Horses, Cabinets and Worship

This weekend I visited our son, Ron, and his Argentine wife, Elisabet since I had been invited to preach in their church Sunday.  They live on two acres in the Santa Cruz mountains only about 5 miles from the small mountain village of Felton.  They built a barn and corral to take care of Elisabet's two Arabian horses.  She rides them in endurance races and has a whole wall full of ribbons and trophies.  Some of these rides are 25 miles, others 50 miles.  Often they involve difficult, mountainous terrain. 

Last year she did a 155 mile endurance ride divided into three days!  She did not come in first, but she completed the 155 mile ride which is a major achievement in itself.  

A photographer captured this shot as she rode past him on her horse "Tango" during her second day of the race.  

Last Saturday Elisabet was honored with this 34 year old trophy.  It is the annual Eleanor Norton Award given to the club member who exemplifies the meaning of the word "Sportsmanship" for this year.  Elisabet's name is the 34th to be inscribed on it.  Among other reasons, the award was given to her in recognition of her 2 year tenure as president of the club, which is one of the oldest endurance clubs in the world. Many of it's members are world renowned endurance riders, with a combined half million competition miles!  She is also holding in her right hand a silver belt buckle given to her at the same award ceremony by her dear friend Julie Suhr who is 88 years old and still riding strong! 

Hidden in the second story of the barn shown above is a fully equipped, modern cabinet shop where Ron's business produces unusual and beautiful high-end specialty cabinet work which he designs for his growing bay area clientele.  Check out some of his creations that he has built and installed for delighted clients.  Just click on... http://www.hiattconstruction.com/

I had totally lost my voice last week, but God miraculously brought it back just in time to minister this Sunday morning at Redwood Christian Center of Felton which is nestled in the hills north of Santa Cruz only about five miles from where Ron and Elisabet live.  

Redwood Christian Center (Assembly of God) is a small congregation of believers led by Pastor Rose Warren.  Sister Rose, with us in this photo, makes this a church where it is easy to feel at home.  What makes it doubly special for me is that Ron and Elisabet make this their home church.  Today Elisabet was leading worship along with her team.  

Ron was running the sound board and video projection.  You can tell whenever the sound man is doing a great job.  It's when you don't notice him at all and everything runs smoothly.  Ron is an expert and takes this task seriously.

These next 3 photos show Elisabet's worship team taken this morning during the service by our friend, Paul, a neighbor of Ron and Elisabet.  And she invited me in on the fun with my lap steel, Hawaiian guitar.  

Elisabet has a noble philosophy related to worship leading: "Not performance, but worship."  And she believes in "Excellence, giving our best for God!"  She is very clear during practice at what she is driving for.  Several songs will slip from one into another with hardly a noticeable break.  Above all she is committed to not just "do a performance", (she hates the word "performance" in relationship to leading worship), but her goal is to actually lead the congregation in serious, inspired, joyful worship.   

This un-posed portrait of the keyboard player is a classic!  Paul is an excellent photographer.  And this musician is a great subject to capture.

Percussion is on the opposite side of the platform and this brother does it right.  He does not try to shine... but fits in perfectly, leading out strong or fading back exactly as instructed.  

Elisabet runs a tight ship, but with a special talent for kindness and maintaining good relationships. All this along with Holy Spirit anointing. 

What a privilege to minister to this body of believers!

At the close of the service Sister Rose called up some of the elders to pray for me as I will be leaving for Argentina again in just 16 days, Lord willing.  

Ralph

PS. I remind you that all pictures may be enlarged by just clicking on them.