Some highlights:

We closed escrow on our home!

One of the best parts? We didn’t even have to move!! After 12 years in the “parsonage” (church-owned home provided as part of a pastor’s compensation package), we were able to strike a deal and buy the house our kids have known throughout their entire academic years. Now, they’ll get to graduate High School living in the same house, which was much different from my life experience. By the time I was 18, I counted about 18 different houses we lived in and four different states!

We took our longest trip yet in the RV!

For Thanksgiving, we traveled to Lincoln, CA, where Colleen’s brother, Sean, his wife, Jenny, and their son, Sean Conor, just moved into a beautiful home they built almost entirely with their own hands on a 40 acre lot. It was a grand time of Colleen’s entire family being together for the holiday. It was our longest trip in the RV, and it was very comfortable in every way. We loved it! This trip was a precursor to our upcoming trip to Texas with my sister, April and her husband, Tom, and kids, Sarah and Evan. All 8 of us will depart on Christmas morning with Tom and I taking turns driving around the clock. Should be great fun! We’ll return January 3.

Jonathan transitioned away from “brick & mortar” public school.

After facing some unique challenges for the first time in school, we took Jonathan out of the traditional setting. He is being home schooled through an online public charter school called California Virtual Academies (CAVA for short). Being the technology lover, we think it will suit him well. He says he just wants to do this for 8th grade and then return to the traditional setting. We’ll see how it goes. So far, he is still trying to catch up, but one of the great things about the program is that it is self-paced. He can move at his speed.

Colleen’s last surviving grandmother passed away this week.

I was raised without the presence of grandparents in my life. Because of a divorce in the family, Colleen had three sets! Her last surviving step-grandmother, Marge Henderson, passed away suddenly yesterday at home in Arizona. I am honored to have been asked to officiate her memorial service, which will be this coming Monday afternoon. It will be an emotional week with Grandma Marge’s service bringing family we didn’t expect into town the week of Christmas. Then, final preparation for Christmas Eve Celebrations at church and the big trip to Texas. It will be the first time my side of the family has been all together in 11 years!

We finally got our building permit for our Breezeway Remodel at the church!!

After more than two years of planning and refining our Breezeway Remodel project at NewHeart, we finally received our permit to build. Matter of fact, as I write at this moment, we are sifting through bids from contractors to hopefully make a decision this Sunday afternoon. January 10 will be our last Sunday in the Sanctuary before construction begins that week. The project is slated to take 6 months.

Can’t think of anything else for now. I’m sure I’m missing something!

Anyway, the other day, I read something I found quite interesting about the choice of President Obama to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, but I just found it interesting food for thought.

A friend then sent me the following, and I felt it brought a whole new perspective to the link I posted above. So, additional food for thought:

Paul, the Pastor’s reasoning would be plausible if we were unable to recount history…

September 2008 – Invitation letters are sent out; The Nobel Committee sends out invitation letters to individuals qualified to nominate.

November 4, 2008 – Mr. Barack Obama elected to the US Presidency.

January 20, 2009 – The Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama was held in Washington, DC.

February 2009 – Deadline for submissions; The Committee bases its assessment on nominations that must be postmarked no later than 1 February each year. Nominations postmarked and received after this date are included in the following year’s discussions.

March 2009 – Short list prepared; The Committee assesses the candidates’ work and prepares a short list.

March through August 2009 – Adviser review; The short list is reviewed by permanent advisers and advisers specially recruited for their knowledge of specific candidates.

July 2009 – The President, while in Moscow, indicates he was ordering a 60-day review of the new missile defense architecture in Europe that “will provide stronger, smarter, swifter defenses of American forces and America’s allies.”

September 17, 2009 – President Obama abandons the plan to build a missile defense system in Europe.

October 2009 – Nobel Laureates chosen; at the beginning of October, the Nobel Committee chooses the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates through a majority vote.

December 2009 – Award ceremony

Based on the Pastor’s thoughts, our President would have reached out to world leaders to convince them of his foreign policy and announced a plan to dismantle the existing missile defense plan AND have the Nobel Committee informed of his decisions and intentions in less than 11 days (January 20, 2009, to January 31, 2009). Possible? Yes. Likely? No.

All Viking & Gold Coast Youth Football League games were canceled Saturday as a result and a candlelight vigil was held in his honor at the Apollo High School football field. That’s the Vikings home field. According to the news stations, hundreds came out.

Jonathan was at practice on Thursday night and saw the commotion around David from across the field, along with the rest of his team. We didn’t attend the vigil because we have some friends visiting from out of town.

There is no news currently about how David’s death occurred except that it was a result of bleeding in the brain. According to coaches of the team, there was nothing that occurred at practice that was out of the ordinary, and David collapsed while he was running, not as a result of any kind of direct injury.

You can read about it here or watch a news clip here or here.

Please pray for David’s family, his teammates, his coaches, and the entire league and community. This event will be a challenge to overcome and to process for everyone involved in any way.

A memorial fund has been set up for David’s family in this difficult time. If you would like to contribute, you cand do so with the following information:

Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
Memorial Fund for David Sumner
Account #0102770088
PO Box 1493
Simi Valley, CA 93062

I did find that the last half of the sabbatical was much less computer friendly than the first half. Just didn’t have the desire to be around the computer a whole lot. I journaled through the whole sabbatical (which I do on my computer), but there wasn’t much computer activity other than that.

Since I posted last, here are the highlights:

• We spent another week RVing in Buellton at our favorite spot, and it was awesome.
• I played more golf and got better as the sabbatical progressed.
• Golf included one round on the 14th anniversary of my brother’s death, on the golf course next to the cemetery where he’s buried. You can see my memorial shot here.
• Colleen and I enjoyed an incredible week in June Lake. You can see some great pictures here. We’re already planning to take the boys there next Summer.
• We discovered Schat’s Bakery in Bishop, CA. Amazing sheepherder’s bread!
• I’ve been back at the gym regularly and have lost almost 25 pounds. A whole lot more to go, but I’m on my way there!
• Josh is playing football for Simi High as a wide receiver of the freshman team. He’s not starting, but did get to play a few downs in the 3rd game. He plays on Thursday evenings.
• Jonathan is playing center for a Simi Valley Vikings team in the Senior division. He’s enjoying it immensely, and learned a valuable lesson last weekend, having to sit out a game for being suspended from school for a fight. He plays on Saturday evenings.
• Colleen is well into her 3rd semester teaching at Simi Valley Adult School on most Monday nights, Wednesday nights and a number of Saturdays.
• I turned 44 and had a wonderful birthday complete with family, good friends and lots of Black Forest cake!

Life in the Kuzma clan has been very busy between all four of our schedules. Finding time to just BE and not always DO is a challenge, as it is for all families. But we’re taking time where we can and attempting to be more intentional about our time together.

I am starting a news series at church this weekend, based on a popular song, some lessons out of my sabbatical, and some material written by a good friend of mine. The series is called “Live Like You Were Dying”. I think we could all use some more of that type of living to break the cycle of lifelessness and busy-ness, don’t you?

A Pastor’s schedule is quite interesting. Many think we only work one day a week (when we’re preaching). But nothing could be further from the truth.

I say that not with just myself in mind, but with all of my comrades and colleagues who are busting their behinds along with their entire congregations (like NewHeart!) to do God’s work and will! The needs are daily, and the mind and heart are always on the task at hand. There is no real “clocking in” or “clocking out”.

I am learning that to sustain life-giving ministry, a Pastor has to learn and discipline themselves to regularly unplug from the constant needs around him or her to recharge. Even then, I am also learning that it is a good thing every few years to allow for the separation from the “normal/abnormal” events and requirements of ministry to allow for a slow recharge to take place in the soul. I can feel it happening.

This morning, after getting up earlier than normal to take my son to a day-long football event he had to attend, I enjoyed the rest of the morning reading the Word, contemplating God and His creation, and allowing my soul to just soak in Him.

After my workout at the gym (I’ve been re-establishing this habit too), I spent a couple hours in the garage, sweating through the sanding and second coat of stain of a chair I’ve been refinishing. This thing is turning into a Summer-long project, but it’s good!

After a late afternoon nap and an evening hanging with my boys and their cousin, it struck me again … we/they are experiencing a normal Saturday, and it’s a good thing. Dad is around without the expectations and requirements that Sunday usually brings. It’s a good thing!

Yesterday, at the memorial service we attended, several folks asked if I was coming back. Oh, I’m coming back alright! Another part of this whole journey has been taming the anxiety (good anxiety, I think) of chomping at the bit to come back.

Now, tonight, I prepare to depart tomorrow with the love of my life for three days for her to unwind as well. Both of her jobs have somewhat continued, and she has had little opportunity to get away and unplug. (We have a gift of a week away in June Lake coming the third week of August, too!)

So, unplug we will! The computer stays home and even the phone disconnects from email once we depart tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it! See you when we get back!

The week we returned, Colleen was at one of her two jobs (nursing and teaching) for most of the week. Josh had football practice every day from 3-6 pm, Jonathan participated in a football camp from 9 am – 3 pm. We were much too busy beavers, but the activity has been good for the boys.

Last Saturday, Colleen get a penchant to have some folks over, so scrub away at the house we did all afternoon preparing for friends and neighbors to share an evening of good food, friendship, and our great firepit.

On Sunday morning, we visited Centerpoint Church here in Simi Valley, pastored by none other than my good friend, Steve Pope. We really enjoyed celebrating Jesus with other brothers and sisters in our own city. Later that day, we celebrated a 40th wedding anniversary with some good friends of ours. We unexpectedly ran into some old friends while there. It was a great time!

This week has thankfully been a bit slower is pace for us. However, we also mourned the passing of THREE people connected to the life of our church. None of them direct members, but parents of three of our folks.

Today, we attended the memorial service for Gail Tyson, who is Kelly Montgomery’s mom. It was a very moving time of celebration. Kelly’s son, Tyson (named after his mom’s maiden name as you can tell), shared what his Grandma meant to him. It was so powerful.

In 1997, Tyson went through treatment for a cancer that was connected to his bladder. His Grandma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just six months ago.

Some of you know Johnny Cox, a good friend of mine, and a Teaching Pastor at our church. Johnny’s dad, Joe, passed away in Texas today. It was expected (also from cancer), but is painful nonetheless. Johnny is headed from Iowa, where he was speaking at  camp, to Texas, tomorrow morning.

This Sunday, Colleen and I will leave for a trip to San Luis Obispo (about 3 hours north of us, including a beautiful drive along the coast!), where we’ll enjoy one of our favorite places, The Apple Farm. Got a really good deal on their website for the stay. We’re both looking forward to it, and it will be our first time to get away for just the two of us so far on sabbatical. We’ll come home Wednesday.

By the way, for those connected to me either through my blog, Facebook or Twitter, I’ll be going “off grid” while we’re gone. No email, Facebook, or blogging.

You might catch a tweet or two from Twitter (you can follow me here), but only if it’s for something to die for (in a FUN way!!), and I won’t be actually checking Twitter or conversing by it. Even email access by phone will be shut off. Phone access will be for the kids and family.

I have been planning to go off grid for an extended stint or two since the start of the sabbatical. This will be the first time actually doing it for more than 24 hours. I’m really looking forward to it!

I think that’s it for now. I’m sure there’s something I’ve forgotten to share, but that’s what happens to your mind on sabbatical!!!

The weekend was a hoot! On Thursday, we took the boys to Nojoqui Falls. A good hike and some good exercise and certainly beautiful surroundings, but the Falls were not much this year. Most likely due to drought.

On Thursday night, Colleen and Joshua arrived around 10 pm. My friend’s wife and his girls showed up I guess around the same time.

Friday morning, we slept in and rested a lot. Quite wonderful. In the afternoon, the boys hooked up for more crawdad fishing and thoroughly enjoyed it. The evening was our families together at the campsite while I BBQ’d two whole chickens and a tri-tip….yum!!!

Dessert was Smore’s at the campfire. This week, we discovered Smore’s made with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup instead of a plain piece of chocolate. If you’re a peanut butter lover, you gotta try it.

I’ve pretty much stayed away from a lot of sweets (some have been irresistible, I must say….) this week. I’ve started back at the gym the week before we left for camping. An application on my iPhone has been greatly aididng me in tracking my calories and exercise. I have set a goal to get to a certain weight by next Summer. We’ll see how it goes, but the first two weeks has been getting my body used to exercising again.

On Saturday, we had the surprise of some friends from church who came to visit for the day. Among them was Ceci Haedt, our Foursquare Ignite student who just returned from a missions trip to Japan and Korea. It was great to hear some about her time there and hang with good friends through the day.

We considered fireworks in Santa Barbara (30 minute drive) or Solvang (10 minute drive), but opted for neither of them. The boys weren’t all that interested, so we ordered pizza and watched a movie together until our friends who’ve been here all week returned from Santa Barbara.

Today, we again rested in the morning. We spent a few moments together as a family in Scripture and praying together before launching out for the afternoon. I want my boys to know that it isn’t church just when we go to church. We are the Church, so church ahppens anywhere God’s people gather. We were gathered here today, so we had church!

Spent the afternoon walking through Solvang, picking up souvenirs for the boys (a somewhat tradition) and then saying our good-byes.

Since Josh was only here a couple of days, he was bemoaning not having spent much time camping. So we’re hoping for another stint in a few weeks once he has his three week break from practice before his two-a-days begin. We’ll see.

Blessings to all of you reading this. For those at NewHeart, I sure miss you, and look forward to our future together! I pray for you regularly and think of you daily!

Until next time …

Today, my friend, Craig and I had the chance to golf at The River Course at Alisal in Solvang. I had heard a lot about the course and it definitely lived up to the expectations. Beautiful setting, great course in awesome shape. Craig was able to get us a decent deal for the round as an owner of his timeshare. Didn’t do too bad, shooting 102 for the day.

Funny thing was that last time I golfed was June 1. Today is July 1, and I golfed with the same friend then. We joked about setting a tee time for August 1!

Early in the afternoon, I got a call from the Police Department about a shooting that occurred in Simi Valley this morning. Most reading this will know I serve as a Police Chaplain in our city. There are five of us.

Though the shooter ended up killing his wife and injuring four others, the incident was over relatively quickly, the shooter is in custody, and our Officers are safe. They did a stellar job bringing the incident to resolution the way they did.

That’s the kind of stuff that I honestly struggle with in terms of being away. Not for the adrenaline rush of it, but the struggle of, “I should’ve been there for the Officers, the victims and their families.” I was greatly relieved to hear that all of our other Chaplains WERE able to respond to the incident when I called in to say I was out of town.

After our round of golf, we met our boys back at the RV park while they were frog hunting, which has turned into crawdad fishing. The frogs have been a no-go for whatever reason. Maybe the season isn’t right. So they’ve turned to trying to catch crawdads.

They were quite resourceful, having asked the front desk for a makeshift hook paper clip, and then spending their own money to buy string at the camp store. Then they took some lunch meat for bait. They ended up bringing home a good sized crawdad! I’ll try to post a picture of them and their crawdad in the next few days.

I was personally relieved to hear the news that Michael Jackson’s family had backed out of holding his funeral at the Neverland Ranch. We are only a few miles south of that location, so we knew this weekend would be jam packed with people trying to get there and be there.

View Larger Map

At the grocery store tonight, I struck up a conversation with the checker, who admitted to being very relieved they had backed out. She shared her feeling that the entire Santa Ynez Valley breathed a sigh of relief when the news broke earlier today!

Enough for now …..

It’s a few minutes before midnight. I am at an RV dining table watching my 13 year old son, Jonathan, sleep. Kids are precious when they’re sleeping, aren’t they? Heck, ADULTS are precious when they’re sleeping! I love to watch Colleen sleep. Digression, again …..

It is precious watching him sleep. We spent the last couple days packing together and encouraging each other about this trip. Joshua arrived home from his trip today just before we left for this one.

Arriving here about 6:30 pm, we started setting up camp (for what it’s worth, it IS a lot of work to set up an RV; I don’t care what you say …. everything still has to go somewhere….)

Jonathan did as much as he could and then just HAD TO go searching for frogs. We brought walkie-talkies, so he grabbed one so we could stay in touch while he searched and I finished unpacking, packing and setting up. Our conversation was precious ….

Him: “Dad, there’s a snake, what should I do?”

Me: “Uh, leave it alone and let it be.”

Him: “You mean I shouldn’t kill it and bring it back to base with me?”

Me: “Right Munchkin (my nickname for him), just leave it alone and let it be.”
_______________
Him: “Dad, I can’t find any frogs out here.”

Me: “Well, they’ve probably all gone home for dinner like good little frogs.”

Him: “Yeah, tht’s true, they’re probably all enjoying their dinner.”
_______________
Him: “Dad, I just saw some quail and they are cool and majestic!”

Me: “Wow Munchkin! Who made those?”

Him: “God did.”

Me: “Right, and what does that mean about God?”

Him: “That He thought of something cool and majestic?”

Me: “Right, and tha means He is even more cool and even more majestic.”

Him: “Yeah, that too.”
______________
Him: “Dad, keep talking to me.”
______________

It was pretty incredible, as you may imagine. I BBQ’d some hot dogs for dinner, and we just enjoyed being with each other. A great night.

Josh starts football practices tomorrow afternoon. Wow.

He and Colleen will join us Wednesday or Thursday night, and then we’ll be here through the weekend. Planning to see the 4th of July fireworks in Santa Barbara on Saturday.

When Colleen and Josh arrive, I plan on disconnecting technologically through the weekend. No Twitter, Facebook, TM’ing, and as little phone as possible. I plan to do at least one or two lengthy stints away from technology.

Some find it hard to believe, but I DO believe it is important to disconnect technologically on a regular basis. It’s been a while since I’ve done it, so it may be a little nerve-wracking for me, but I’ll live. And probably even thrive!

Feel free to let me know you’re along for the journey with a comment if you’d like.

Until next time …..

Been two weeks since the previous update. Since then, Josh promoted from 8th grade, meaning we now have a High Schooler in the house! I am still trying to get my mind around that!

He left last Saturday with some friends and their family for a trip to Lake Don Pedro (northern CA) and Lake Lopez (Central CA). He comes home Sunday, and it sounds like he’s having a great time.

He actually texted me today with the question, “Did Michael Jackson die today of a heart attack?” When I confirmed it had happened and called him back, he said, “That sucks! They aren’t going to make anymore movies about how weird he is!”

I wasn’t much of a fan of Michael’s music, but he is certainly my generation’s “Elvis”. I respect his work and talent, hope he knew Jesus, but really thought Joshua’s observation was hilarious!

Yesterday, Jonathan and I headed for Temecula to see some friends. Today, we took one of them to SeaWorld with us. We had an excellent day, and will head home tomorrow. On Sunday, he and I will leave for Buellton, where the same friends will meet us on Monday, to vacation for the week.

Colleen and Josh will join us later in the week so Josh can make most of his football practices. We’re looking forward to the time away from home and seeing the 4th of July fireworks in Santa Barbara.

Driving to Temecula yesterday, I realized that it was the first time out of town since the sabbatical started. As I was driving down (which I love to do….driving), I felt like I was unwinding finally.

I love our home, but trying to unwind there can be difficult. Just like it is for anyone. When you’re at home, there is always a list of “to do’s” to be done. When you finished one task, the next is waiting.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to relax while home and be very much more available to Colleen and the boys. I have also really enjoyed getting a couple of long-awaited repairs done and working on some projects we’ve wanted to complete.

Some of it has involved wood-working, which I love to do. It’s therapeutic for me to see the finished product. Not something I get to experience a lot of in my “line of work”. So that’s been nice, but it was nice to leave town for a bit as well.

In case you haven’t heard, a transition took place at one of our sister Foursquare Churches in town, Sonrise Christian Fellowship. Dan Stewart, who had been the Pastor there since last Fall, announced his resignation last Sunday.

This isn’t the time or place for all the details, but Dan, though tired and in need of some rest and refreshment, is fine, as is his marriage and family. That’s the most important thing!

Announced and introduced on the same day was the appointment of James Craft as the new Pastor at Sonrise. James is the brother of the founding Pastor there, Ken Craft. He served as the Youth Pastor there for several years in the late 90’s.

Most recently, James has served as the Foursquare “Next Gen” Director, overseeing ministries from “cradle to college” for our National Church Office, based in Los Angeles. He has done an outstanding job serving in that role.

He had been planning to plant a new church in Thousand Oaks, even having already been meeting regularly with a team of people committed to starting the new church there. As Dan knew his time was at a close at Sonrise, he felt that James would serve well as the next Pastor there, and that’s what has transpired.

I encourage you to join me in praying for James and his family as they undertake this new assignment. I look forward to getting to know James as we serve this city together.

That’s all for now! Until next time ….