Patrickmarks August 1st Male Surprise Patrick Marks was born in California but half his genes come from the far, frigid North (Canada). He has five children and a delightful wife who doesn't snore. Formerly a lumberjack (and I'm okay), or at least a tree trimmer, Pat had the misfortune to major in French but ended up teaching music for upteen years in various public school settings. After many years of torture he was finally able to escape high school and start hawking real estate. The real estate phase was just an interlude to Pat's Magnum Opus - pastoring FourteenSix Christian Fellowship in Surprise Arizona. With continued luck he will retire poor and destitute but in the meantime, in his spare time, he tinkers with his blog and collects navel lint.
Last Friday I flew out to San Diego with my buddy Jamie to attend a conference at Foothills Christian Church. We had a great time, especially so because we nearly froze to death upon landing at Lindberg Field. It was only 63 degrees and I was looking for snowmen on the side of the road. I guess after being here in Phoenix for 4 years you really do get acclamated to the weather. Someone told me it was 100 degrees the day before we left and I thought "really, didn't notice!" It's true, it doesn't get uncomfortable around here until it breaks 105. That's our famous "It's a dry heat" thing - there is some real truth to that. 90 degrees in San Diego is really nasty because of the humiidity but out here in May it's considered a cold snap.
The conference was cool. They have a little college age worship band called Cedar that I really enjoyed. A little rough around the edges, reminds me of punk, but great energy, good tunes, lots of joy and a great drummer. They've got a website where you can download some of their original tunes that you can link to from www.foothillschurch.org.
Also - future quest is coming June 27 - 29. This is a youth conference of epic proportions - last year about 1700 teens participated and this year it looks like 2000 or more. I've been able to do a workshop on Evolution there for the last 6 or so years. This year I'm hoping the bring some kids from our church with me, including, hopefully, my two teenage boys. We have to raise some money for my boys because they are in Texas that time of the year and I'll have to fly them out. They are out mowing lawns and selling discount cards so if you would like to help them financially let me know. My cousin Dennis is planning to fly down from Canada to be part of it - really excited about that too. You can check out future quest at www.futurequest.tv
My mom cooked Cream Puffs - my personal favorite - and lasagna, need I say more? Once again I stand in awe of my mother in terms of her obsession with knocking down perfectly good walls. This time she decided to expand the living room by taking out the wall to what was the guest bedroom. She also punched a hole in the exterior wall and put in glass doors that lead to a 6 foot drop. Eventually there will be a deck there but in the meantime, watch your step :)
Finally - this is a shameless plug for comments on the blog. I THINK people are reading this because of the counter (those hits are not ALL me) but take a moment and say "hi", you'll be glad you did.
Kristen Johnson May 23, 2007 10:52 AM PDT Hi Pat. We're having terrible weather at the moment - drizzly and cold, very may gray and I HATE it. PS - let us know what the kids and Melissa are up to! :-)
Joe Pearson May 23, 2007 01:27 PM PDT Hi. 75 and sunny here. It's actually been colder than average in Atlanta the last two months.
Hank May 24, 2007 11:08 AM PDT Hey! You mention the punk worship band CEDAR, but no mention about the old guys group (Prune Smoothies)! Old guys rock
PAT May 24, 2007 12:42 PM PDT Yes Hank - you're quite right. Old guys DO rock. Keep in mind my royal baldness in the worship band out here!
Sharla Dawn May 24, 2007 02:39 PM PDT 63 is COLD? Gee whiz, it was snowing in April over here in New Jersey. Very weird, they tell me. Okay... today it's 84*, not bad. Of course in the summer it'll creep up over 90... and humid... yeah.
And I'm SO glad you told what Mom did to the house. She refused to tell me, and said I had to fly back there to have a look. Yeah, right. Are you paying?!
Mark D. Dominguez May 24, 2007 10:49 PM PDT Pat,
Sorry I don't write much, but the last thing I want to do when I get home is get on the computer. Just a couple of comments though...
...Your church issues sound just like all others. Something about finding the perfect church and how it would no longer be perfect if you join comes to mind. Praise to you wife for her devotion. I too am a childerns ministry "widower". God has seen it proper to have NO ONE in our church have the logistical sence to put together a VBS, (except my wife that is). :-)
I now get to work all day and come home to VBS planning/production.
Should I mention our Childrens Christmas Play? 2 months of cardboard, tape, paint, glue and other assorted items taking up the entire living room. Oh yah, several 3rd degree burns from the hot glue gun have finally healed. Going back a ways in your blog regarding guns...
...Our local government here in southwest Oregon has decided that there is no longer enough money to run the county sherrifs department and the libraries(I hope I spelled that right). To add another insult they have also now made it harder to obtain a carry permit for a handgun. I already have one but what about all the others who now have much less law enforcement???
I guess this just makes it easier to have "Regional Police"... ...You know... ...the guys dressed in black BDUs who come take you in the middle of the night. (see Al Cuppett's website) I'm not about to join the local militia, but at least they aren't just letting our warped society dictate what is right.
Y'all think I'm crazy now right??
Just a question for all your bloggers... ...how long could you survive without things like...power, water, sewer, grocery stores, etc?
Anyways, this is getting long. However I have to comment on one more thing. I eat anything I choose, don't gain weight, and yes I confess I go through the JUMBO size bottles of tums. I think it's something they put in our food. You notice that your grandparents never had heartburn like we do now. P.S. don't go to the doctor unless you need stitches. If you let them keep testing for stuff they're bound to find SOMETHING. Have you checked the prices for green fees nowdays?
Seriously, God Bless You and Your Family. I keep praying for you guys always. You know I'll ALWAYS be there if you need me. Sheep bite sometimes you know. I'll try to write more often and call from time to time. My wife says hi to Melissa, and keep strong with the kids. Remember, they will be the ones who pick out the Retirement Home you'll be in. Tell your church I'm not as crazy as I sound here.
