Tulare Advance-Register from Tulare, California • 28

4D WEEKEND DECEMBER 29 30 2007 T1MES DELTAADVANCE REG1STER Some seek help for hope Those of us looking for signs that peace on Earth might become more than a seasonal wish found some hope in the UJS intelligence report that con cluded Iran stopped its nucle ar weapons program four years ago Even the some times maniacal President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saw a sign of hope calling the re port forward" It goes to show you no matter who you are a common human practice to look for signs that point us to a better direction During desperate times many of us will ask God for a sign to an swer our questions I see this search in the hospital when parents pray for a sick child Or I see it in young adults when they desperately ask things like God if you want me to many this woman let it rain no wonder people seek answers from God in funny shaped clouds or taco shells resembling the face of Jesus People will often ask me if God can speak though dreams or some kind of coin cidence in their livesTo this question I say suppose God can speak through Bar ry Manilow if listen ing But the important ques tion is: I low did the sign NORRIS BURKES Spirituality make you feel? Hopeful? Or Signs should always bring more inspiration than they bring desperation If the sign seems to increase anxiety then perhaps it is something created out of our neediness It is that neediness that will often cause us to wrongfully insist others must hear God in the same way we hear God or worse yet we imply others may not be listening to God 1 often tell hospital patients had a challenging dream the you expe rience inspires you to feel hopeful then it may possibly be voice because hope is what God is all about" Anything that reminds of us of that hope may well be from God Anything that tells us there is an existence out side of ourselves who con trols our universe should be seen as a spiritual sign of hope As it did in the hearts of its participants the Christ mas story still inspires in me a sign of hope ft is a story that began in the court of an other maniacal leader King Herod The king had been visited by wandering as trologers who had come looking for signs and won ders which they hoped would point to a better day for people However the sign for which they were looking would not be in Herod's court It would be in a stable where they would discover the same hope promised to the shepherds in the unto you is bom this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord And this shall be a sign unto you you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger" The fact these hopeful stargazers found of a helpless child proves that in a day where men search for evil weapons the search for peace is a far more worthy quest If we are also wise we will look past what is temporary and focus on hope Only then can we hope to find peace on Earth and goodwill to all mail Norris Burkes at Norristhechaplainnct CHURCH RELIGION CALENDAR EVENTS New Ere service Join us in celebrating the corning of the new year 8 pun Monday at Restoration 316 Third Ave Vtsaka Inionnation: 635 2543 Visalia Christian Women's Oub luncheon Theme is "Start ing A New" featuring a cake deco rating demonstration musk by Ba Marie Benedict and speaker Yrena mation: Church office 686 5591 House of Prayer's Project Hope Currently seeking two po sitions for our volunteer Board of Directors Meetings are 630 830 pm one Monday a month Infor mation: Afrnee Payne 635 1710 Introduction to Judaism Course in fundamental practices and beliefs of modem judatsm from 10 am to noon Saturdays at Congregation Beit Shalom infor tnatron or registration: 308 1333 or 636 1351 Know your figure Walk through the book of Revelation with us every Wednesday at 630 PM in Calvary Baptist Church 1706 Tulare fix Visalia Information: 734 6000 riedmann noon to 1 30 pm Jan 14 at Lamp liter ion Banquet Room West Main Street and Min eral King Avenue Visalia Cost CROSSWORD ANSWERS $1350 inclusive Buffet from 1 1 30 am to noon Luncheon reservations appreciated Chid care available upon request at no charge Bring sack lunch for your child Walk ins welcome Bring a friend Information Nancy 592 5531 or Wilma 734 1738 Women's spring retreat Retreat wil be called 'Pillars erf Influence' at Harland Christian Camp in May 2008 Information: Heart of the Valley Christian el lowship 733 7859 ONGOING Holy aith Church of God in Christ services Sunday school 9:30 1 1 a Sunday service from 1130 am to 1 pm Sunday Young People's Willing Workers 6 7 pm Tuesday Pastor's Teach ing 630 830 pm Wednesday Bible band from noon to 1 30 pm riday night services 730 930 pm all at 645 St Tulare Everyone welcome Infor A A A 0 A I A2 I 0 A A 0 A 0 A A A A 0 A A I IB SHC A A A sJb rBa sBs sHp i Bp i A A A Nu Bl eTT sB 11 RE A A IB uIa lBm EB sBp i cBs sB IB DC A A ea Bt ce Be tr eB nJg Bu oBo cTl a Bt tTo DB YlS IB EB A I i i I Paid Advertisement Save time money submit your ad online! wwwVisaliaTimesDeltacom wwwTulareAdvanceRegistercom See details on the test page of Celebrations elebrations Visalia Times DeltaI ularc Ad vance Regljtcr 2007 00000 1st Birthday I Cameron A Thank you Corrine Justin for bringing Cameron into our lives He will always nave our hearts Happy I st Birthday Mister! a l2J IlBi Congratulations I Terri Miller Cote A Congratulations Terri Miller Cote on receiving your Bachelor of Arts in amily and Consumer Sciences with a concentra tion in amily Studies from the California State University in Sacramento You married raised and home schooled three children and then returned to college We are very proud of you Love your family 1 Sb I I Wedding Joseph Corina Martinez HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Joseph and Corina Martinez Married in Mainz Kastel Germany on September 22 2007 Joseph is in the US Air orce in Germany where he met his beautiful wife Corina We love you guys! Dad Elfrida Jfv Wedding Garcia McConnell A BL On October 25 2007 Patrick McConnell and Yvie Garcia became Mr And Mrs Patrick McConnell They were married in a backyard cer emony at the home of father Patrick is the son of Dennis McConnell and Sophie Kahler of Tulare Yvie is the daughter of Yolanda Garcia and Ben Garcia of Visalia Patrick also graduated US Marine Corps recruit training in San Diego in October Patrick is attending Aviation Maintenance school in Pensacola Just after the new year Yvie will be moving to Pensacola so that they may begin their lives together HR 4B Hb Wedding Cooke Adkins A Trevor Adkins of Visalia and Nuala Cooke of Novato CA exchanged marriage vows on August 1 8 2007 in the garden of her mother's home in Novato It was a beautiful day attended by many friends and family members Attending the bride was Trevor's two nieces Anna and Halley D'Acquisto The parents of the groom Robert and Kate Montoya of Visalia along with the mom Angela Cooke of Novato and her dad Emon Cooke also of Novato want to wish them much love and happiness The couple will make their home in Arcata CA 3" jfj 1 A Vv 1 Engagement Carrillo Lemus A Nazario and Lucy Carrillo of Visalia California announce the engagement of their daughter Maria Carrillo to Gerardo Lemus son of Victor and Paula Lemus of Porterville California Maria is a Golden West High School graduate and received her Bachelors in English from resno State University She is cur rently a teacher for Mendota High School and plans to obtain her Masters in the near future Gerardo is a Porterville High School graduate received a degree in Architecture from College of the Sequoias and is currently working on his Bachelors in Construction Management at resno State University He is currently employed as a project coordinator by CM Construction Services of Visalia Maria and Gerardo anxiously await their Holy union this upcoming summer in July 2008 after which they plan to settle down and reside in Visalia California 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 A 4 4 WA64 fr 4 Saturday Visalia TimcsDeltafIularc' Ad vanceKegiMcr.