A Clarification...
After my previous post, a friend from church privately emailed me asking for clarification about what I wrote. I found that my response back was even more clear than the original post, but unfortunately shared only by the two of us.
Since then, we've gone back and forth a few more times and each time I think I've better clarified my original point for this reader. Although I left our interaction anonymous, I asked this person if they would mind if I included it here, because I thought it would be helpful to expand, clarify, and chronicle my original thoughts (permission was granted). You will note as you read our interaction that this person responded specifically in relationship to the church we attend, because we attend a Reformed Presbyterian church (like the church discussed in the Bayly Brothers Blog that I referenced in my post). Please don't get the idea that we are picking on our church, we only used it as a frame of reference for our discussion.
In this email, my friend went on to talk about families that come to our church from other churches that may or may not be reformed in their thinking. This person went on to clarify their position as it relates to families and even more specifically fathers...
In responding to his question, I acknowledged no fundamental difference between live-birth and adoption-based families; they should all be raised for the glory of God! However, I continued with this in my answer:
"I think what I clung to in the Bayly boys blog is an attitude of theological elitism. What I'm getting at is that I see the reformed church (in very general terms) lacking in gospel ministry to the world and being more excited about the reformation of already-Christians instead of the salvation of yet-to-be Christians.
I also see the reformed church (again, in very general terms) more concerned in one era/style of worship and in general looking at those from the non-reformed community as coming from churches "that don't get it" or "haven't arrived yet." A gross generalization, but it's a recurring theme."
The majority of our emails contained specific dialogue about our specific local congregation, so I'll spare you the boring details. However, at another point, this exchange did allow me the opportunity to clarify even further what I felt was at the heart of both the Bayly Brother's blog and my first post. Here is how I responded:
"Any Church USA" falls short when they preach a gospel that is based on external items rather than the cross of Jesus Christ. I call it "lifestyle evangelism." When someone either notices you as an individual or...sees your family and inquires in a positive way about why you are "different" than other people of faith. Within a few sentences, we should be able to turn that conversation to the cross of Jesus Christ.
With "lifestyle evangelism" the discussion goes to what we've done (our marriage, our family, our homeschooling, our dress, our behavior, and the list goes on). I think we would both challenge any efforts to evangelize others to "look/act/dress/behave like me" rather than "look/act/dress/behave like Christ."
How about Jesus? I believe He entered every area of culture. He addressed sin. He gave people hope. He gave them Himself. He addressed the religious elite regularly and accused them with sharp words of adding to the gospel of grace. Jesus came to save individual believers. He came to take away their sins and reconcile them to God. He did not come to make better families or create stronger fathers...If someone different looking/acting walked into our conservative church (i.e. red hair/tattoos), I think Jesus would accept them where they were. He'd allow the HS to address their sin and He would offer them hope.
In one of my final email responses, I went on to further clarify what I was trying to say by writing this to my friend:
"I hope we can agree that we need to minister to all, learn to relate to all, accept others right where they are and share the gospel of salvation...dwell on the core and not the peripheral...show them love...pretend that all we have to give others is Jesus and then give them Jesus! I hope we can encourage folks to love Jesus, to serve Jesus and to honor Jesus! I know we can agree that it is all about Jesus."
Hopefully my responses in this email diaglogue will clarify what resonated with me in the Bayly Brother's blog. I found that taking part in this email correspondence was helpful and I wish it had worked itself out in the comments section for more of you to participate. Hopefully, you can join in on the discussion now that I have included them here.
Lastly, I hope by now that most loyal readers of theMangoTimes would know that when I say "it's all about Jesus" that I'm not negating doctrine, theology or obedience to God in His Word. I hope you would know that when I say "Give them Jesus," I mean that phrase to be synonymous with "Give them the Gospel (alone!)" and "Tell them about the mercy of God (alone!)" and "Tell others what Jesus has done for them (alone!)". Instead of first welcoming folks into a "graduate" level of church, let's welcome them into loving Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for them!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
It wasn't me, it was the Bayly Brothers!
For a while now, I've been talking about life from within the "Reformed camp." You see, after years of enjoying and feasting upon great God-centered doctrine, I've found myself stopping to take a look around. Face it, I don't care where you fall within the greater camp of Christianity, from high-church, to contemporary, to charismatic, to traditional...every one has weaknesses. Likewise, the Reformed tradition has blind spots and sometimes it serves us well to push our pride aside and look at our warts. Whether it's a disconnect from the marching orders given by Christ in the great commission or an arrogant snub to anything that might look or smell like contemporary Christian life (worship, discipleship, evangelism), I continue to reflect upon the tendency for the neo-Reformed folk to be an inward-focused and self-congratulatory bunch.
At the same time, if you are a friend of mine, you've heard me work through an idea that I've termed the "graduate church." I am referring to the effort made by many within Reformed congregations to present the Christian faith at an elevated cerebral level. In other words, Christ is understood, discussed, practiced, debated and worshipped at the "head level." What's missing is that "heart level" understanding of Jesus Christ. Through our own personal reformations to deeper understanding of the faith (or as I've heard it said, "when I finally arrived at a right understanding of God"), we lose the ability to understand, discuss, debate, and worship Christ at the "heart level." Long gone are discussions about a deep abiding love for Jesus and we dig our heels in as our worship even approaches anything emotional. Unfortunately, many new-comers to these congregations can get lost in translation, and these "graduate churches" are forced to grow not because of "new-believers," but they add to their membership with "already-believers."
Like I said at the beginning, this is one of those times when someone else has said it better...much better. I found the Bayly Brothers talking about "graduate church" too, but they'll probably get away with it. I'll just sit back and point my fingers over towards them and say "Yeah, what they said..." Click on their picture or FOLLOW THIS LINK to the Bayly Brothers blog and read what they have said about this topic...and then come back here and drop a comment if you want.Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Where to find me...July 2010
I'll be enjoying the groovy tunes of Jack Johnson's latest album, To The Sea. After a free Starbucks download of "At Or With Me" I knew this album would be good. He continues to deliver some of the best music out there and his sound/lyrics have theMangoTimes written all over them. Throw this on the speakers, climb in the hammock, pull someone you love close, and call it a night. Favorite lyrics of late:"Are they laughing at or with me? People are just trying to fit in-But is there something telling you-You can’t trust anyone in this town-Ah baby those are such great shoes".
I've spent a great deal of time enjoying the preaching of Pastor Britt Merrick from Reality Carpinteria church. I was introduced to him through a few videos I saw on facebook. He has been very transparent dealing with his daughter's recent diagnosis of stage 3 cancer. His sermons are some of the best I've heard and if you are a fan of gospel centered preaching, you will not go wrong with this podcast. His current series, Missio Christi, will speak life into any stagnancy you've allowed to develop in your faith. Ever wonder why a Christian's favorite meal is fellow Christians? Ever questioned how to speak truth without judging your brother or sister? As a teaser, I've included a snippet of his sermon, "Truth Telling without Judging" below. If you enjoy it, go download the whole sermon![podcast]http://themangotimes.com/music/Merrick41810.mp3[/podcast]
Jason Mraz is another great musician you will find playing through mangoland (or my office...or my car...or on my iPod). If you listen to any pop-radio station, you've heard his music, but I would recommend you dig a little deeper for some of his really good stuff. If you get there fast enough, you can still get a FREE DOWNLOAD from Levi's Pioneer Sessions of Jason singing "Spirit in the Sky" and if you want to see the behind the scenes video, here it is:YOU CAN FIND ME HANGING OUT HERE:
We are going to Mt. Hermon's Summer Concert Series to take in some great tunes by Sara Groves. She is one of Kendra's favorites and we've been waiting a long time to find a way to catch her in concert...and this one is nearly in our backyard (well, maybe not our backyard, but close enough). I love going to Mt. Hermon. It's perfectly placed in the mountains above Santa Cruz and on a personal note, it's where God chose to reveal His grace to me (way back in 1982 when I attended Young Life Winter Camp).
The backporch is a favorite locale for many visitors to mangoland. For me personally, just swinging in the hammock chairs with Kendra or curling up with some cute mangokids while the warm valley California air drifts through the back yard spells summer at our house. I actually notice that I rarely use the front door during the summer. Life just slows down and moves at a slower pace. So drop by, leave your worries in your car and join me on the back porch to swing and relax. Consider this your invitation...
As part of our Summerzcool curriculum, we've made it our goal to get back to the beach as much as we possibly can to find out "what is and what is not cool." We continue to return to some of our favorite sandy spots on the coast. Santa Cruz at the harbor. Capitola, complete with the pastel cottages dotting the lagoon and Pizza My Heart. Want to join us for our summertime classes on sandy beaches and distant reaches? There is just something about watching your kids chase waves and seagulls that makes this life we've chosen that much better![podcast]/music/summerzcool.mp3[/podcast]
You will definitely find me standing in front of this new addition. If you know us, you know that life often revolves around our kitchen! Now that my parents have recently installed this outdoor wood-fired pizza oven, our kitchen party has moved outside. We have been busy perfecting doughs and creating our favorite pizzas. At 700+ degrees, we are spinning out pizzas every two minutes for the hungry masses....AND THE REST OF US WILL BE HANGING OUT HERE:
Hope to see you this month!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Summertime!
"Father's Day in the Capitola sand"
"Swinging on the porch at Bass Lake"
"Lifeguard Nate" in action at the Riverbank Pool
Last weekend we hosted another concert in our home. StoryvilleLive swooped into our house in the afternoon and converted our downstairs to a coffee house/concert stage. Three of Storyville's representatives literally donned white gloves as they moved furniture and set-up about 60 chairs for the evening concert. They served coffee and desserts, greeted the guests and then put our house completely back together when they were through! Great job Storyville!
StoryvilleLive Van, Music + Coffee = Freedom
About 60 guests filled our downstairs
Pierce Pettis filled our house with his music
Quietly Making Noise,
Fletch
Classic Repost: "Raising Boys"
From November 2006:
Tonight's post-dinner conversations...the fine art of cannibalism.
Mangoboy#1: "Dad, if we were cannibals...what part of the body would you eat first?"
Me: "I'd probably start with the hands, because they'd be easy to hold and you could eat them a finger at a time and dip them into ketchup"
Mangoboy#2: "It would probably taste like chicken...everything tastes like chicken."
Mangoboy#3: "Would we eat people like chicken...you know...breasts, thighs, and would their arms/legs be like wings and legs?"
Me again (because I am getting "that look" from Kendra that seems to be asking me how old I am behaving):"Okay...that's enough of this wonderful discussion...let's focus on a better topic."
Mangoboy#3:"If I had to eat you dad, I'd eat your eyes...because they are very wise and have seen a lot of things."
Me again:"Thanks, that's good to know you have my preferred body parts chosen...but this topic is now officially over..."
Mangogirl#1:"If i was a "can of bull" I'd hate to eat dad...I'd rather eat McDonalds."
Me: Launching nose contents as I laugh at my lovely daughters phonetical learning style...
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Back Porch Saturday Nights
The back porch is again open for business!
Beginning at 4:00pm on Saturdays throughout the summer, we stop our family chores, fire up the grills, throw on swimsuits, and crank up the music on the porch as we celebrate the end of a long work week!
Here's the deal. You and your family are welcome to join us, but remember we keep things very very low key. Basically, we are going to enjoy warm weather, good food, and cold drinks on the back porch as a family...if you would like to join us...that's great!
Remember a few things for us: If you want to eat, bring food for your family. If your kids want to swim, bring suits and towels for them. The most important thing you need to bring is a desire to relax and kick back with us! As Jimmy Buffett would say all you need is a "License to Chill"
What about swimming?
Everyone is welcome in our pool. Boys, Girls, Dads, Moms...swim diapers on the non-potty trained and if your kids can't swim, we need you to keep an eye on them! Other than that, just relax and have fun in the warm water!
What is this I hear about dancing? Do I need to know how?
Not at all. We may teach you a few moves, but dancing is not required, except for maybe the Hokey Pokey or the Limbo... Here's how I look at it...if my mom gets up to dance, then you should be out on the dance floor with her!
Do you play anything other than Jimmy Buffett? I don't think I want my kids learning his songs...
Yes, Kendra requires a 10:1 ratio of Buffett to non-Buffett music. :)
What's this I hear about blender drinks?
Don't believe everything you read in theMangoTimes...we do provide an orange cooler of ice water though...
What time do people typically leave?
In time to get up for church. :)
Often, there is a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning...
Can I bring someone with me?
Sure you can. If you are a friend of theMT, then so are your friends!
Hope you can join us!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Storyville Live - Music + Coffee = Freedom
A few months ago, I was approached by Storyville Coffee Company to host a live concert in my home. Since I have already hosted a few concerts before with our favorite in-home performer, Jon Troast, we seemed like a perfect match. This concert is a little different, because it is not just about great music, because the purpose is to spotlight a ministry called International Justice Mission.
Storyville Coffee has created an experience called Storyville Live.
From their website: "A Storyville Live concert is an opportunity for an evening of music, coffee, and community unlike any other. Our coming together also creates an opportunity to bring freedom to the millions of people around the world that are trapped in the atrocity of human trafficking. There are 27 million people today that are in slavery — not in slave-like conditions, in actual slavery. 27 million. We couldn’t believe it. We’re partnered with International Justice Mission, an organization that has created a blueprint to end slavery in our lifetime. The two main barriers are lack of awareness and lack of resources. Storyville Live provides both. By hosting or attending a concert, you're making a difference."
It is our mission to put slavery out of business for good.
Our specific concert is being hosted on Saturday, June 19th. We are excited to welcome the featured musician, Pierce Pettis. Your ticket includes the concert, dessert and coffee...what a deal! See the images for details and concert code! We would love you to join us!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Feeling LOST...
Well...it's finally over.
For this LOST fan, I'm very disappointed to see such a great television show disappear (and this from a non-TV watcher). At the same time, I'm glad the producers decided to bring the story to an end before the show was cancelled or any of the major actors quit the series.
Not everyone liked the show. Some people were "lost" the whole time they watched it, while many others drew conclusions without ever watching an episode. Just living in my own house showed me there were people that didn't understand the LOST phenomenon or the weekly addiction many shared, but I cannot think of another show in television history that connected great acting, great characters, beautiful scenery and consistently fantastic writing.
In the past few days, there's been a lot of discussion about whether this show ended well and even more theories about what the show really meant. I read a twitter update during the series finale that said something like, "I never understood Trekkies until LOST." As a self-professed "Lostie," I've been asked several times what I thought about the show, so in true style I thought I would offer a top-ten.
Here's my own list of Top Ten Reasons I Enjoyed Six Seasons of LOST:
ALERT: LOST spoilers and secrets are revealed!
10. It is a Survival Story - This series began with a bunch of people surviving a plane crash on a deserted island. What other comparison did I have but Gilligan's Island? It took NO TIME for me to begin enjoying this show...only this time around there were not as many coconut creme pies.
9. Character Development - By the second episode, I realized this was not just another show. Methodically, the writers took the viewer through every characther's "back story" and what led them to the island. You quickly began cheering and booing the characters based on who they were "off island" and who they had become "on island." Over six years it became an emotional roller-coaster as characters travelled full circle from good to bad and back again and again.
8. Great Acting/Writing - LOST had a huge ensemble cast, extending to include international actors, screen actors, and stage actors. The writers mixed comedy, adventure, intrigue and drama brilliantly. Instead of a weekly show, LOST was really more of a six-year miniseries. Personal favorites: Terry O'Quinn, Michael Emerson, Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, Elizabeth Mitchell, Daniel Dae Kim and the list goes on and on and on...and the writing was the best...hands down.
7. Hello? It was filmed in the Hawaiian Islands - Do I need any commentary here? From the beach to the jungle this series owned the cinematography.
6. Theme: Free Will/Destiny - Without giving away too many spoilers. One major theme from beginning to end was the constant tension between free will and destiny. Were the characters given choices in life or was it destiny to be on the island or even more were they "called" to be on the island. From the beginning, this theme was developed and massaged, so can you see why I liked it? The average viewer may have missed this in the first few seasons, but by the end it was as clear as black and white :) .
5. It is a Story of Redemption- I like stories that show characters needing, seeking and gaining redemption? LOST did not disappoint. Every major character in LOST lived some form of a tragedy that required redemption and each of them was given the opportunity to rectify the wrongs they had committed. Personal acts of contrition, confession, repentance were seen throughout the series, as well as forgiveness and healing, leading to true redemption for characters. Some characters turned the corner early in the series, while others took the full six seasons to develop and occur. I was blown away as the writers developed the most unworthy characters and showed that even they could be redeemed when an external source intervened in their lives.
4. Easter Eggs - One of my favorite parts were the fun "easter eggs" hidden throughout the series by the writers and producers for the viewer to find. Characters were named after famous theologians, philosophers, and scientists. Shows were developed around pieces of literature, musical scores, historical figures, scientific inventions, heroes of the faith, and characters of myth and legend. Sprinkled throughout the series were recurring literary, religious, and philosophical themes from Wonderland to Narnia to Eden to Hell to Purgatory to Nirvana. It was impossible for me to watch LOST without diving into research behind every cultural reference "hidden" in that week's episode. Again, the writers/producers did not just write a show and develop characters...they allowed their own reading, religion and philosophy to work through the series.
3. Good vs. Evil - As the series came to an end, I rewatched the pilot episode. It was evident from the first 30 minutes that the writers were laying the groundwork for a story of good pitted against evil (or as it is introduced, dark vs. light) from the very beginning. The writers develop this theme each year through movie references (Star Wars), game playing (backgammon), biblical themes (Jacob/Esau), and even simple colors (black/white).
2. Time Travel - I love the idea of time travel. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with storylines that deal with this theme. Sure, it has been fun to think about going backward and forward in time ("Strange things are afoot at the Circle K!"). LOST takes it a step further. Can you travel backwards and change the outcome of your life? Can you create an alternate plan? I already mentioned that they did a brilliant job with character "back stories" (in a sense, they used this technique to show what happened pre-island/in the past). They also appeared to show the audience what happened post-island or what they called a "side-story," which looked like a parallel time-line (not too much to comment here, because this is a major portion of the final season). Not to dissuade anyone who might think this show is just plain hokey, they incorporated time-travel brilliantly (taking into account the science, the myths, and all of the potential effects). Personal favorite: what if you could travel through time and see yourself in the past?
1. It's Not What You Think - Finally, this is why I loved LOST. It is about a plane crash, but it's not about a plane crash. It is a random group of people on an island, but it's not a random group of people. Sure, there are polar bears, there is a smoke monster, and there is a lot of mystery, but everything has a reason. If you can't handle the impossible, than LOST is not for you. It is more than really handsome/beautiful actors in a tropical location. Each episode of LOST is another piece in a giant game. You need all the pieces to put the story together. Unlike any other show, LOST never disappoints (well except for Nicki and Paulo and an episode of Jack in Thailand). For those that tuned in late expecting to see a show about people getting "off an island" they were probably confused and disappointed. Like Narnia is more than a story about school kids walking through a wardrobe, LOST is way more than what it looks like on the surface. It never failed to confuse or surprise the viewer, with each season pulling a different layer back on the bigger story!
But...
"But Fletch, LOST was uber-popular and at the center of our already television saturated culture. How could you be so positive? As a Christian, didn't it conflict with your beliefs? I heard it was an "all paths lead to God" show...Why did you let your kids watch it? You are such a sell-out, You are a joiner!..."
Well, there are plenty more questions and conversations to be had about the television show LOST. Maybe I'll talk about them and maybe I won't. For those interested, I already addressed some of these questions in this post I wrote about popular culture. I understand that I respond to culture differently than most. Sorry to disappoint.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
On Cultural Morality
In his sermon from 2002, "The Deadly Dangers of Moralism," John MacArthur, Jr. emphasized at least a dozen points. I've been chewing on this one point for the past week, because in one short paragraph MacArthur reaches from the past to address many issues that I have been thinking about lately.
"Cultural morality is dangerous because it has no New Testament model to follow except the Pharisees. So if you're going to try to find a New Testament pattern for this effort, you're going to end up with the Pharisees. They were the moral ones. And you know what Jesus said about them? Matthew 23:15: He said when you are through making somebody a convert to your morality, you have made him "twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." Wow. Wow. So if you're looking for a New Testament model for cultural morality, you're going to end up with Pharisees. They were legalistic. I don't know about you; I don't think I would be rejoicing to live in a Pharisaic-dominated society; dominated by the mandates of self-righteous, cruel, merciless legalists, who laid heavy burdens on people, right, and gave them no help to bear them, Jesus said. Jesus said to them one day as they picked up stones to stone an adulterous woman: Whoever is "without sin... throw the first stone." And stones started dropping. I don't know that I'd want to live in that kind of environment. There is no New Testament model for political action. Jesus didn't try to overthrow slavery; neither did Paul; neither did any of the Old Testament. Both Jesus and Paul, however, did say if you're a slave, be a good one, be a faithful one, be an honest one. Serve your master well; make wise investments; do it under the Lord, and God will reward you. And if you're in a harsh, difficult situation, you'll know His grace."
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
It's Really That Easy!
Based on very minimal research, the light switch seems to have been invented over 100 years ago. It is the easiest device that I can think to use...you push it up if you want the lights "on" and you push it down if you want the lights "off." For the seriously lame, who do not recognize the change from darkness to light, they've made it super easy and preprinted these switches with the words "on" and "off." Really, if you struggle with directions on a light switch, there are probably bigger issues in your life, but that is not the purpose of this post!
Energy output? Well, I'm not sure what the caloric output is involved with a flick of a finger tip, but I'm sure it's pretty low (down on the list near blinking or swallowing). Actually, I don't think you even need to flick the switch, because I often just rub my hand down the wall until the light goes out. Either way, energy output is a non-issue!
Location? Also not an issue. It's not like we hide light switches in our house. No, we typically put them right on the wall at hand height, conveniently located near the door for you to flick on your way in and out...
Memory? My kids always remember to turn the lights on when they enter a dark room, so it can't be memory.
So, can someone tell me why I find well lit empty rooms throughout my house every single day? Spare me any comments about how I sound like my dad. For those of you that know my dad, he has used automatic motion-detector light switches for the past 25 years. I've commented in the past that he always looks like a wounded seagull walking around his house as he attempts to get the motion detector lights to "notice" him.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Big Words from the Lone Star State
He's a perceptive guy and likes to call it like he sees it. This morning he had this to say on his blog (Equipping the Saints):
"Throughout Scripture we find that those weighed down by sin are shown overwhelming grace while the self-righteous and unremorseful sinful brethren are forcefully rebuked. Yet in our churches it is not uncommon to see sinners rejected (after all they might corrupt us and our children) and self-righteousness celebrated – is it possible that we’ve gotten things backwards?"
Pastor Dirk Russell
Love it Dirk! You could be a guest editor for theMangoTimes with straight-forward words like those, keep up the good work!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
March Update
January/February/March
theMT took an hiatus while the last three months flew by...once again our plans were dramatically halted. This time it was a squiggly little appendix that exploded in Caroline's belly. Along the way we've celebrated a few birthdays, eaten a bunch of good food, listened to some great tunes, took a few trips, and I can't believe we are knocking on the beginning of April - phew!
The Concert
Jon Troast returned for a second living room concert. This one was inside our house and we tallied about 125 guests in our living room/dining room/entry way. The highlight of the evening was getting a live performance of The Andy Song - take a listen! Jon played several of his favorites and introduced us to his new album - Living Room. If you haven't had a chance to hear his new album, give it a listen and then give it a purchase! I guarantee that if you like theMangoTimes, then you will LOVE Jon's music. His music is what theMT is all about. Great stuff as always from our favorite travelling musician!
Furniture removed from the dining/living rooms
Jon packs them in and right up the stairs!
They paid extra for the balcony seats
Birthdays
Thomas the Tank Engine chugged in to celebrate Christian's third birthday. This particular birthday lasted about a week as we had several days to prepare for the party and several days to rehash the details of the party he had. :)
Hayden and Nate turned 17 and 15 last week and we had what felt like a weekend of "constanteenagers" through our home. The cupboards were bare by Sunday night, but we enjoyed having this migrating mass of teens through our place.
Turning Three at In-n-Out
The Olympics
Did you know that most of life stops in the MangoHouse when the Olympics begin? We reconnected satellite television. We adjusted the bedtimes of our children. We became experts on bobsled ergonomics, we learned the Canadian national anthem, and suddenly started throwing around terms like McTwist.
Photo taken on the opening day of the games!
Personally, I would stop whatever I was doing to watch Apolo Ohno skate and suddenly found myself at odds with the entire nation of South Korea during short track competition.
I won a gold medal for crab consumption with my Apolo beard!
San Antonio, TX
I had the opportunity to travel to San Antonio, Texas to see our good friend Nathan Davis graduate from USAF basic military training at Lackland AFB.
Congratulations to Airmen Nathan Davis
It was my first experience watching a military graduation and I was quite impressed with the precision and training provided in the USAF. Nathan graduated with honors which allowed him freedom all weekend to spend time with his family and friends. I enjoyed taking in the sights around San Antonio with him and I am excited to see what God has in store for this young man as he begins his career in the miliatry!
The rest of the time in San Antonio was visiting with the good people at Covenant of Grace Church. Although we have only met them a few times in real life, God has orchestrated a fun connection for our family with the Warren, Russell and Slaughter families. I was treated to some warm fellowship, tasty bbq and joyful worship with their families.
Napa Valley
One of my favorite things about being a dentist is the opportunity to travel for education. This year my implant study-club traveled to Calistoga in the Napa Valley Wine Country. On the way there, we stopped in at Wine Wizards to pay homage to our first place of employment as a young married couple.
The Wiz, Stockton, CA
The rest of the weekend was spent at a newer spa/resort called Solage (recommended if you are looking for a leisure getaway in the Napa Valley). It provided a few days of great retreat and relaxation. We slept in late, we ate well, we read, we walked and we enjoyed the beauty of spring time in the wine country.
Kendra's New Home
Lunch for two at Bouchon in Yountville!
Potty Training, Spring Break, Weight Loss, Home Made Music and a whole bunch of Beer
To wrap things up in this issue of theMT, let me touch on a few small things happening around Mangoland lately.
Houston, We Have Liftoff!: While I was gone in San Antonio, Kendra decided to potty train Christian. We have gone through a few bags of Jelly Bellies and he's doing very well at keeping up his end of the deal. He requires a full bathroom inspection prior to each "sit down" (beginning signs of OCD maybe?), but it is working!
Kids Gone Wild!: We are taking a week off from school and allowing the kids to travel down to Palm Springs and the beaches of Mexico for Spring Break with the rest of the California teenagers and college students...well, not really...but Kendra and I would like to do that.
Biggest Loser: Did I mention that my wife is wasting away to nothing? She is a workout machine and serving up delightful menus at the same time. I am giving up my membership in the SLC (sedentary lifestyle club) and joining her on a goal to drop a few pounds (actually more than a few pounds...come to think of it, I could probably lose enough weight for an entire person) and get our bodies more active. She is already ridiculously thin, but our goal: bikinis and board shorts on the beach in Maui. Well, not really...but I would personally prefer to look more like a surfer and less like a tiki idol or Buddha.
Homemade Music: The boys have been playing a lot of live music lately. Nate is playing the guitar very well (doing his best to mimic Lennon or Cash). We purchased Hayden a djembe drum, so we are waiting to see what he can pound out on that. Along with their buddy JP, we've enjoyed hearing and seeing them play in a few venues.
Tasty Suds: Fish Hook Brewery has now successfully brewed and bottled Red Ale, Pale Ale, Cream Ale, Blueberry Wheat, and a tasty Holiday Ale that provided some Christmas cheer for a few good folks! If you are in the area, please swing by for a sampling! Fish Hook Brewery: One sip and you are hooked!
Lastly, publication of theMangoTimes will be directly affected by the final episodes of the television show LOST. Sorry, but I have to line up my priorities right now. After six years, Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sawyer, and the rest of the Losties are making it off the island...or are they? The boys and I are faithful devotees to the final episodes (don't call between 10-11PM on Tuesday nights). And...save your comments Kendra...you've made your point loud and clear!
Missed you all and I'm glad to be back...
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
She's Home!
Caroline Joy (minus her appendix!)
After 21 days in the hospital, we were very excited to hear the surgeon say we could go home a day earlier then expected! Thanks Dr. Tam for the great surprise!
Praise the Lord with us for His healing hand as He used surgeries, scans, doctors, nurses, drains, and bags upon bags of antibiotics to help restore our little girl!
How many people does it take to help care for a sick eight year old? A quick thank you to the following folks:
Doctors: Tam, Clark, Olson, Barry, Blankenship, Terzo, McGrew, Lenser, Morris, Im, Imanaka, Tran, Liu, Hung, Lin, Montes
ER Room: Gayle, Kit, Jessica, Jessica, Dan
ICU: Trina, Gemma, Thuy, Lorie, Kelly(daytime), Kelly(nighttime), Dama, Sherry, Hilary, Karen, Margaret
Peds: Bianca, Jessica, Amanda, Rossie, Surinder, Elizabeth
...and everyone else that I forgot to mention...I tried to write down all of your names!
Surrounded by her biggest fans!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Friday Night Update
"Eye See You"
Hello from the ICU! That's right...you heard me...I said it...the Intensive Care Unit. The exact same room that we left three days ago. More on that below...
I appreciate all the communication and requests for updates, thank you for loving my little girl through prayer...it has been one very long afternoon/evening. Caroline went in for surgery at 3PM. It was a very positive experience. We had a great pre-surgical discussion with both her primary surgeon and her "interventional radiologist." He showed us that the fluid had again shrunk in size, but was still large enough to attempt to drain. They were both super confident, light-hearted and very encouraging as we talked.
Her surgery lasted about an hour and a half. Results were mixed. They had no complications getting to the pocket of fluid, but it was too thick to drain enough with the tube size they needed to use. :( They are hoping the fluid will liquify and drain in the next few days.
Now she has two drains leaving her side and belly. They are uncomfortable, but they are both working. As soon as the infections clear, she will get them removed. It could be many weeks! Yikesy!
Recovery tonight has been a little sketchy. Her heart rate and breathing have been way too fast, so the surgeon ordered her to the ICU for observation. Her spirits and attitude are great though! (On a personal note, this has become my home away from home and I'm enjoying my nights here with private nurse care...except for the 5am wake-up call from one of her doctors, it is not a bad gig...tonight it's Nurse Margaret, she's not Nurse Kelly, but Caroline and I really like her).
So...
We are working on breathing and trying to get out of here.
We are praying for good blood tests each day.
We are praying for a stabilized temperature.
We are praying for her ability to eat and keep food down.
We are praying for effective drains
God was very good to us today! We are thankful for all the ways he cared for our little girl!
Hope that answers it. Let me know if you have any questions.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch (and Caroline!)
Friday Plan
King Solomon said, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success." - Proverbs 15:22
We just hit the two-week mark in the hospital. Pesky little appendix!
The first drain procedure on Tuesday has been successful. Caroline has been more comfortable and her infection has been slowing. The only problem is that it is not slowing fast enough or completely. So, the surgeon has decided to go after the second large collection of fluid in her lower abdomen. This is the trickier of the two areas I mentioned.
After speaking with several "Interventional Radiologists" the conclusion was made that the least invasive approach was to go after it with a catheter drain. Risky? Yes. After weighing all the risks, this option contains the least amount of risks and the greatest chance for success. In reality, surgical risk is somewhat determined by the experience of the surgeon. The IR doctor performing today's procedure was confident that this is a routine procedure. Tuesday's IR doctor, based on experience, was much less confident in his ability.
Her drain procedure is scheduled for this afternoon and our prayer request is simple:
Pray for a safe, effective procedure
Pray for her as she goes under anesthesia for a fourth time in two weeks.
Pray for this to work
On a very happy note, we asked the doctor to give us wheelchair privledges, so we get to cruise around the hospital and even bring the brothers and sisters in to see her...big pre-surgical boost for Caroline!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Surgery Results
How many fluid-filled areas does she have?
Like I mentioned, she had two areas of infection (actually more, but two big areas). She was out-cold for the procedure and they were able to re-scan both lesions Tuesday morning. The first pocket was drained easily and they left the drain in place. Prior to draining it was the size of a softball. The second lesion was tricky and it really isn't until you see the CT scan live and in person that you understand the complexity.
Why did they leave one of fluid pockets?
The pocket of fluid is at the base of her abdomen. It is precariously tucked behind her bladder and uterus and in front of her rectum. On the sides it is flanked by minor arteries toward the back and major arteries toward the front.
In order to drain, they guide a needled into the middle of the pocket, place a tube into the pocket and leave a drain in place for a few days.
The safest approach is from the back/side, but she would have a tube going through her butt muscle (I'm not trying to be graphic, but imagine a pencil going through your butt-cheek while you are sitting in a hospital bed...not very comfortable huh?).
The decision was to leave it, because it had shrunk from the size of a lemon to the size of a lime. Not great, but it was shrinking...and the surgeon did not feel comfortable plunging through arteries and leaving a drain through so much muscle.
Now what do they do?
They drain the big abscess and see if her body kicks in to attack the second smaller one and the remaining little ones. They have her on a full compliment of antibiotics through her IV.
How long until we know?
Every day they draw blood and check her numbers. By last night, her white blood cell count dropped in half, which means that her body is not "fighting" as hard or it is not working so hard on infection...in simple terms...her body is winning! Her surgeon was pleased with that fact.
On Thursday, they will take another scan to evaluate the size of the remaining pockets and decide how to attack them.
What can we do to help? Do you need anything? Can we watch your kids? Do you need food?
We are taking this one day at a time. We share sleeping responsibilities at the hospital and there have been a few we've asked to relieve us over night, so we can stay home with all the kids.
So far, the kids have been doing well in the midst of worry and just plain missing their sister.
We have food!
So many people have asked and I promise we will ask you if we think there is something that we need, but until then...choose an hour every day that you will go to the Lord in prayer for healing, for peace, for rest, and for all of us to learn from God.
What about your other kids?
The other 7 Fletcher kids have been taken care of by some good friends and family. They are all worried about their sister as we reach the two-week mark with her gone. Over the years, we've had people that consistently love our children and enjoy having them in their homes. For us, knowing that our kids will be somewhere they are being cared for by people that actually like them (not just watched or nannied) has been great.
Having two teenage boys has also been a great blessing. These guys have been diligent to keep school work going, play with little siblings, handle change on the fly and understand the pressures put upon two weary parents. I can't say enough about these guys.
Can we visit Caroline in the hospital?
Hospital rules dictate no children, apart from family. Other than that, since each day is different, just text us first and we can let you know if it is a procedure day or a rest day!
...and now for the unspoken questions or comments...yes I've heard about these too..."
-No, there was no lesson to learn. The flu hides appendicitis remarkably well. We took her to the ER as soon as we thought we should have... :)
-Yes we know what our kids are doing/not doing while we are gone. I'd act funny too if my parents were missing and stressed. It may seem like they are watching movies, playing video games, texting (us), and spending a lot of time with friends! We know...and we're cool with it! Like your mother always tells you - don't judge a book by it's cover! :)
Thanks for the love and care you've shown for all of us with facebook messages, text messages, emails, and phone calls. We do our best to update facebook or the blogs, but we forget and it gets busy and we get tired...yet it is important to proclaim the accomplishments of God and I don't want to forget!
Lastly, remember our hope is not in doctors or in antibiotics or in surgeries or in timing. Our hope remains steadfast in God. He can use any means necessary, including modern medicine, but it is always Him that heals and always for His purpose and for His Glory!
Quietly making noise,
Fletch
Prayer Request - Tuesday Morning
Our eight year old is in the hospital recovering from a ruptured appendix.
Over the past week she has developed a few fluid-filled infected areas in her abdomen and her surgeon has made the decision to go in and drain them non-surgically. Sounds easy enough...but one of the areas is precariously located near some arteries, so getting to it with a needle/drain is complicated and risky.
The procedure will take place Tuesday morning at 10:30AM under general anesthesia.
*Please pray with us for a safe and effective procedure.
*Pray for safe anesthesia...going to sleep and waking back up.
*Pray that they find the target and can drain the infections.
*Pray that Caroline's organs and arteries are protected from injury.
*Pray for peace while we wait to hear the results.
I have no estimates on how long this procedure will take, how effective it will be, or when we will be home. I have been told that due to the nature of the infection, that it will be weeks to months before she is back to 100%
Thanks for praying!
Merry Christmas from theMangoTimes
Merry Christmas from theMangoTimes!
May the truth of His Advent change your life this year!
RePost - Boo! It's Time For Christmas!
Today, while working on a patient, I was humming and singing to the music in the background (at least i wasn't dancing) and I noticed the lyrics of this specific Christmas song by Andy Williams : "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" I don't know why I haven't noticed this ever before, but listen to what he sings in this line:
[podcast]/music/christmassong.mp3[/podcast]
What's the deal here? Did you hear the same thing I did? There'll be scary ghost stories?
Who tells scary ghost stories at Christmas time? I don't...I tell the one about Jesus in the manger...the one about the angels and the shepherds, but I try to skip the scary ghost stories as we sit around the Christmas tree.
Sure...I occasionally tell them the story of Santa Claus (which is kind of scary...if you think about it...a fat bearded fellow landing on your roof and rummaging through your chimney is odd). But, I try to save the ghost stories for the kids that go to summer camp...
Quietly Making Noise,
Fletch
John Piper: The Gospel in 6 Minutes
It seems like I keep returning to the topic of the Good News! Can it ever get old? I don't think so.
Since it is so easy for us to become focused on ourselves and what we do (and by extension, how we do it), I love it when someone reminds me of what Christ has done! Last summer, I posted about lifestyle evangelism and one of my points was that believers should never grow weary of hearing the gospel preached. It needs to be preached regularly and faithfully, so that we can know it and then go and repeat it.
Here is John Piper and the Gospel in 6 minutes. Used by permission from Desiring God Ministries.
Quietly making noise,
Fletch