Press Pause Ministries

Spending an afternoon with my daughter Katie and her family which is such a joy! I realized, having lived in California all my life I had never seen the Golden Gate Bridge from the west side of the bridge. It’s a pretty amazing view!

Friends, Press Pause Ministries will be offering another “Be Still” day retreat Saturday May 25, 2024 from 9AM until 4PM. We will gather this time in person at 5153 Santa Fe Street, Oakdale, Ca 95361. We will stream the retreat on Zoom as well. The cost is $35 for the day. Let us know if you can join us.

Happy birthday Erin! You are an amazing, loving, kind, creative and incredibly fun person! When you enter a room it lights up and your generous heart welcomes all into the light of Jesus that shines through you! I love you and am proud to have you as my daughter. Have a great day!

Friends, I wanted to invite you to the Press Pause Ministries Autumn “Be Still” day retreat on Saturday November 4, 2023 from 9AM until 4PM. We will gather at 4413 Touraine Parc Lane, Modesto, CA 95356 for a day of enjoying extended time with Jesus. We will begin at 9AM with some fellowship and teaching and then move out for a time of solitude and silence. At 3PM we will gather together to debrief the time alone. We will provide coffee, water and some light snacks for the day. For those outside the immediate area, we will provide a Zoom link that you can use for the times together. The cost for the day is $35 which includes the materials/handouts and you will need to provide your own lunch. I hope you will consider joining us for this retreat. It is a great opportunity to further deepen your own relationship with Jesus and listen for His voice. Thanks

I had another great time sharing some songs at the Ripon Farmer’s Market last evening. It’s an amazing set up with great vendors and sponsors. Thanks to Heather Crooker for the invite to play and thanks to all who showed up for the event! Blessings!

This Thursday, August 10, I’ll be sharing some songs at the Ripon Farmer’s Market. If your in the area you should come by and say hello. They have all sorts of vendors with some great food and creative stuff. It runs fro 5PM until 8 PM. Hope to see you there!

On Saturday August 26, 2023, Press Pause Ministries will be sponsoring another “Be Still” day retreat in Pacific Grove, California. We will gather at 9AM at Wellspring Church (141 14th St. Pacific Grove, CA 93950) for worship and some teaching to prepare for the day. Following that there will be an extended time of solitude and silence for you to to just enjoy the Lord, listen for His voice and discern His presence and leading. We will gather again at 3PM for a time of debrief and then end by 4PM. The cost is $35 for the day. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can have materials for you. I hope your will consider joining us for this opportunity to spend extended time with Jesus.

This month has been so great. Having returned home now from doing ministry in the South and East we are so grateful for the way God allowed us to participate and enjoy the lives of so many people, sharing songs, stories and His Word. We were so generously welcomed by those we were with and we were able to reconnect with so many dear friends as well as make some new friends. This picture was taken at an Amish carriage shop and though we briefly considered trading our car in and returning home in this, the carriage didn’t have a spare wheel or room for the guitars…or a horse to pull it, for that matter. 😉

We spent time with wonderful old friends Dr. Craig and Angela Ruder in York Pennsylvania. They’re life is full and rich with caring for people, looking out for the hurting and disengaged and enjoying their dog, gardens and bees. They are remarkable people that we are blessed to know and enjoy time with. Angie used to babysit our children and left a special influence on their lives. We see the riches of God’s grace in these relationships and are incredibly thankful!

This evening I was in York, PA sharing some songs and stories at a house concert hosted by Craig and Angela Ruder. They were so gracious to open their home for a group to gather and listen. I’ve been fighting an upper respiratory virus that has me sounding froggy. But by the grace and mercy of God I finished a set of songs for the evening. My weakness is always an opportunity for His strength and His glory.

Spent Monday and Tuesday with Scott and Susie Butler and the staff from their church. Had a great time sharing a few thoughts about spiritual rhythms. It was so wonderful to hang out with Scott and Susie and see how they are flourishing in their lives, church and ministry. What a blessing!

We had a great time this past Sunday with our friends Brian and Kathy Ralston in Vandergrift, PA where he pastors a presbyterian church. We will look forward to the next time!

I realized that this trip has been full of Miller encounters…which I loved!

Old friends are still great friends!!!

Friends together again! Francie and I were able to spend some quality time with Scott and Suzi Miller. We laughed a lot, shared stories, and had some great discussions. In it all I sensed the presence of Jesus gathering with us as we were together. It was a marvelous reunion!

Friends together again! Francie and I were able to spend some quality time with Scott and Suzi Miller. We laughed a lot, shared stories, and had some great discussions. In it all I sensed the presence of Jesus gathering with us as we were together. It was a marvelous reunion!

I had a wonderful time preaching and sharing a song at Vandergrift Presbyterian Church in Vandergrift, PA. Francie and and I enjoyed seeing our friends Brian and Kathy Ralston who moved here recently to pastor the church. They were both so welcoming, as was the church. This evening I’ll share more music and stories in a Sunday evening concert.

Had just a great time in Wilkesboro, NC ministering together with Tim Miller. Also, such a pleasure to be with Lauren and their family.

Spoke and shared some music at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. It was so wonderful to be with Tim and Lauren Miller. I had the pleasure of having Tim join me on some songs as well as accompanying him on Octave Mandolin. It was great to be at his church, meet the other staff he works with and share a word from the Scriptures with his congregation.

We had lunch with old friends Eric and Stephanie Lingren on the way out of Knoxville. Stephanie was a student in the high school ministry I pastored in the early eighties in Southern California. They now live with their family in Knoxville. So wonderful to catch up and celebrate God’s faithfulness.

We had a great time with Shawn, Michele, Gabby and Anna Stutz over the weekend (July 7-9). Great relationships and a wonderful opportunity to collaborate in ministry again.

Great time sharing with the Shoreline Church Life Group leaders today. Shawn Stutz hosted the time as part of their leader training. So good to be with my friend in Knoxville!

While at the July 8 day retreat Francie and I were able to reconnect with Tyler Miller. What a great songwriter, worship leader, musician and teacher he is. Most of all a friend! 😊

Sharing the song “Mystery of Life” at the end of the debrief for the day retreat. It was a great time together having extended time to listen and attend to the voice of Jesus!

Great time with Shawn Stutz this morning, July 8, setting up a day of solitude and silence with a group from Shoreline church where he is a pastor. Fun to serve and participate with my friend again! Just like old times…😊

Three longtime friends connecting after twenty years. What a great time we had seeing Lynn Chilberg!

Francie with Lynn Chilberg in Maryville, Tennessee. Lynn was one of her bridesmaids long ago…😉

Last moments with Brian & Lynn Battey, our generous hosts for an evening house concert in Ocala, Fl., before moving on to Maryville, Tennessee.

First “house concert” of the trip hosted by Brian & Lynn Battey in Ocala, Florida. So glad for the chance to share some songs with a group of people. On ward to Knoxville, TN for the next opportunity to minister.