Movies of 2012: The Good, the Bad & Ugly

As I sat on the couch with my daughters last night night we got onto the subject of movies of the past year.  So just what were the the best movies of the year? What were the ones we thought were ok? And which ones just plain stunk ... here is a list between two teenage girls and myself.

The Best Movies of the Year

10) Brave
9) Men in Black III
8) Cowboys & Aliens
7) Batman - The Dark Knight Rises
6) Hunger Games
5) Red Tails
4) The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey

The last three we all agreed a case can be made for being the best movie of the year

1) Avengers (for sheer entertainment this is my pick)
1) Lincoln (from a aesthetic view point this has a case as the best movie of the year)
1) The Vow (this is just a beautiful movie)

Movies that we enjoyed and may watch again one day

1) Amazing Spider-Man
2) Expendables 2
3) John Carter of Mars (all of us actually liked this movie though it seemingly panned in the box office)
4) Ghost Rider 2
5) Skyfall

The worst movies of the year are in our opinion

5) Dictator
4) Battleship
3) Breaking Dawn Part 2
2) Total Recall
1) Dredd

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Vacation in Sweet Home Alabama

Every summer I get Rachael and Talya for the month of June. One of the highlights has become our trip to visit Alabama. Usually by Christmas the girls are bugging me about going to the "visit the cousins" in Sweet Home Alabama. This year it was actually needed by all of us ... time off. Time to have a sabbath. Time to laugh. Time to cut up. Time to sleep. Time to give the old brain a break. Time to be with family. And God provided!

We headed to Alabama via Dallas and Nashville. Tif, Avery and Evan welcomed us at the airport with big smiles, hugs ... and kisses!!!

The bad thing about this trip is that Tifani had to go to work every single day except Sunday and Thursday! I didnt like that but it gave us a chance to follow Paul's injunction to "redeem the time." We did VBS on Wednesday night, played in the pool everyday, had family pix done for the first time, we went to the late movie to see the X-Men: First Class, and went to the Gathering at Magnolia. Avery and I read about half of Aesop's Fables while Evan and I read a dose of the Attack of the Clones. For myself I read some light reading in Douglas Wilson's 5 Cities that Ruled the World. It was a quick and enjoyable read that often made me scratch my head but ... I was on vacation.

Florence recently got a Buffalo Wild Wings so we ended up there twice with Tifani's brother and sister-in-law. Her brother, Nolan, is an outstanding photographer and took our family pix. The kids bonded amazingly and almost refused to come back to AZ! We are back now but we had fun.

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A "Day" in the Life of Bobby ... and Tifani

Since I began this blog on April 11, 2006 there have been many twists and turns in the life of this Stoned-Campbell Disciple. My family made the trek from the land of beer and cheese in Milwaukee to the land of Saguaros and Scorpions in the Arizona desert. We went from snow in April to sunburns in January!! We moved from one awesome congregation of the Lord's family to another. Along the way the Jobian experience of divorce ravaged the sanctity of my family. All along, in the happy times and the not so happy times, I have blended the personal with thoughts on biblical themes and opinions on contemporary life. I thank my readers who have been remarkably devoted for some reason. I get emails on almost a daily basis about my blog and for this I am grateful ... grateful that God has used it to bless someone somewhere out there. I plan on returning to a regular routine of blogging. I have worked on one for a long time and it has grown into something far beyond a blog post. That will appear very soon ...

But in the spirit of being on a journey and sharing my bad days and my good days I offer another page in the life of Bobby, Rachael and Talya Valentine. The readers that are on my Facebook will already know this but God has been faithful to me and my family. I praise him for the church family here in Tucson and back in Milwaukee. I have many friends that have loved me through the dark days.

As God blessed Job he has blessed me too with a new page ... a new "Day" in the on going life of Bobby V and family. My blessing is exactly five foot eight with long flowing dark brown hair and sparkling dark eyes. This blessing deeply loves the Lord, she can recite the shema in Hebrew, loves to laugh and cut up. She is compassionate and giving. She loves to ride my Harley through the mountains. She loves to jam to music (even Pink Floyd!). And get this she likes football. She is so beautiful that Song of Songs was probably written about her ... especially chapter 4! This blessing is named Tifani. She has blown my pea sized brain away!! We pray and read together ... it is wonderful. She has two children just like me (Avery and Evan). She has had some of the same experiences (sad ones) that befell the Valentines but she has not been embittered. Sometimes I am simply amazed at her capacity for grace! I have often talked about grace but she lives it. We have been dating since March of this year and interestingly enough we have known and had the same friends since high school...but never knew each other. Some things are simply mysterious!! Marvelously So!!!

To make a long story shorter I recently asked Tifani to be my wife. She said yes! I cannot begin to express how wonderful a person she is. After my divorce I dated a number of women after I could actually wrap my mind around that reality. They were all fine but I longed for something that would never be. Beyonce has a song called Halo that captures what Tifani did, or God did through Tifani ...

"Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now ...

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I see your halo
You know your my saving grace ..."

Great song. Great words. For me that is. It is amazing how God can work and we do not even know it. Here are a few pictures of my gal pal ...













Enjoy the song and lyrics of Halo ... and Beyonce has a beautiful voice ...



Blessings,
Bobby V

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Photo Album Tag

Photo Album Tag

I have been tagged by Beth and since it has been a long time since this has happened I copied the rules. The rules: choose the sixth photo from your sixth album and post it with a brief description and/or the story behind it.

Ok! So I went to my photos on my computer and I do have more than six albums with various titles. I counted over six places and ... well I decided to reverse six and seven. Then I opened up my album and counted six photos over and this is what I found ...



Man alive they do not look like this any more!! Just as beautiful but they have grown!! This is, IMHO, an adorable picture that brings back a trainload of memories. This is from 2003 and we lived in Milwaukee, WI. We lived in some apartments named Applewood Village. Rachael and Talya were taking dance lessons up at the high school in Greendale not far from our apartment. We would go over there and they did their practice and it was great. This particular day was their "show" for the parents and whoever wished to come. The teacher was not that great but I think it was worth it just to have this picture.

Seeking Shalom,
Bobby V

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Reflections on June

Reflections on June

Greetings from the land of Saguaros and Scorpions. As you can tell June has been a quite month for me. I thank all those who have sent me emails and believe it or not some have even called me wanting to know "where are you" and "what's up." For this I am grateful and pleasantly surprised. But June is one for the record books in the annals of Bobby V. The month began with a rather sudden and unexpected trip to Alabama. Because of the "situation" in my life this trip was necessitated or my parents would not get to see my girls until sometime next year. I got back on a Friday and had to pack on Saturday for 2 weeks of summer camp on top of Mt Graham ... about 10,000 feet up in the desert sky.

I had my girls for the month of June and they were my priority above all else ... and now one of the great things that suck about divorce is going a whole month without seeing your girls (which will be the case for July). This was not and is not something I like.

The first week of camp was for Rachael. Talya and I camped out in our tent while Rach was doing her thing. The second week was Talya's week and I was stuck in a cabin with a bunch of 11 and 12 yr old boys. That was an adventure let me tell you. I also served as Bible teacher ... and the lessons were on "Forgiveness" ... how ironic can that be.

In the middle of the week Talya informed me she wanted to be baptized. She wanted to do it at PV though. So we came down the Mt on Saturday and went to the Gathering and I had the awesome privilege of immersing her into the name of Jesus ... just as I had done Rachael a couple years ago in Robinson Creek in WI. Those were two of the most wonderful moments of my life.

We had some wonderful times over the month. We hiked. We struggled. We laughed. We even cried a few times. We went to see Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda together.

Hopefully I will be able to get back to blogging. I posted two videos this evening as well. Check them out. One by Nickle Creek and the other by Jethro Tull ... Here are a few pics from camp.



The Edge of the World ... literally



Straight Down 300+ Ft ... not far from the above image "at the Edge"



The desert from 10,000 ft at the lookout on Mt Graham ...



The Stoned-Campbells at the Lookout ...

Lord Come Quickly.
Bobby V

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Speaking of reading ... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released at 12:01 am this morning. Wow! What a night in the bookstore!

About a six weeks ago Rachael and I made a date for daddy-girl time: Friday, July 20 we would be at Borders Bookstore for the "Deathly Hallows Bash." We reserved our copy. Yesterday we went up and got our wristband with our placement in the book buying (Silver with two bars in the first Borders ... that means were in the second "huge" group).

We arrived at Borders last night about 9 pm and the place was already filling up. We found a spot in the children's book section to be near the festivities. There was Harry Potter spelling bee. There was a Snape debate. And there was a costume contest. And there were some great costumes. Rachael was Hermione and looked great.

I was blown away by how many folks were there. There were thousands! I knew Potter was an "event" but I was not prepared for the numbers last night. Once midnight struck the only activity that mattered was getting your book and getting out of there. So you listened for your color and the number of bars and its placement on your wristband. We finally got our copy at 1:32 am and Rachael was smiling from ear to ear. I took the book and read the last page quickly and knew immediately what is going to happen. Now in the next day or so we will find out how they got there.

I hope we created a few memories for Rachael. I had a good time and I know she did too. Sometimes we have to read ... the fun stuff too.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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On Top of Mt Lemmon

On Top of Mt Lemmon



It looks like someone did not make the curve. This is a van that is WAY down in the gorge. Zoomed in with my camera. Not sure how long that van has been there but it looks like a long time.




Rachael and Talya at Windy Point



The Road along the Mountain side.



Hey, there are trees in Arizona!! You just have to go nearly 10,000 feet up to find them, :-)




What Tucson looks like from the very top of Mt Lemmon. The little white specks are houses. The brown strip is the air force base that covers several miles ... looks small from here. The trees are bare because of the fire a couple years ago on Mt Lemmon.

Blessings,
Bobby Valentine

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What's Happening in Bobby's World

What's Happening In Bobby's World

First let me apologize to my four or five readers for my extended absence from blogging. This was not really a planned sabbatical from contributing to the noise of cyberspace rather it sort of just happened.

Over the last two weeks I have been either out of town speaking at a conference or on top of Mt. Graham. From June 21 to 23 I was in Detroit, MI at Rochester College attending the Christian Scholars Conference. The Plenary Addresses were given by Philip Jenkins of Penn State. Jenkins has written two very well received books: The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity. I will be sharing more about these books in the near future. But to say that I was enthused by Jenkins presentations is an understatement. Rarely can I say that a scholar has so held my attention. And his presentations were simply rich.

I presented a paper to the Conference on Friday afternoon titled:

"In with Wallace; Out with Brewer: K. C. Moser, The Herald of Truth and the 1920s"

I shared the results of some of my research into the development of Moser's theology and ministry from 1920s and made the case that Moser underwent a revolution of his core theology. That he in the beginning of the 1920s was in fact part of the Texas Tradition and closely associated with Foy E. Wallace Jr but between 1924 and 1926 encountered a "Spirit" that broke his back.

I had one of the most interesting journeys back from Detroit to Tucson that I have ever had. I flew from Detroit right over downtown Milwaukee and into the little bitty airport in Madison, WI. I was there for two hours and then flew to the Twin Cities and was there for many hours. Our 757 had multiple problems. We were taxing out and the right engine died on us. We had to be towed back. We waited for about an hour and half on the plane. Then they decided we needed to deplane and get on another one. I ended back home a little after 3 am. I awoke to teach my class (Hosea: The Heart of God) and preach (Community 101: A Resurrected People from Ephesians 2).

As soon as worship was over we packed everything quickly into my Saturn Vue and made the three hour trip up to Arizona Church of Christ Bible Camp. Camp is on top of Mt Graham at about 10,000 ft. We left Tucson and it was about 107 but on top of the mountain it was right about 75ish. What a wonderful change!!

Pamella and I were the Bible teachers for camp. Our theme was the Shema: Hear O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord, is One. You shall love the Lord with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. We had a great time.

In Mississippi we were worried about bugs in the cabins. In Wisconsin we were worried about mice and the like. On Mt. Graham we worried about the bears getting in. We had a bear and her cub visit us several times. We discovered her about a hundred yards or so off the boys cabins. The next night after lights out she made her presence known through the middle of the camp. She was not a small bear. Bears make camp interesting to say the least!

On friday we made a five mile hike at 10,000 ft to a lake. At the lake there is a "lookout" that is nothing short of breathtaking. You are standing at the edge of a ledge that drops a thousand feet or so. The ledge looks out into the valley that is 10,000 ft below. On a good clear day you can see for 150 miles. From Mt Graham we could see the mountains by our house. I have a couple of pictures that I plan to post in the next day or two from the look out. It was stunning.

Well that is my report, the short version, of what has been going on. Thanks for checking in and reading.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Happy Birthday Rachael

Happy Birthday Rachael

On March 29, 1995, Pamella and I ventured from our home in Luling, LA to the movie theater in Kenner (both burbs of New Orleans). We were to take in the special edition of Star Wars. It was great! Near the end of the film Pamella "informed" that she thought she had begun labor. That began our great adventure. We drove to Houma, LA (but I had to stop and get gas for my Geo Metro). When we arrived at the hospital in the middle of the bayou they were going to send us back home but then got really worried about Pamella's blood pressure which had gone through the roof. So they started a drip in an IV to make her continue in labor. Early the next morning, May 30, Rachael Nichole Valentine entered our world. The first person at the hospital was none other than Pastor Feelgude (Don Neyland) who preached just down the road, and still does.

That night I spent the night at Don's house and there was a terrible thunderstorm. I go early the next morning to go back to the hospital and there was the most beautiful and brilliant rainbow I had ever seen, I knew everything was going to be alright. I have been sitting here looking back over 12 years and wondering how in the world that much time has gone by.

I remember playing pony (I was the pony), bouncing, reading Go, Dog, Go! a billion times or Good Night Moon over and over and over again, playing doctor (I was the patient) or her first day of school, first time for summer camp ... she is getting big. Let me share a photo or two or maybe three ...

The Delight of a Child



Rachael's Eighth Birthday Party in our apartment in Milwaukee



Rachael in her ballet costume



Rachael ready for Halloween



At the Races Last Summer



With her sister in the land of Scorpions and Saguaros



Rachael you have come along way since 1995. How big you have grown. I have loved ever minute of having the honor and blessing of being your daddy. I am very proud of you and I love you dearly. You really do live out the meaning of your name ... you are indeed a little lamb of God. Happy Birthday.

Love,
Dad

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Tribute to a Noble Wife & Mother

Tribute to a Noble Wife and Mother

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her ... Her husband is respected in the city gate ... Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her" (Pr 31.10-11, 23, 28)

Not only does she make her husband and kids look good in the city gate, more importantly she does so at the race and the game (Milwaukee Mile) ...



"Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me ..." (S of S 6.5,8-9, NIV)



Pamella watches over her children as they grow (like they have since this picture of Christmas 2004); Molding them to be lovers of Jesus and his kingdom.



Scripture must have had her in mind when it reads: "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful ... your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely ... " (S of S 4.1, 3, 11).



She is wonderful to her family



Noble, loving and caring as she is, Pamella also reminds me of the heroine Judith. Judith was "beautiful in appearance and lovely to behold" (Judith 8.7). Soft on the outside and tough as nails on the inside. There is that subdued strength to do the unbelievable--in Judith's case it was to deal ever so boldly with Holofernes who threatened God's people. She is my own Storm (for those who read comic books).

"Your eyes are doves" (S of S 1.14; 4.1)



Rachael, Talya and I thank you very much for making us all look good. Thank you for teaching us, caring for us, protecting us, praying for us, playing with us, and loving us. For the record the girls picked each picture ... plus one with the belly button. I love you and am proud to say you are my wife and mother of my children.

Beauty and the Beast ...



On his wedding night, the young Tobias asked his bride, Sarah, to kneel in prayer ...

"Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors,
and blessed is your name in all generations forever.
Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever.
You made Adam, and for him you made Eve
as a helper and support.
From the two of them the human race has sprung.
You said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone;
let us make a helper for him like himself.'
I now am taking this woman of mine,
not because of lust, but with sincerity.
Grant that she and I may find mercy
and that we may grow old together."
(Tobit 8.5-7)

May it be so. Happy Mother's Day

Your loving Husband

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Ok, Now it is Hot

Ok, Now it is Hot!

They have been making fun of me here in the land of Saguaros and Scorpions because I have felt it was a little on the warm side. But they keep telling me (why??) that I haven't seen "nothing yet." Well it seems to me that 103 degrees is hot by any standard. Yes it will get hotter still but agree with me 103 is still hot!!

But it is a dry heat. I am sure you have heard that one before and it is true to some extent. Going from the sunshine into the shade makes a big difference. But in case you did not notice there is not much of that in the desert.

I'm not really complaining. I will have a pool I can boil in one day. The good thing is I am trying to sell my Saturn (its value recently went up considerably, :-) ) and get a Harley. I will strap some ice packs on my chest and drive down the street ....

My family recently went hiking in the Coronado National Forest (really not many trees) and witnessed that even the Saguaros get burnt up in the heat. Witness this skeleton of two giant Saguaros.



In the middle of Coronado National Forest is what is supposed to be the "most photographed" rock in the forest. It looks like a face. Click on it and check out the expression.



Now that is a face that has been ... baked, :-)

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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A Few Photos of the Pepperdine Adventure

A Few Photos of the Pepperdine Adventure



Stoned-Campbell Disciple teaching on Thursday Nite




The Professing Professor




Danny Dodd and Al Sturgeon after Danny's class




Rachael, Talya, Tom and Vonnie Phillips playing on the beach



Rachael (R) and Talya (L) in sunny and "warm" Malibu




The Oscar Myer Weiner Going Down Pacific Coast Highway

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Adventures at Pepperdine 2

Adventures at Pepperdine, II (Photo of the Three Amigos)

Monday night we walked down Ventura Blvd which was the street our Vue decided to break down. We looked around for a good place to eat. Pamella spotted a cool looking hamburger joint so we crossed the street and walked inside. After ordering we learned they did not take either credit cards or debit cards ... so we walked further down the street.

Having an "eagle eye" :-) I spotted a sign that said "Fine BBQ." Apparently they mean something different for BBQ in California than in Memphis!! I was expecting a really fine BBQ pulled pork sandwich! I was I in for a shock. The restaurant ended up being a middle eastern "BBQ" joint. But we had a good time insisting we were eating Iraqi BBQ.

Tuesday: Coming around the bend on Pacific Coast Highway in our rented Nissan Sentra (not our Saturn Vue which needed costly repairs) and seeing the cross towering over the landscape on the hillside was a welcome sight.

We checked into the Towers and took in the sights. We found out later that John Mark Hicks and his lovely wife, Jennifer, were our suite mates. Two guys sharing a bathroom with four ladies ... now that is an interesting scenario. During the week our sink stopped working apparently for we had a sign placed around it that read "Plaser No - Use."




I was real pleased with the turn out for our three part "Late Night" class (we were competing with David Letterman): A Gathered People: Revisioning the Assembly as Sacramental Encounter. I know that is a title that would scare most folks away but our room was completely full every night, with folks standing in the door on the first night. And our publisher should be happy because all together 50+ people purchased prepublication copies of A Gathered People (to be released in September). Blogger Steve Pucket came to our class. My friend Yuki Obata came to all three presentations (thanks Yuki) and he even quoted Kingdom Come in his keynote address--I did not expect that (btw I was grateful that Jerry Rushford asked Yuki to be a keynote ... Yuki will do almost anything for Taco Bell). Leafwood Press sold out of all the copies of Kingdom Come they brought to the lectures ... Lisa did not tell me how many copies that was but she did say it sold out.

My family went to Coogies for dinner in Malibu. There we ran into fellow bloggers and friends: Greg England, Cecil Walker, Keith Davis, Craig Smelser and Rick Janelle. In the Sand Bar I ran into Tom Perkins who had not seen since I left Mississippi.

On Thursday night we went out with the Hicks to Paradise Cove on the beach north of Malibu. The Rockford Files were partially filmed at this location. We ran into Don McLaughlin and Randy Harris there (Randy will be doing the Men's Retreat here at PV in '08).

The People: Giving a list of names is very biblical (cf. Romans 16). I love lectureships for the classes but I love them more for reconnecting with my friends. I had lunch with Charme Robarts and Carisse Berryhill (who also came to all three of our classes). I got to spend quite a bit of time with my friend and encourager Tom Olbricht. I bumped into Joel Solliday all over the place. I visited with Tim Stafford who I have not seen in a very LONG time. We made a new friend, Igor Egirev from Rostov in Russia. I met Al Sturgeon for the first time and went to Danny Dodd's excellent class on John 18. I got to visit with Greg Taylor of Wineskins.org I spent some time with my buddy Edward Robinson and took in his outstanding class on Samuel R. Cassius ... and learned to my shock that he thanked me in the front cover of his biography of Cassius, To Save My Race from Abuse, published by the University of Alabama Press (I was humbled by that). I got a chance to visit with Victor Knowles, Gary Holloway and Doug Foster. I wanted to have coffee with Steve Pucket but that did not materialize much to my disappointement. Another that I had table fellowship with was Greg Demmit (spelling?) whom I had not met previously. I am sure I am overlooking some one but we had a great time.

The Classes: I took in Jeff Walling's classes and must say I think they are the best I have ever heard from him. They were entertaining yes! But they were beyond that. They were thoughtful and I think much needed. I took in Randy Harris' first class and got the CDs for the rest. No commentary is needed on Harris. I wanted to take in Steve Pucket's class but we had to leave prematurely so I missed it. I took in a session with Victor Knowles, Danny Dodd, the panel discussion on the Stone-Campbell Movement and Evangelicalism. I took in a session with Monte Cox. Of the keynotes I really enjoyed Harold Shank because what he said was not only near and dear to my heart but also true to scripture. Oh how I wanted to hear David Fleer but alas I had to miss it. I started to take in a Rick Atchley class but soon found out we are on the same page on the new heavens and new earth. I am grateful that he has been been reading my blog, ;-)

What is a lectureship without buying books? So I bought a few. I figured if I am going to spend my money on that Saturn Vue then I am going to get a book or two or three ... And I branched out this time. I bought some unusual books for me (some of them any way). I bought Suzy Brown's Radical Recovery: Transforming the Despair of Your Divorce into an Unexpected Good. This book came highly recommended and I am looking forward to digging into it. Along the same lines I bought Rubel Shelly's new book Divorce & Remarriage: A Redemptive Theology. I picked up a book I have wanted for a while but simply never took the time to buy, Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. I broke down and bought Michael Casey's biography The Rhetoric of Sir Garfield Todd: Christian Imagination and the Dream of an African Democracy. Todd was a Disciples missionary to Zimbabwe, rose to be Prime Minister, fought for the dignity of the African peoples ... a good man. I also picked up (like everyone else) Darryl Tippens, That's Why We Sing: Reclaiming the Wonder of Congregational Singing. On one of the ignored book tables I found a bargin about one of my favorite preacher/theologians, The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards: American Religion and the Evangelical Tradition. Finally I got Robert Brimlow's What About Hitler? Wrestling with Jesus' Call to Non-Violence in an Evil World. I have read most of this already and will be posting a review of it. It is a profound and provocative book.

Things we Missed: Pamella and I missed the speakers reception at the Benton home for the second time. Our class schedule made it impossible for us to attend. We were both disappointed. Me-because I want to visit and chat and Pamella because of the good chocolate, ;-) I missed out meeting Pamela Anderson at the Pepperdine baseball game (Al did not though).
I missed out on a few classes on Thursday because I went to pick up my Vue from Livingston Pontiac. We missed out on the Ghetti Museum which we planned on going to.

We had a great time. But Pamella started to feel ill on Thursday night and we decided to come home. Thanks to all my friends out there who took the time to share with me and my family. Thank you Jerry Rushford for another of the best lectureship in the Churches of Christ.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Adventures at Pepperdine

Adventures at Pepperdine, I

My family pulled out of our driveway in Tucson, AZ at 5 a.m. on Monday morning. We made good time and had a good trip. The mountains and desert between Tucson and Southern California has a stark beauty to it. There are long stretches where there is nothing. We saw a sign that said "McDonald's 90 miles."

Everything was going great and we were about 25 miles from Pepperdine. We were on Hwy 101 when I felt my clutch give way as I was passing a "slower" car. We got off the hwy and our Saturn Vue died in the intersection. It would not come out of gear and then it would not go back in. God was smiling on us because there was a GM dealer across the street. I got the Vue to go and we literally coasted into the parking lot.

The tech said that cylinder went out and this would cost 350 bucks and labor would be 860!! We rented a car, got a hotel room across the street, and proceeded to Pepperdine on Tuesday morning. I got a phone call from the tech and he informed that I would also need to replace the pressure plate and flywheel ... I picked the Vue up on Thursday after shelling out $1563.43. I seriously considered trading it in. This SUV only has 50,000 miles on it ... That is our first adventure.

We had a great time but more on that later ...

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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The Blessing: Numbers 6.22-27

The Blessing, Numbers 6.22-27: A Page from My Journal ... January 12, 1997

I offer this meditation from my private journal written nearly ten years ago. As I recall it was inspired by a moment of delight in being a dad. The text of my meditation was the Priestly blessing in Numbers. I have never done this before ... but here it is ...

Our postmodern world is searching for a blessing! It is a world searching for meaning. People today wonder if there is a God. And if there is a God, does he care for me? Does he bless me? Is he concerned with me?

A Spanish philosopher by the name of Unamuno asserts there is no blessing to life. "Since we live only in and by contradictions, since life is tragedy and the tragedy is perpetual struggle, without victory or the hope of victory, life is contradiction." The Humanist Manifesto II (a thoroughly modernist document) declares that faith in a 'prayer-hearing' God is outmoded and unproved faith. They declare that even if God does exist he will not save us, we must save ourselves.

Most people grant the existence of God. But I suspect that many often wonder, if not out loud, at least to ourselves "does God really care?" I have often secretly asked the question.

This text today is a familiar one. I have probably read it a hundred times and used at the end of worship services many times. Or heard people use it in prayer. It is so common simply because it speaks powerfully of God's care for us.

Numbers 6: 22-27 is short and to the point - a mere 15 words in Hebrew. Yet so comforting to believers. This text declares that God is not impotent in relation to human need. He takes the initiative to do what we cannot do. He ACTS! He changes things.

The text reads;

24 The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD turn his face/lift up his eyes and give you peace.

27 So they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them.

God created humans in the beginning to be with him. To share communion with him. He created us in his image. He created man to bless man. But we fell. The early history of man is dominated by a curse. Because man fell we were separated from God, alienated from one another and without peace.

So according to the biblical story God called Abram, specifically to reverse the curse. Scripture quotes Yahweh saying, "I will bless you . . . I will bless those who bless you" (Gen. 12:3). So in a real sense the history of Israel is not only the history of salvation it is the history of God's blessing on humanity.

In this text God says to Aaron and the priests of old "I want you to publicly bless my people. I want them to know that I care for them." There are three main lines to Aaron's blessing each getting progressively longer with 3, 5, and 7 words respectively per line in the Hebrew text. This give the impression of great movement. It is like the Mississippi River, it is so small at its beginning you can step across it, but when it gets to New Orleans it is a mighty torrent. That is how God's blessing is on his people.

God certainly cares for his people. Six actions of God are mentioned in our text: blessing and keeping; shines and gracious; turns his face and gives peace. All of these are gifts of God to his people -- they constitute his blessing on his people. "The Lord bless you and keep you." When the Lord enters into a covenant with his people he blesses them. The result of God's blessing is not only spiritual but also earthly. Moses tells us in Deut. 28: 1-14 of all the blessings God gives us and the amazing thing about them is how earthly they are.

God takes care of his people because he cares far us. But also one specific result of blessing mentioned by God here is that God keeps his people. That is significant. It is also Good News! I may fail God and I will. I may wander in the wilderness and we all have and will again. The good news is that I may fail but God won't. It is no mistake that the word here in our text is LORD and not God. That is because LORD is God's special covenant name with Israel. He is faithful and keeps his people even when we fail. This very idea is expanded in Christ. Peter says that Christians are "shielded by the power of God until the coming day of salvation..." (1 Peter 1:5). And Jude, the Lord's brother, puts it this way "To him who is able to keep you from falling and present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy" (v-24). God cares about his people that is why he blesses us by keeping us.

But the blessings get even better because "the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious toward you" This special blessing expels the idea of a cold distant God once and for all! With vivid and bold metaphor God directs Aaron to say publicly that God's face shines upon us. Another scripture captures the same image using different words, its one of my favorite verses in the Bible: "the Lord is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zeph. 3:17). This text affirms that not only does God care for his people that he loves them and delights in us. The image is that God is so happy or delighted with us that his face shines! and Zephaniah even says that he rejoices over us and sings. What blessings have come my way. He is my father.

When I put Rachael and Talya down for bed at night and we sing "I love you, you love me we’re a happy family." It thrills my heart to do that with them. That is how God is. He blesses us by smiling down at his children because of the sheer joy we bring to him. Yes, indeed, God cares for his people. The blessing results in "peace" from God. Aaron is instructed to use the singular "you" in our text. This is not just the nation as a whole he is blessing but individuals of the kingdom of God. The idiom translated as `turn his face' or `lift his eyes' is very powerful. It communicates that the Lord knows each and every one of us. He lifts up his eyes and sees ME! Out of the whole universe God knows me as an individual -- what a blessing.

But God knows us so he can give us peace. We cannot have peace without God. This again takes on great significance for us today. Paul tells us that Christ gave peace, made peace and is our peace! God indeed cares for his people that is why he blesses us. He even allowed Jesus to die for me because he wanted to bless me ... he wanted to be my Dad.

Israel believed this word of the Lord to Aaron. Notice that verse 27 says that when Aaron publicly blesses the people that the Lord would put his name on them. The ancient Israelites took this to heart – literally apparently. In 1979 an archeologist in Jerusalem discovered two small silver scroll amulets (similar to an ear ring). These amulets date to 600 B.C. and contain this text inscribed on them. They are the oldest known fragment of the Bible, over 400 years older than the Dead Sea Scrolls. The person wearing these amulets died in the destruction of Jerusalem, but his/her faith in the Lord has lasted 2600 yrs. As Israelites wore the Lord's name on them in the form of ear rings we have been given the name of his Son -- Christian. What blessings continue to flow from this text into our lives each and every day.

"Praise he to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).

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Rachael (Little Lamb) Nicole Valentine

Rachael (Little Lamb) Nicole Valentine

On Saturday it seemed like Rachael just had another cold or a virus. After all some stomach bug has been making the rounds here in the desert. By Tuesday it had become painfully obvious this was not a cold or a bug. Rachael was curled up on her bed, rocking back and forth and crying painfully.

Pamella took Rachael to the Doctor. We did not have one yet so she found a clinic on Tanque Verde Rd and pulled in. After a brief examination the doctor insisted we go to the emergency room at the Tucson Medical Center. We arrived at the ER around 4:30 pm and were there for a very long time. They did x-rays, blood work, urine samples and whatever else you can think of. Around 10 pm the decision was made to admit Rachael to the hospital but there were no rooms available so we had to stay in the ER. The decision was made that Pamella would take Talya home and I would remain in the ER with Rachael. During the night (at 1 am) Rachael got an ultrasound done. They pumped her little body with moriphin several times.

A surgeon showed up about 8 am on Wednesday. After more blood tests and more "consultation" the decision was made to take Rachael to the operation room. The doctors decided that Rachael was suffering from an inflamed appendix. But they were not positive. They wanted to "look" and see. We were not happy with this situation but decided to listen to the doctor anyway. We just wanted her not to be in any more pain.

I thought the night was bad. And believe me it was bad staying in "bed 22" in the ER. But the surgery was much harder than I expected. When they are about to put your little girl "under" that is not a good feeling ... if you have not experienced it you have no clue. I know because I had no clue until confronted with it. Seeing the doctor one hour and 22 minutes later coming down the hall with a smile on her face was one of the greatest things I have ever experienced.

They did operate on Rachael and removed her appendix. They also drained 150 mLs of fluid. As of now we do not know where all that fluid came from. But the doctor said that was a lot of fluid in the pelvic region in an eleven year old.

Right about lunch time today (Thursday), we wheeled Rachael out of the hospital and loaded her into the car. We drove home and put her on the couch where she promptly went to sleep. Later today she wanted to watch Pete's Dragon and I think we are out of the woods.

Through this ordeal Pamella has been a wonder woman. Talya has been concerned for her sister. And our church family at Palo Verde was great. We even had friends from Milwaukee praying and calling. There were even quite a few folks from Nashville praying.

Thank you, Abba Father, for being with Rachael. In the middle of the night when we did not know what was happening, I confess to be scared. You provided us Trisha, a wonderful nurse. She took care of Rachael in a loving way ... and that took care of me. Thank you, Father, for being with Rachael in the operation room when she was scared and giving her peace. Thank you, Father for watching over my little lamb ... she is most precious to me. Amen.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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My Wonderful Valentines

My Wonderful Valentines



I am a blessed and happy man. My Valentines are getting bigger ... bigger than the picture shows. But each is a gift of grace from the Lord to me. Thank you Pamella for being my wife. Thank you Rachael and Talya for making me a proud Daddy.

You are Valentines in deed not just name.

I Love You.
Bobby

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Photos from the Trek

Photos from the Trek

This picture is the end of the journey at our new home in Tucson, AZ. We are next to the Tanque Verde Wash ... a dry river bed for most of the year.

Pray for us.

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Somewhere in NM

Some where in New Mexico at a "pull over." It was very windy. Poor Jody, our dog, got a splinter in her paw and became an even bigger baby than she already is.

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Proof we WERE in Texas

Proof we were in Texas. Not much to see here ... except the world's biggest cross. Indeed the cross (not far from Amarillo) is a "mecca" for those doing the Stations of the Cross as a spiritual discipline.

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