I had a birfday 51 years ago

I had a birfday 51 years ago
Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

I didn't have enough air to blow out 5 candles. Oxygen tanks were standing by to revive me... Thanks to all the well-wishers from all over.

I left my heart...

This may explain why certain individuals want a 60's Mustang...

I know... it's always food!

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Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

If you ever have a chance to go down to San Jose, there is a nice Italian restaurant off San Fernando & First Street. The mixed grill or the salmon @ Bella Mia is wonderfully prepared and has great presentation. Parking is hard to find downtown, but there is a $6 covered lot right across the street. Bon apetit!

Kids are messy!

This is an excerpt from Timothy Eldred (www.praywithyouth.com) regarding the development of youth. As you read it I want to encourage you as you are IN the lives of the kids that it WILL cost... but we will either pay now or pay later... rest assured, we will pay.

-info@rmaxtorres.com

WASTING TIME WITH KIDS
October 19, 2006
============= excerpted message from Timothy Eldred follows===========
I know how to waste time. I'm sure a lot of people could give me a run for my money, but when it comes to wasting time I can hold my own. As a matter of fact, I might be considered an expert. Believe it or not, I want you to be an expert, too!
In a recent blog post on All for One, Milton McDonald, from Sydney, Australia, hit the nail square on the head with these words to youth leaders, "Develop the habit of wasting time with your youth." That comment is the context for my opening paragraph. In order to effectively impact young lives, we must learn to waste time with teens.

Just think about the amount of time we really do waste (Can we all say television commercials?). Some people loose many days a year watching advertisements on TV. Of course, there are other time-wasters we could name, but it would be a waste of my time to sit here create a list of them for you.

The point is simple: Relationships change lives. How many hours have slipped away from us (this week alone) that could have been wasted (invested) in someone's life? There are things we do for the sake of ministry we think are important that really are an unfortunate waste of time. They just keep us busy instead of actively engaged. Busy typically takes place behind a desk. It includes too much time alone. Often, busy means planning, preparing, and polishing weekly programs. Why? Are they that effective?

The simplicity of the Gospel and the example of Jesus Christ has been all but lost for the sake of productivity and professionalism. I dare you (triple-dog-dare-you) to stop being efficient for once. Instead, take a chance and begin intentionally wasting time with the people God has placed in your path. That's where real life- change occurs.


Enroll your church in Pray with Youth now.
Because of Jesus,
Timothy Eldred
Christian Endeavor International
email: teldred@allfor1.org
phone: 989-427-3737
web: http://www.praywithyouth.com

EPA Disaster Preparedness Taskforce

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Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

Honorable Ruben Abrica, Mayor of East Palo Alto, California [www.epa.net] convenes a Disaster Preparedness meeting in the City Hall on October 20, 2006. A BrainTrust formed of these 20 or more grassroots community leaders and organizational heads and representatives will surely yield valuable plans and preparations for the well-being of the residents of this area. Dialogue with cohesiveness was so refreshing in the midst of this pre-election season. Clearly, there is a desire to learn from recent tragedies and it seems that at this point, we simply know data points. What lies ahead is the formation of clear objectives & principles that can help us guide ourselves when everything starts getting chaotic.

Doug Stringer, Founder & Director of Somebody Cares International [http://somebodycares.org] cites the passage in Luke 21:13 as he challenges the Church to prepare to let all these things be an occassion for our testimony.

A few good men...

(LtoR) Pastor John Liotti, Pastor Paul Bains, Mayor Ruben Abrica and Father Goode
Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

These four men clearly have a heart and have invested years of their life as seeds for the coming generation who will lead and care for those elders who have blazed the trail for recent success.

John Liotti heads up the Northern California Urban Development Corporation which is founding a Credit Union by East Palo Alto, for East Palo Alto, in East Palo Alto; Pastor Paul Bains is Senior Pastor of St. Samuel COGIC and is of the Bains Family which actually co-founded the city of East Palo Alto; Mayor Ruben Abrica is the cities first Latino Mayor and is a Stanford Graduate who is now teaching in DeAnza Community College; and Father Goode is pastoring the St. Francis of Assissi Parish in East Palo Alto & East Menlo Park.

The evening of October 19, 2006 was the date for a community forum on the ballot issue called Measure C as well as the community need for a full service supermarket. Discussion ranged from choosing a name for the SuperMarket which would not culturally alienate either the Latino(60%), African-American(23%) or Pacific Islanders(8% and growing) to declaring their position on a property tax that would provide both additional Police protection and funding for Community Based programs.

Kool KidSmart Kookies

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Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

At snack time the children of Bayshore Christian Ministries got creative! M&M's, Caramel/Chocolate/Vanilla topping and cookies all combined to provide colorful & tasty snacks.

Hop Scotch Engineer

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Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

Can you do it? Look close... it says "You Can Do It!" Very affirming sidewalk chalk engineer!

Keyhole become Google Earth

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by rmaxt.

On this Saturday I went over and loaded materials & resources donated by the company formerly know as Keyhole Software. They were recently acquired by Google Earth and are one of the most valuable tools in my MacWorld of travel and investigation! I just love this program and I remember the days when I was hoping I could get enough money to subscribe to the paid version of Keyhole which had so many additional features that are all now part of Google Earth's default configuration! Thanks Mark A. for all that you and your fellow 'world mappers' were able to do. Life is change! Now Google has YouTube! and who knows what that will mean for all the media hungry webbers in the world.