977 at Miracle Ranch.

I read the Miracle Ranch Orphanage Foundation Web site that is exposing the truth. Please pray that the Lord exposes the truth and brings justice and healing for the children (some are now adults). So many have been hurt and are still hurt and ashamed, my prayer is that a conviction will be served for the alleged rapist and molester; this may bring closure to these victims.

This horrific news brought me to tears. I am so thankful that my children are safe and secure. I praise God that he is sovereign and even though these victims did not have the protection of a mother and father they have His Love that is faithful even when the world and evil crosses their lives.

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Before I was involved in a motorcycle accident, life was very busy and fast paced. I was trying to keep up with family, work and a huge list of things to get done. I was healthy for the most part and didn’t think so much about the things in life that seem to be a given or just plain normal.

I remember how in the summer I loved to swim and play with the family in the sun. How easy it was to swing my little ones with my arms. I enjoyed riding my motorcycle any time of the year; Southern California provides a great environment for bikers.

Now things have changed. I do often think about the little things that so often are taken for granted. For now I walk and can’t run. I focus on my health instead of ignoring it, eating better (mydailynutrients.com), stretching and exercising (just a little for now) more. I recently noticed a marquee that warned, “Don’t wait for a crisis to remember what matters most” (paraphrased). Life has once again become one day at a time. I get to spend more quality time with my family and enjoy their conversation and play.

This summer I may not be able to swim like I used to but I sure will be able to make the most of what I have. I am fortunate to be alive and, for the most part, all put back together. I have a few pieces of titanium and steel to carry with me as a reminder to keep life simple and remember what really counts.

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I just wanted everyone to know that FamilyMan was in a pretty bad motorcycle accident a couple of days ago. He had surgery yesterday and is doing quite well considering. I have spoken with him and his spirits were up. I just wanted to ask for prayer for his family during this time and also for the rapid healing of his body. He is a great friend and an awesome father and husband. I am sure his family will welcome all and any help they can get during this time. If you know him or his family well, please give them a call showing your support. I know they would love to hear from you. Thank you for your prayers in advance. God bless.

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My wife Linda and are pastors of Family Life Community Church in Anaheim, Ca. Our mission is to “Help families live together in joy and harmony for the glory of God”. We are eternal optimists when it comes to seeing our mission happen in the lives of individuals, couples and families. The answer for all relationship conflicts are in the Word of God. Conflicts will arise in any seasoned relationship. Conflicts are not bad, they are inevitable. So, with that in mind, our job is to become experts at conflict resolution. The issue is people being honest with themselves about whether or not their actions line up with the principles for life found in the Bible. If their actions are Biblical people prosper in their relationships, if not, relationships deteriorate. I love the Word, I bear witness to it’s power in my life and in the lives of others we’ve been associated with in our 30 years of ministry.

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Choosing a blog name for me was tough. I wanted to have a dot com domain that matched. Then I wanted to narrow down a topic that I would focus my writing on. I could write on professional topics, social, political; but then I thought about what really matters to me. The answer was my family.

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In many circles and even a few corporate environments with a casual work environment there is a trend of people making a shift toward life at home. SAHM (stay at home moms) are often being introduced to stay at home dads (SAHD). In most cases, the man is coming home to work in a home office or maybe in the garage.

My friend recently quit his day job to work from home. Yesterday he asked me, “We’re having a hard time getting settled… was it difficult for you or your wife to get used to having you home?” Good question! He went on to say, “Basically, I’m upsetting the normal schedule my wife used to have.”

When I began to work from home it was a big deal for my wife and kids. But in some way the shift toward home really threw a curve ball at my wife. My response is, “Taking care of your wife will need to be your top priority.”

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Last week I spoke to a colleague about ways to keep kids interested in saving money. We talked about our experiences growing up and discovered that both of use did not receive adequate instruction between home and school concerning financial concepts. We compared our stories to the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert T. Kiyosaki. I realized that I should make a plan for creating an interest in financial concepts for my children.

Both of us would like to give our kids more instruction and opportunity to invest money rather that spending unscrupulously. Sadly enough (or, should I applaud the marketing efforts of creditors), many young people feel that with credit they have buying power. I watch many kids who take every birthday dollar an spend it up without any thought of making a deposit in a savings account, or making an investment in project that could return even more money than contained in the birthday cards. Most kids fully understand how to empty their wallet and ask for more money when theirs is gone.

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