Morning Coffee

Today I am listening to a church service on the radio. I would go to a church, but I am just not sure what church to go to. I grew up going to a Presbyterian and Reformed churches. But now, I am in Texas. My Dad wants to go to a Baptist Church, or non-denominational church. But he won’t just pick one. I had been going to the Arlington Presbyterian Church, Arlington Redeemer on Pioneer. But nobody else goes there anymore. I am not sure why, other than that no one seems to go to church. It causes me to miss San Diego, where I did have two churches I went too. One was a Presbyterian one, and the other was non-denominational Bible style church called “The House of Prayer”. I went to that church in 2014, right before I left the Navy. That was where I met Rev. Price and Pastor Figuora.

Now, I listen to First Baptist of Dallas on the radio. I also like to follow CCBC. But when I was growing up, going to church was so important to our family. We literally went to church every Sunday while we lived up in Washington. If we didn’t like a church we always made sure to find a new church to attend. One time we drove up into British Columbia to attend a church. That was in 1999, even before William was born. My goal is, for us to find a church to attend that we could all go to on Sunday. So that Mom and Dad could at least meet in church even though they are divorced. The divorce hit me pretty hard I guess. After the divorce, I guess they just all quit attending church. Of course, I rarely went to church while I was in the Navy. But I did attend church, sometimes.

This photograph is in the parking lot of a church. Called the Connection Church. I wish we could go there. It is next to Albertsons where I work at. There is also the Fielder Baptist Church on Pioneer and Fielder. Right in between where I live, and where my Mom lives. Let me include the Psalm that Franklin Graham quoted from:

Psalm 82

1 God Takes his place in his own assembly.

He pronounces judgement among the gods:

2 “How long are you going to judge unfairly? How long are you going to side with wicked people?” 3 Defend weak people and orphans. Protect the rights of the oppressed and the poor. 4 Rescue weak and needy people. Help them escape the power of wicked people.

5 Wicked people do not know or understand anything. As they walk around in the dark, all the foundations of the earth shake. 6 I said “You are gods. You are all sons of the Most High. 7 You will certainly die like humans and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God! Judge the earth, because all the nations belong to you.

The purpose of church is to worship God. But it is good when we worship God in unity, as we once did. I mean, my younger siblings have grown up not knowing what it means to go to church. So, it is kind of a generational thing. On March 10, 2003 I reported for boot camp. My family was attending church. I left the Navy on November 20, 2014, and my family was no longer attending church. So, that time gap, in between, something happened that caused them to cease going to church. I wonder what it was. I know I was not going to church. So, I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite but I expected that they would keep going. Which they did for years. Then, suddenly something changed at church, and they quit attending. So, by the time I got back, the family looked so different from when I had left. Maybe it is for the best, right now. Before, in San Diego, God provided a church to attend. When the time is right, He will act again and show me which church to attend. I believe God interacts with us, even when we don’t realize it.

Yesterday, I worked. Today I work. Yesterday was wacky, because two Courtesy Clerks quit. Well, they said they did. If the Courtesy Clerks quit does that mean I need to quit? I was the only Courtesy Clerk yesterday. I spent almost the entire time getting carts. It was so hot yesterday. Now, I work today. I am sure I will be getting carts today as well. I cleaned the restroom, I did some of the returns. We finally got more paper towels. I found some trash bags because I had to do the trash. It took me three bags to do the trash. That was the outside trash. I began doing the trash at 7:)) PM, when I was supposed to be off at 7:15 PM, so I ended up clocking out at 7:20 PM instead of 7:15 PM. I felt bad because I left them with no Courtesy Clerk. It was not my fault. But I still feel bad about it. Well, as long as I still have a job. If I stick with it things will get better I am sure. Brian came and helped with the carts towards the end. Because he helped I made it out of there. I was happy for the help.

Afterward, I went to my Mom’s. I was hungry, ready to eat. My Mom and Joey had made hamburgers and hotdogs. So, I ate 2 hotdogs and 2 hamburgers. Yum, I love that kind of food. It is easy to digest and yet it fills me up. My sister Elizabeth was there with her son and daughter. My sister Meagan and her boyfriend took Tate to watch a movie. So, I just sat eating my food, enjoying it but I felt really bad about leaving.

So, I am not sure what to expect today. Maybe I just got to be grateful that I have a job. I could always be doing school instead. But I want to make sure I keep my job.

Mom gave me some Vienna Sausages to feed Max. I have bought Vienna Sausages before for him. But I came home one day, and my Dad was eating them. “Dad, those are for Max”. I want Max to eat his dog food, but I understand. The dog food is dry. SO, I try to include a hotdog, or some kind of meat in his food that is chewy. Well, time to go smoke and get ready for work.