Living in Contra Costa County

Reaching People Across a Culture

I have a friend named Matt Vance. Matt came from a pretty rough background. I will let him share his story with you if he wants. But Matt met a man named Jesus and it turned his life around and saved his family.

I got to know Matt when he was one of my sons leaders back in Ranger Kids five or six years ago and latter him and I had some heartfelt talks at a men's retreat. Matt ministers and works with other men coming out of the gang and inner city culture.

Matt is a man to be admired. Matt's stage name is Least of All (His Group is Not By Sight - apparently there are a number of groups with that name.) to reach people that like this type of music with the message of Jesus Christ. Now Matt and I have different taste in music. Let me be Blunt – I don't like to listen to his style music. But there are a number of people that do and they need to hear what it has to say.

The Apostle Paul sets the example for us in 1Corinthians 9:22 by encouraging us to become all things to all men. Basically we have to meet people where they are at.

Here is a Video he released on Youtube. I guess it is a Music Video although there is a story line along with it and I understand there are to be more parts to this story released.

If this is your type of music great. If not it might be what your kids like or what someone you know likes to hear. Please share this with them. And go to Least of All's Facebook Page and give them a LIKE.

Santa Claus Sighting in East County Mall – Antioch Ca

Last night I took the five youngest boys to see Santa at East County Mall in Antioch Ca. This Santa is very good, the best part was there were no lines at about 7:30 PM.

Now there was a time we dressed them all up and where very formal about. However, we are now worn out parents of 6 kids and feel lucky to even keep them in the same place for brief moments. For some reason my 15 year old son felt this trip was beneath his dignity.

There were a lot of pictures snapped trying to get smiles on all their little faces – This is as good as it gets.

Merry Christmas from Gene and his crew!

December’s Season of Celebrations & Sharing Contest – Scrooge

Scrooge is a high quality production of the classic Dickens story put on annually at Calvary Temple in Concord Ca.

Calvary Temple is the church on the hill to the north of Highway 4 as you cross over the pass from Concord to Pittsburg.

The play is on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on the Weekends of the 9^th to the 11^th and 16^th to the 18^th. Friday performances are at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 6:00 pm, and Sunday at 4:00 pm.

Calvary Temple is at 4725 Evora Road, Concord Ca 94520.

General Admission seating is still available for $12.00, $8.00 for seniors and children 5 -12. Premier setting is $15.00 and $11.00 for seniors and children 5-12. All setting in the Producers Circle is $20.00.

For more information call 925-458-9100 x 122 or go to www.ScroogeInfo.org.

Come out and enjoy Scrooge this Christmas!

Well the Continental All Stars from Walnut Creek went down to defeat Thursday night in a 10-5 loss to South Oakland.

I wish they had gone on as the next night they would have played in Albany California and my son may have played on the same fields I played on 40 years ago.

Corbin made two great catches in center in the final game (and dropped a 3rd on the run).  He went one for three at the plate with no strike outs. 

Well now we get a break for the rest of the month and he picks up with Travel Ball in August.

I wrote Last Week About Corbin Being in The Allstars.  Here is the Allstar update for Walnut Creek California Continental Little League.

Well they got beat last night. Got beat bad 8-1. They did not look sharp. My hunch is they practiced too much the day before in the heat. Corbin made a poor bunt (right back to the pitcher) and the runner on first was thrown out at 2nd, but Corbin did get first on a fielders choice. Then he struck out twice.

Not much action in center field except to watch 2 home run balls sail over his head. He was brought in to pitch. In two innings he gave up 2 unearned (errors on the infield) runs - no earned runs. They pulled him to keep his pitch count down so he is available today.

Today is the first came in the loser bracket of the double elimination. It is do or die tonight.

Corbin Riemenschneider - Allstar

For those of you who read my post you know my Son # 2 Corbin is a great baseball player.  He plays First Base, Center Field, and does some pitching.

This year he was selected to the Continental League Allstar team.  In Little League the 12 year old Allstar team is the pinnacle.  It is the Allstar teams that play for the Little League World Series.

We are a long way from that.  They are just getting started in the District 4 Tournament - which is double elimination.  They won there first game on Saturday 4-0 and play again Wednesday. 

Corbin is a great First Baseman (I think the best on the team) but they have 3 left handed first basemen and they are all very good.  Corbin is also the best Center Fielder so he played 6 innings in Center the other day.

At bat he went 3 for 3 and scored from 3rd on a fly ball.

Any way I can hardly wait for the 2nd game Wednesday.

Shannon has done a great job here of putting together a list of Fire Works here in Contra Costa County.  Brentwood generally has it's Fire works after the 4th of July at the Corn Fest.

Scrooge!

Every year Calvary Temple Church in Concord California puts on a very high end production of Scrooge. 

This is not your normal church Christmas Play, but a finely developed professional level production for the entire family.  Scrooge will certainly help you and the entire family get into the true spirit of Christmas.

There is nothing that makes me feel more like Christmas than a good visit to Victorian England and the Charcters of Charles Dickens.

There are six showings of Scrooge:  December 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19th.  General Admission Tickets are $12.00, $8.00 for seniors and children 5 to 12.  There are premium seats available for $15.00. with a discount price of $11.00 for seniors and children 5 to 12.  No Children under 5 are admitted. 

Calvary Temple in Concord is centrally located on the hill to the north of Highway 4 separating Concord from Bay Point; providing easy access to people in Central Contra Costa County and East Contra Costa County.

So if you live in Discovery Bay, Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Concord, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, or other parts of Contra Costa County and you want to really get into the Christmas Spirit come and enjoy this very well done production of Scrooge.

Royal Ranger Outpost 5 of Calvary Temple in Concord went on our Father - Son Camping Trip this weekend to Mount Diablo.

MY PHONE DIED AND I HAVE NO PICS - SO SORRY!

We camped at the Rock City Camp ground which is an area that features large amounts of rock formations coming up that are excellent for climbing. 

The boys had a lot of fun playing around on the rocks and there was plenty of good food.  Saturday morning we worked on Compass skills and the boys did compass courses. 

Before we left we drove to the top of Mt Diablo.  For those out of the area Mt. Diablo is only a little short of 4000' high, but it is the highest point for miles.  It is used as a landmark for surveys in the central part of the state.  It is also said that only on Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa can you see more land area from any one place.

On a clear day you can see to the Farralon Islands to the west out past San Francisco, Shasta to the north and the Sierra Mountains to the east.  There is a panoramic view of the entire east bay area at your feet.

All had a great time.  If you are interested in Royal Rangers let me know and I will put you in touch with the right people.

Royal Rangers of Outpost 5 went on a hike in Black Diamonds Mine Regional Park on Saturday.  Royal Rangers is part of the Assembly of God Church and works a lot like Scouting.  Rangers Ministers and works with boys from K-12.

About 20 of us showed up for the hike.  Black Diamond Mines is primarily an area that formerly had a a number of coal mines and small towns.  However, the picture of the boys is at the entrance to a sandstone mine.  The coal mines are dangerous and closed; although I think I went in one about 30 years ago in Boy Scouts. 

Little Sherman in the picture is my 3 year old that went on the hike with us; but they would not let him go in the mine at that age.  He was very upset.

Royal Rangers Out Post 5 meets at Calvary Temple in Concord.  Although technically in Concord it sets on the hill near Bay Point on Highway 4; effectively serving East County and Central County in Contra Costa.

Contact me if you are interested in Royal Rangers.

The Royal Ranger Emblem contains 8 Blue Points that stand for the 8 Points of the Ranger Code.

The 4 Gold Points stand for the 4 Phases of a Boys Development.

The 4 Red Points stand for the 4 Cardinal Points of the Church.

Each Month we focus on one of the Blue Points and either one of the Gold or Red Points.

In September our Blue Point is ALERT - A Royal Ranger is Alert - He is mentally, physically, and spiritually alert.

Our Gold Point is Physical.  To that end we have looked at Psalms 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.