Author: Tim Valentino

A grace-loving husband, father, grandfather, pastor, university professor, conference speaker, swimmer, and incurable Philadelphia Phillies fan.

“Play Ball!”

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I was having major computer issues several weeks ago, so I wasn’t able to post a wonderful memory involving Samuel. His parents and I took him to his very first baseball game, a Reading Phillies game at First Energy Field. He loved it—not just learning about the game but all the fun that goes with it, like the mascots (Change-Up the Turtle, Blooper the Hound Dog, Quack the Duck, and Bucky the Beaver), the on-field sillies in bewteen innings, the wonderful ballpark food and snacks, and the Ostrich hotdog guy. It was also “Dinosaur Night,” so that was some extra fun.

Bethany and I got choked up several times, not only because it was a “first of many” kind of event, but more so because of the relational dimensions of the outing. Baseball is a great game, but shared experiences with those you love is priceless.

And that’s what’s been happening all week. We’re at the Outer Banks right now with all four Whites, and we’re having a blast. These little munchkins give so much joy to my heart. As I watch them play in the sand, I pray that they can be spared the harsh realities of this evil world for as long as possible. Lord willing, we’ll be back on Sunday. Maybe I’ll have some beach pictures to share.

A True Turning Point, USA

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He spoke more than he knew.

And then, with an eerie prescience, he had his finger on the pulse of the nation.

And yet he pressed on in faith and courage. Until he was silenced by an assassin’s bullet.

Jesus said, “A time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.” (John 16:2-4)

Thank God for Easter.

A Bibliophile’s Biblio-File

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“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” – Jhumpa Lahiri

“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.” – Rene Descartes

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway

“Books are the training weights of the mind.” – Epictetus

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.” – Mark Twain

“I think the special connection between coffee and books is simple: ideas. Bookstores are creative places that are full of new ideas, stories, and perspectives. Coffee is the lubricant for that creativity.” – Matthew Davis

“If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.” – Toni Morrison

“No two persons ever read the same book.” – Edmund Wilson

“A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.” – Franz Kafka

“Great writing is about great reality—clearly seen and greatly felt. Don’t write it on your screen until you have written it on your heart.” – John Piper

“Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.” – G. K. Chesterton

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keillor 

“I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.” – C. S. Lewis

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King

“Of the making of many books there is no end.” – Ecclesiastes 12:12a

“Tolle, lege.” – Augustine

Another News Cycle of ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ (and Their Detractors)

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It always fascinates me when folks who don’t have a theological bone in their body pretend they know what prayer is actually for—a kind of rub-the-lamp, get-what-you-want, penny toss into the make-a-wish fountain. Their cluelessness knows no bounds.

Prayer is more about aligning our own thoughts and desires with those of God (Colossians 3:1-2). The fact that masses of people don’t do that—instead, reducing the Almighty to a heavenly vending machine whom they kick when the candy doesn’t drop—is a serious problem.

Even Jesus, when he was on the cross, prayed three times, yet he still suffered. He still died. Clearly, prayer for him during that ordeal was not about his own protection or self-preservation. It was about something else entirely.

So, prayer doesn’t magically erase suffering. It doesn’t mean we’ll never hurt again. At its core, prayer is lifting our hearts to God—especially in moments of crisis or deep pain.

Thankfully, Vice President J. D. Vance today called out various political pundits and operatives for criticizing the use of prayer in response to tragedies. “Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action,” he said. “We pray because our hearts are broken, and we believe that God is listening.”

Amen. And here’s an obvious thought that’s easy to overlook. Had the shooter been praying along the lines of Colossians 3:1-2, he wouldn’t have shot anyone. So, yes, prayer “works.” But, as they say in AA, it only works if you work it.

All that said, don’t forget in the midst of yet another media kerfuffle that there are families who are grieving an indescribable loss right now.

Maybe even pray for them.

Lemonade Cake Recipe

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I don’t recall ever posting a recipe, but this one is too good not to share. Last night we had a cookout dinner with our dear friends Shawn and Marcy. Shawn is a master chef, and Marcy is a baker par excellence. Marcy made a lemonade cake that sent my tastebuds into rapturous delight. I drooled, hooted, and begged for another piece. It’s too good not to share, so here you go.

Lemonade Cake

Makes: 15 servings
Prep: 45 minutes
Bake: 350° F 30 minutes
Cool: 1 hour

Ingredients

⅓ cup butter
3 eggs
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1⅓ cups sugar
¼ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1¼ cups buttermilk or sour milk
Lemon butter frosting
Thin lemon slices (optional)
Yellow food coloring (optional)

Directions

Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about ¼ cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined. Scrape sides of bowl; beat for 2 minutes more. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemonade concentrate and vanilla. Alternatively add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. If desired, stir in a few drops of yellow food coloring. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until top springs bake when lightly tounched. Cool in ban on a wire rack. Spread cake with lemon butter frosting. If desired, garnish with lemon slices.

🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋

Lemon Butter Frosting

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients

⅓ cup softened butter
1 cup powdered sugar
⅓ cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
½ teaspoon vanilla
3 more cups powdered sugar
1-2 more teaspoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the 1 cup of powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in the ⅓ cup frozen lemonade concentrate and vanilla. Gradually beat in the additional powdered sugar. Beat in additional frozen lemonade concentrate to reach spreading consistency.

Enjoy!

Missing the Boys

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Bethany and the boys traveled to North Carolina this week along with Sonya to visit Sonya’s brother, so I’m missing Samuel and Levi right now. I’m grateful for the Face Times we’ve had, but I’d rather play with them in person and give them belly zerbits. It sounds like they miss me almost as much as I miss them, but they’re having a blast.

Uncle Joel works at (and lives right next to) a golf resort, so he took the boys on a ride in his golf cart. I think they’re hooked. Aunt Donna had a massive spread of Thomas the Tank Engine trains for them to play with. So, they’re feeling all the love. In the meantime, I’m just getting caught up on some projects that have piled up during my recent speaking gigs. So is Micah. We pledged not to bother each other this week. We’re just two introverts meeting together in separate places. 😊

Happy Birthday, My Dear, Sweet Levi

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Levi’s birthday was last week, but my summer speaking schedule is crazy, so I’m just getting around to posting this photo dump. Since he loves Lion King and all its music, the theme of his party-in-the park this year was, “I Just Can’t wait TWO be king.” Yes, the terrific twos have begun. He’s a joy and a delight to my heart—nothing “terrible” about him at all. Enjoy the pics and vids.

Yucky What?

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“Pizza is yucky,” I say to the boys.

“No, yummy!” they always retort.

I say the same thing about ice cream, cookies, and every other fun thing they like to nibble on at snack time.

And every time their smiling protest is the same: “No, yummy!”

Speaking of yucky, I had another little phrase I used to say to them on occasion, and they would always giggle disproportionately to what I thought the line deserved.

If I spilled something, or found a stain somewhere, or saw a wiggly worm in the driveway, I would say with a grin:

“Yucky Pooh Bear!”

And they would laugh. I mean, really laugh.

But I never understood why.

Until recently.

Turns out they thought I was saying, “Yucky poop air!”

So, now I get it. (The laughter, I mean.)

Little boys and their bodily functions—things they’ll always enjoy giggling about, I guess. It’s just nature running its course.

Now that I know what they think I’m saying, I still say it to them.

And they still giggle.

So do I.

I think we need a few more girls in the house.

The (Little) Boys of Summer

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After we got home from our vacation to Myrtle Beach, I got right into a week-long speaking gig, so I’ve been slow to post. Sorry! But the beach was marvelous, the camp was exciting (with full altars every night and many powerful testimonies of God at work, including among the teens), and now I have a random picture dump of our two little munchkins. (I guess that’s redundant, huh?) They love the outdoors and all the activities that the summer weather allows.

On a totally unrelated note, my temples have started graying a little. Ugh! But it’s still not as pervasive as most guys my age. And I still feel pretty young. (Losing 65 lbs. helped.) Now it’s back to the grind and the disciplines. But even those can be joy-filled, too. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Current View

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Reading and relaxing on the shores of North Myrtle Beach.

Ex post facto

It was harder than I thought to post from my phone on the beach while wearing sunglasses. Now that I’m on my laptop back at the beach house, I can see that these pics don’t do the grandeur of God’s creation justice. I may need to delete this post and start over.

—————-

I feel the sky breathe in colors,
And the sun sinks not in silence,
But in a final hymn of gold.
Below, the flowers do not merely bloom—
They listen, they remember.
In this moment, even the wind seems to paint.

Beach Bound

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Yes, I’m still on the planet. We just got consumed with VBS, several day trips with the boys, a few church facility improvement projects, and now a long-planned vacation to the beach. We leave right after the worship service tomorrow, and we’ll be meeting up with my brothers- and sisters-in-law for a no-rush, no-agenda getaway. My goal is to read and relax a whole lot…while talking to as few people as possible. 😊 Below are a few random shots of recent shenanigans.

Samuel and Levi enjoyed touring the local airport.
Thomas the Tank Engine was waiting for us in Strasburg.
Samuel loves choo-choo trains.
Levi loves my sneakers.
Our vegetable garden has started to erupt.
After least year’s weed infestation, I thought I would try a new approach.
Radishes, (late) onions, carrots, two kinds of green beans, two kinds of peppers, and four kinds of tomatoes.
On the tire swing at the Pretzel Hut.

I was attacked by two bubble monsters on my own patio.

Tubby Time!

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Our Friday pizza-movie night is always a highlight of the week, and tubby-time is often a highlight of pizza-movie night. The boys were filthy last night, especially their feet. They helped plant new flowers on the front side of the house, and it’s a wonder there’s any dirt left in the flowerbeds. But, oh what a terrific tubby time they had afterwards. Thank you, Samuel and Levi, for all the joy you bring to our lives.

Bonus

I just discovered a Coldplay concert on Amazon Prime and took a trip down memory lane.

Put Down the Duckie

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Today’s swimming lesson involved throwing a toy and retrieving it. Samuel chose the rubber ducky—in part because yellow is his favorite color, and in part because he loves that old Sesame Street song, “Put Down the Duckie.” I now I have that song in my head, so I’m sharing it with you. You’re welcome. 😊

And just for fun, here’s an old love song I heard at a wedding reception two weeks ago. They played it after we all had to endure “Butterfly Kisses” and “I Loved Her First,” which was just cruel to some of us. LOL.