Raoul’s Two Cents: January 10, 2025
The Mission Field
WARNING: Religious topic. Move on to the jokes if this isn’t your thing.
Everybody’s talking about the Los Angeles fires. Who? How? Why? It’s not complicated. This state is shaped by shared ideologies, a shared vision and one political party. Enough said. But let’s not talk about the obvious. Let’s talk about church.
I have been studying Acts and the letters of Paul. If you are not familiar, Paul was the first among the apostles who realized that the Gospel needed to be preached not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles (non-Jews). He was the first missionary. He traveled from Jerusalem to as far as modern-day Greece. Along the way he planted several churches. As soon as a church was organized and equipped with able leaders, he would move on to the next populated city and repeat the process. In almost all situations he was met with hostility by the local religious leaders whose livelihoods were threatened. Yeah, political corruption was as rampant as they are today.
We are celebrating Mission Week in my church and missionaries (whom we support) from all over the world have come to report on their activities. Their stories are inspiring and amazing. These humble men of God go where few have dared to trod. Some live in hostile anti-Christian countries where they can be legally imprisoned, tortured and killed if they speak of Jesus Christ.
I had lunch with Logan (not his real name) who started a ministry among students from Asia. Many he believes are spies … informing their motherland of strategic weaknesses. I was complaining about the LA fires when he surprised me about the richness of California. He couldn’t get enough of the hot sun so he refused to sit in the shade. He pointed at the shiny cars that whizzed by. He marveled at the endless choices in the menu. He was amused at the variety of skin and hair colors. I had forgotten that (when I first got here) I saw what he sees.
His biggest problem? Not enough workers. He is by himself assisting/ministering to boatloads of people who need help adjusting to their new environment. He drives them around, supplies furniture and grocery. And he’s not getting paid. He’s so busy he has no time to do anything else. In two years, through simple conversations, he has led 40 people to Christ. He needs two Christian women to mentor the ladies because they are now outnumbering the men.
In all of this, he is excited! He is joyful! His bank account is less than $100 but he isn’t begging for money. He is confident the Lord will provide. “These are just material things,” he insists. In times of his most financially desperate moments, someone had always come up with just the right amount of money. He is looking forward to returning to his “people” for indeed, the harvest is ripe.
The loss and the grief of those whose homes were ravaged by the fires here in Los Angeles are real. But so is the Lord’s provision. I guess it’s easy for me to say … until my house burns down.
After I wrote that sentence I had to pause, look up and prayed:
“Lord, don’t get any ideas about what I just said. Are we clear about this? Logan? Where are you Logan? Please strengthen my faith!”
TGIF people!
“What difference does it make how much you have? What you do not have amounts to much more.” — Seneca
“There was a time in my life when I thought I had everything – millions of dollars, mansions, cars, nice clothes, beautiful women, and every other materialistic thing you can imagine. Now I struggle for peace.” — Richard Pryor
“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”— A letter from Paul the apostle. 2 Corinthians 11: 23-27
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RealTrooper.jpg)
Original art by Raoul Pascual.
Video of the Week
Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA
(please pray for Tom who had to evacuate)
Click to View the short clip
Parting Shots
Thanks to Richard of New Manila, Philippines
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Richard-LifetLeft.jpg)
Thanks to Colleen of Washington State
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Colleen-BlackFridayTVsale.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Colleen-Deer-Millenial-meat.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Colleen-NeopolitanIceCreamCow.jpg)
Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AbbeyRdVWs-Art.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Art-NoMistakePromoted.jpg)
(Please pray for Art who had to evacuate).
Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Herman-Tunnel.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Herman-FirstEyeExam.jpg)
Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tom-2TypesOfPeopleFillUp.jpeg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tom-OldPhoto-NoSelfie.jpeg)
Thanks to Norm of Sherman Oaks, CA
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Norm-CarWarranty.jpg)
Thanks to Joanne of Hacienda Heights, CA
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Joane-LastWords.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Joane-Lottery.jpg)
Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Maling-StarTrek-WashFace.jpg)
I found these:
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chuck-HearSIgnLanguage.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chuck-Drove-Mom.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chuck-CrackSmile.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/StarTrek-KnittedSweater.jpg)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/StarTrek-Tiina.jpg)
My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TBoy122-376.gif)
![](https://travelingboy.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TBoy122-377.gif)
SUBSCRIBE
Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us! Email Raoul
Larry
January 10, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Let’s focus on Paul and his work, not the fires and corruption. Logan is the one from Michigan, I assume. The one you told me needs Asian women?
Paul traveled throughout the ancient world, organizing churches from Ephesus to Rome after his conversion. God’s calling. We are indebted to his ministry, without his letters, how could we understand Christ?
Logan, doesn’t care about money. Bravo. We should all be so selfless and honest about humble. Isn’t that our calling?
I ask God to bless you and Jackie. I’m about to do it now, true enough. That’s my job and commitment to you as a friend and your family.
Be with my brother, Raoul in all his life and passions. Keep him healthy and happy and safe.
TGIF
Colleen
January 10, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Raoul, thank you for the reminder! It’s easy to take my eyes off Jesus and put them on something that will pass… I love the perspective you/your friend put on the subject.
Tom
January 10, 2025 at 9:30 pm
Thanks Raoul. Vacating with great friends in Arcadia! Superb Hospitallity and So Wonderful. I hear my home survived but so very many did not. Thanks especially for the Prayers. I am Praying for my neighbors.
Tom of Pasadena
Noel
January 10, 2025 at 10:00 pm
Let us pray for those guys in SoCal.. I ahve some friends whose relatives had to evacuate their homes
Heather
January 10, 2025 at 10:02 pm
They caught an arsonist during the night with a blow torch and a debit card from the United Nations AND….. 5 cell phones!!!! It’ll be interesting who he called along the way. I think this guy is a mercenary who will do anything for $$$$!!!!
David
January 13, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Hey Raoul,
Just checking in to see if you are safe and sound.
What a crazy disaster in your state. I remember you visiting me on a set in Altadena and I know you live in the area.
I’ve got a few friends close to the evacuation zones and a few other friends who have lost everything.
Thoughts and prayers with you and your family.
Best regards,
David
Chuck
January 13, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Thank you Raoul,
Glad you are well my amigo. One of our friends. Steve and Karen that we knew from our days growing up at Mayberry Elementary School in Echo Park area, moved to Paradise, CA many years ago. Linda Belle and I visited them with our 6 children on one of our vacations up to Northern California. We were pretty sure it was close to the real “Paradise”. However you know what happened there. The Campfire burned the town down, plus the suburb of Magalia, where another friend of ours Bill Dawson moved to, because he visited Steve and Karen and liked what he saw.
I knew both Steve and Bill from the world famous Jehu’s Car Club of Echo Park! Well the Campfire roared through there and completely burned down Magalia (and Bill Dawson’s place) and all but obliterated Paradise, CA. We were excited to learn that Steve and Karen’s home was one of the only ones left standing in Paradise. The business community all gone. The houses of worship gone as well! What a miracle for Steve and Karen we said! Not quite we learned. Steve told me that he almost wished that their home had burned down as well! He lost his neighbors on all four sides. He can’t sell the home, cause it’s not worth anything. All services are gone. He has to travel to Chico, CA for dental and medical needs and to shop. They have to go to the U.S Post Office and stand in line to collect their mail. All of his friends and neighbors have moved; I do hope that this will move Steve closer to God. Steve blames the Democrats for the fires there and in L.A. I had to tell my friend Steve that I called to see how he was and to check up on him; NOT to talk politics! I also told him that I was open to discussing the Gospel. He told me that he was glad I called and we talked a bit more. The good news is that God never left. Wishing for Paradise can be tricky – if it’s not the right one. Pastor Matthew Barnett at Angelus Temple this morning said in regards to all the displaced victims of these CA wildfires was that we don’t “Have to serve,” our neighbor, but rather “we Get to Serve!” Praying for you, your family and all of the victims of our fire ravaged communities in California, and that one day we will meet in Paradise. As two of our Black Brother Pastors used to say about this on radio program, “What a day, What a day that will be”!
Yes, What A Day! What a Day that will be!
I’m looking forward to seeing you there one day!
Blessings,
Brother Chuck