Well, they say, “Getting there is half the fun.” If so, we had a real blast! Two airplanes in Atlanta broke down on us; fortunately we were on the ground at the time, so that’s good. But we were three and a half hours late getting to LAX. No big deal, except that it was so late that our rental car company had closed and so we were stuck in L.A. without the car that I had gotten such a great deal on! We were able to get one from Avis, and the kind lady at the desk took pity on us and gave us a big Buick at a substantial discount. We finally arrived at our hotel in Camarillo (outside Oxnard) at about 1:30 a.m. (or 4:30 a.m. back home). I really hope that was not half the fun!
We made it to Pismo Beach early Saturday afternoon. After walking on the beach and making two (!) runs to Wal-Mart and having lunch at our favorite out-of-the-way vacation eatery (Denny’s), we went on to our room in Avila Beach (2 exits down 101 from Pismo Beach). Lynn found one of those deals in the back of a coupon book, and it looks like it is really going to be a geat deal! Instead of a hotel, we’re tucked snuggly into a resort condo with an ocean view (if you hang precariously off the balcony). But its really nice and really cheap (think Hilton accommodations at Motel 6 prices). So far we have been able to duck the nice person who wants to give us the timeshare tour!
We went to church at the Grace Bible Church, the same non-denominational congregation we worshipped with last year. Like last year, we were surprised with how comfortable we were worshipping there even though much of it was on the surface quite different. Just to make me feel comfortable, they sang “God of Wonders,” one of my favorite worship songs and one we sing at Denbigh (some would say too much). Sure, the praise band was a “little” different from what I’m used to, but they did their best to stay out of the way so that God could stay at the center. The service lasted an hour and a half (thirty minutes of praise and worship with an hour of preaching). The sermon was “a bit” longer than we are used to, but it was right out of the text of John. (There is a reason they call themselves a Bible Church). The preacher had some great things to say about Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit—things that you could hear me preach at Denbigh (except it would be a three part series). We enjoyed the worship and study, and it made us look forward even more to the spiritual feast that awaits us at Pepperdine.
So if our vacation is so great, then what am I doing writing a blog? Lynn finished up a class she is taking for work right before we left. Well, she thought she finished. Her teacher evidently did not receive her last submission online, so she has to redo it. Since we have to pay for the wireless access anyway, I thought I’d go ahead and keep you informed as to how things are going! So… things are going great! I might check back again before we return to Denbigh… or I might not.
2 comments:
Tuck,
You can preach as long as you want. We don't mind going over. Maybe you can extend the worship service by half an hour.
Thanks Clifford. I'll make sure that everyone knows that it was your idea for me to preach longer! I heard of an old elder who would dramatically check his pocket watch if the preacher went 5 minutes long. At 10 minutes, he banged it on the back of the pew (like he was making sure it was still working). Good thing we have padded chairs that won't make much noise if folks bang on 'em!
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