The Latest

Well I don’t know if this blog is going to be much more than informative, but hopefully it will have more value than just that. I also hope you all are doing well, I have enjoyed hearing from you and keeping up with what’s happening in your lives as well.

Corinne and I have been able to visit our son Samuel twice since he’s been at Camp Pendleton and we’re hoping he will have liberty again in the next two weeks before going off to Florida for his continued training. However, we’ve heard rumors of the possibility of his continued training happening at Camp Pendleton instead of Florida, which would be great for us to have him close to home for a bit longer. Jordan has gone out of state twice now and is currently working in Louisiana (for an unknown period of time) doing underwater welding, with the possibility of getting full time work out there which has kept us on our toes (or should I say on our knees). Daniel and Lauren are still here with us at home and doing well.

With all that’s happening with the two boys, Corinne and I are so glad we are still here in Southern California and that we’ve able to be a support to them during these transition in their lives. We feel reassured that it was the right decision for us to stay down here in at this time.

Last week was a busy and a very exciting week for us as we began the home study at John and Tammy’s house. Corinne and I have been getting together with 5 other couples and praying about how and when to start a study and in just a week’s time we all decided to “go for it”.

It was a great evening and everyone seemed to really enjoy the time and the opportunity to sing, study and meet new friends. We were all very excited about what happened and look forward to this Friday as well. We are guessing there were around 40 people there, but more exciting than how many were there, was that they didn’t want to leave afterwards, but just stayed, talked, and enjoyed each other’s company.

I was also asked to speak the following evening at a musicians get together at the Carnegie building in Upland (and got to “jam” a little as well). It was a lot of fun and I had some great conversation as well. On top of that, I was invited to speak that Sunday morning at Calvary Chapel Pomona Valley while Jeff and Karen were down in Vizcaino, Mexico.
More than the teaching I was able to enjoy being a part of and praying with people and what things are happening in their lives; things that are important like children leaving the home, working out of state, or joining the military. I was able to talk to moms in the same situation as Corinne and pray with couples going through physical hardship or pray with others who, like me, have desires to do more for God and step into a work that is bigger than we are (though I suppose any work of God is bigger than we are).

Well, that’s the tip of the Scotti iceberg. I appreciate all the prayers and concern you’ve shown to my family and myself.

…Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. (Joshua 3:5)

Everyone Gets Bit

Everyone Gets Bit

When I began dog training every trainer that I rode along with told me a story of a time when they got bit, and as I recall all of them at one time said, “everyone gets bit”. There was an unsettling feeling that came with that statement, but like biblical prophecy the fateful day came while training a Weimaraner, it was quick, unexpected and fortunately not too bad.

This thought of getting bit came into a more serious light when I went to a memorial service for a friend of ours sister who lost her battle with cancer. As the service began I was drawn in with a video presentation which displayed pictures throughout her life. What caught my attention were the pictures from the past that showed our friend with her sister when they were young girls. In the pictures they were smiling, innocent, having fun and free of the cares and weights of this world, (as it should be with children). Then I noticed as the pictures continued that there were years missing, no pictures, no smiles. I was aware of this most likely because I know a little of my friends past, which she shared about briefly during the memorial service and I bring it up to make this point, life can be a lot like dog training in this way… everyone gets bit.
We may get bit by a bad relationship or bad health, sudden loss of a job, lapse of judgment, kids who go astray, there are a million things that can happen, but eventually every persons photo history changes from innocence to heartbreak some where along the journey. That thought was even more unsettling than the one I had with the trainers earlier.
As my friend spoke about her troubled years, she then spoke of how those troubled years were turned around as she realized her need for spiritual care and turned to Jesus for that care. Her story like the pictures in the presentation made another turn, a reappearance, a resurrection if you will, where life was bought back and so too the smile.
I for years had been bit, but ignored the wounds of my soul, I know even now that if there were to be a video presentation in memory of my life, I too would have a blank spot, a black hole where there was no light to be found, but as with my friend so also with me there has been a resurrection of life, where I was treated for my spiritual cancer and wounds.
I think most of us are able to grope our way back towards the light, for some the journey is quick and seemingly painless, for others it seems that even though the light may be seen health is never found. I believe however there is help and hope available to everyone, but we all first must realize our need. Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” And that He did not come to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners (Matt 9:12,13). I think this is such an incredible revelation that can free and heal us all and what I love about this statement is how it fits so perfectly into the video of our lives, because at some point in this journey we are going to need a physician, because you see,

...everyone gets bit.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:6)

Decision 2008

Decision 2008

I guess all the election talk has got to me, thus my title, but it is great to know that what ever decisions are made whether for a country or in our individual lives we do not need to fear as we seek and ask the Lord for guidance, knowing that if we ask for bread, He will not give us a stone (Matt. 7:9).

As many of you are aware, my family and I have been at a crossroads in our lives whether we were to venture up to St. Helena in the Napa Valley and be involved in the work the Lord is doing up there, or…? And that has been the haunting question for us, if not there Lord, what and where?
Back in November I met with a pastor and friend for advice in this matter and was counseled then to stop traveling back and forth to St. Helena for a time and instead be still and listen for God’s direction. That has proven to be valuable and healing advice as I was able to slow down enough to take care of and enjoy the needs of my family over the holidays and though it was a wilderness Christmas, it has been one that I will forever cherish.
In this time Corinne and I believe that the Lord has spoken to us in a clear and practical way to stay put here where we are and not pursue ministry in St. Helena. As far as that future question mark, well it’s still there, but I can share a few of things currently taking place.

• First, I am and will be training dogs here in the So Cal. area as a means of make a living (appreciate prayer for this).
• Second, I have been invited to lead worship back at C. C. Montebello a couple of times a month, which if you know me has been therapy and an absolute joy!
• And third, I’ve been asked to lead a home study by a few old friends, and received encouragement in this from my same friend and pastor. With that said we are currently praying about when and where this will take place.

This has not been an enjoyable journey especially seeing my family have to go through it all. It’s easy to lose sight of what we want to accomplish in our lives, when we encounter hardship during that pursuit. I received an encouraging comment on one of my blogs recently that helped me remember some important things. The comment was from a High School friend who I haven’t been in touch with for close to thirty years, she wrote “Its nice to read about what you are doing and to see that your priorities are the same as they were when I last saw you many years ago”. I remember those priorities, I felt that God put them deep within me and I pray I never cease pursuing them.

… to know the Lord and to make Him known.

All Things New

All Things New

As the New Year has come, I was thinking about this word, “new”, Whether it’s a new outfit or a new start, the idea of something fresh or a chance to begin again with a clean slate is very appealing to us and thus we have resolutions to lose weight, get out of debt and the hopes of just “starting over” with the “New” Year.
One reason I believe we find the idea of starting over so appealing is because of the mistakes we make, whether it’s a bad relationship, tax penalties we didn’t pay or just something we did and regret, the thought of getting out from under the effects of theses things are very appealing indeed.
I think God is very fond of this “new” idea as well, that’s why we see a thread throughout the scripture. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3), we are new creations in Christ (1Cor. 5), God even says, “behold I make all things new (Rev. 21).”
Now, of course “new” things are great when it comes to second chances and cars (just check out Bill’s blog “Daddy’s New Ride” http://pastorbillwalden.blogspot.com ). However they can get a bit scary when it’s as serious as a relationship or career change, but regardless of what it is, and whether it is fearful or thrilling, with anything “new” there is also the possibility of something better. I think that is one of the reasons God likes making things new, because what He is really interested in, is making things better and making us Holy (complete).
This has been a reality of what Corinne and I have been living in lately and after I touch base with a few people I will be sharing more on some decisions that we have recently made, but I believe this thought of new, faces us all throughout our lives as we make choices between being safe, or being better.
Maybe the thought of taking seriously a more committed relationship to Jesus is your doorway to a new beginning, but you are afraid it is an end to many things in your life (In truth, it’s a bit of both). Which would you choose?

I will ask you the question that I have been asking myself for the past few months, where are you in this place of new beginnings? Are you on the horizon overlooking an adventure, or on the edge of a cliff standing paralyzed? And they are probably the exact same place.
I think Joshua was there when he took Moses’ place and had to lead the children of Israel into the land God promised. The Lord told him to “be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid” as He also encouraged the disciples as they stood and watched Jesus, their Messiah ascending away from them and into heaven. No doubt about it this “new” can be a very scary place. I imagine the Wright brothers stood there too that day at Kitty Hawk, and you know what happened to them don’t you? ...They flew.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32