Redeemer's Church in Reedley got a new pastor the end of this summer. His name is Nick Jones, and we took a moment to sit down and chat with him recently to learn more about his background and his plans for Redeemer's. Nick has been involved with some wonderful ministries in Fresno and has an inspiring story to tell.
The holiday spirit is alive and well at Clovis’s Woods Elementary School, which has been sponsoring a Giving Tree charity drive every December for over a decade. Woods parent Heather Devany gave Kings River Life the scoop on what the program is all about, and the Giving Tree’s impact on Woods Elementary and its surrounding community.
Prose and Cons will be my twentieth published book, and I knew that I wanted to do something special with its release to celebrate that accomplishment. There are giveaways, promotions, and parties that I could throw to celebrate. I’m doing all of those, but I wanted to do more. I’ve been given my greatest dream come true to be a published mystery author.
I thought hard for several days as to what to write about this week without being political. Politics consumed the American public for much too long during this election cycle, and it seemed it would never end. It still seems to be the focus of the media no matter who you watch.
Care Fresno has been making a difference in Fresno for over 20 years. From the early days, when Gordon Donoho first introduced the ministry to me, through the leadership of Nick Jones, and now under Randy Mewhirter, there have been many changes, but also much consistency. Care Fresno’s Mission is central to its work: “Training People and Churches to Address Poverty by Investing in Under-Resourced Communities and Mentoring At-Risk Youth and Families!”
Last month I spoke about the epidemic of child abuse and sexual assault in our society. I hope the information was valuable and made sense to you. I know statistics can be a little boring to look at and read, and I know there are those who do not really put much trust in statistical information. I also realize there are probably those who may not believe this conduct really occurs.
It’s fall, and you know what that means: pretty much overnight, we go from complaining about the relentless Central Valley summer heat to complaining that we’re cold. This is especially true if you’re out riding bikes! One day, you’re wondering if this is the year that 100-degree days just stick around forever, the next, you’re shivering and complaining to your riding partners that you’re freezing. I am not making this up. It happened last weekend.
Our children today are suffering from a tremendous, but hidden epidemic. That epidemic is child abuse, neglect, and sexual assault. Throughout my law enforcement career I have seen and heard many things that I once believed came only from the darkest depths of our society. Those things that no one wanted to talk about, think about, or believe, was going on right under our noses.
We so often stagger through life encumbered with the pressures of everyday problems and phantom concerns. We are sensitive to slightest slight and the subtlest gesture. We are quick to take offense and slow to receive healing when offended, much less to extend forgiveness. We step gingerly into new experiences and tremble at the very suggestion of risk or danger. We take our cues about our self-concepts from other people’s words and evaluations. We speak our minds and hearts with question marks. We timidly go where many have gone before and wouldn’t think of venturing where none have trod.
Mention to people that you ride bikes and undoubtedly someone will respond with, “There’s no way I’d ride my bike in the street with all those crazy drivers!” It would be irresponsible for me to pretend like distracted drivers aren’t a cause for concern. Of course they are—whether you’re on a bike or in a car, I might add! I’m just not willing to live my life in a protective bubble paralyzed by the fear of what if. As with most things in life, riding is a calculated risk. I take very intentional precautions, and then I confidently go out and enjoy the freedom that only riding brings me. I want to share some of the safety measures I take that give me peace of mind while I’m out on the road.
