April Oracle 2021

Message from ORPS Owners During our Valentine ’ s Day dinner at Bella Roma, I became ill. We would like to say thank you to Larry and Brenda Reed, Carol and Ed Johnson, Misty and her daughter, and Maria and her staff from Bella Roma as well. A special thanks to the nurse who assisted until the paramedics arrived. Thank you to Jim Gwinn for his prayers and everyone who prayed for us. Also, a big thank you to Pat Keyes for a beautiful dinner to celebrate our 63rd anniversary. Your cards, thoughts and prayers were deeply appreciated, and we send our love to all. Lee and Louise Tibbits, lot 602 Marnier/ATP Tennis Games, was moved to a newly opened 7,500 - seat stadium at the La Quinta Hotel. 1987 - With the tournament growing in popularity, it outgrew the facilities at the La Quinta Hotel. The newly completed 350 - room Grand Champions Hotel (now the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa) served as an ideal next home for the tournament, thus bringing it to Indian Wells. This was also the first year that a top women ’ s professional competition (featuring now Hall of Famer Stephanie Graf) was held in conjunction with the men ’ s, though not concurrently. 1989 - The tournament became a sanctioned WTA tier III tournament this year, known as Virginia Slims of Indian Wells. 1996 - Previous years the women ’ s event was held immediately prior to the men ’ s, but that changed in 1996 when ATP and WTA approved the combining of the events. Known as the Newsweek Champions Cup/ State Farm Evert Cup, the tournament in Indian Wells became one of only six combined tournaments in the world. 1997 - The WTA designated the (Now known as) State Farm Evert Cup as a Tier 1 event, the top WTA category at the time. 2000 - A new home for a new millennium, the tournament moved to the newly constructed Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The state - of - the - art facility boasted the second largest stadium in the world at 16,100 - seats, as well as seven other match courts spread throughout the 54 - acres of lush landscape. 2006 - The tournament was threatened this year by hard economic times but tennis legends Pete Sampras, Billie Jean King and Chris Evert, along with new investors, banded together to acquire 50% ownership of the tournament. The City of Indian Wells purchased 27 acres of adjacent land in order to keep the tournament in the Coachella Valley. 2009 - BNP Paribas is a premier sponsor of tennis globally, and became the new title sponsor of the tournament in Indian Wells. 2012 - The event became the only ATP/WTA combined event to offer $1 Million in prize money to each of its singles champions. Submitted by Dawn Williams Tennis Communication

DREAM BREAKERS; INTERUPTIONS WE HATE Waking up in the middle of an awesome dream when it is really a good one is upsetting especially if you were dreaming how to eliminate stress. Often this type ending happens more than we want or like. Even when we try hard to recall it. Think with me of the power of words: Someone bet Ernest Hemmingway ten dollars he couldn ’ t come up with a short story only six words long. He took the bet, pulled out a napkin and wrote this following story on it: FOR SALE, BABY SHOES, NEVER WORN. There is a story there, one that touches us. Try thinking of six words you could share as a story everyone could imagine or add their own ending to. It is a fun for an evening meal with friends asking “ tell me your story ” because we all have one. Here are a couple of six word stories you may be able to share with many hurting people; GOD WILL NOT WASTE YOUR PAIN : GOD WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE Jesus shared stories called the beatitudes with His disciples, facts that seem totally wrong to us and our culture. Matthew 5:4 says, “ You ’ re blessed when you feel you ’ ve lost what is most real to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. ” When we are at the end of ourselves we are eligible to be blessed to experience the presence of God. There is no embrace like to one Jesus provides us. Each of us love good dreams, only to be sadly wakened and interrupted just as the dream was wonderful. When that happens we can ’ t even remember details, even those that made us happy. Dreams of mourning are also very real. “ come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts you double minded. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up. ” James 4:8 - 10 Whatever our dreams we must remember, “ cast all our cares on Him for He cares for us, ” Have a terrific end of ORPS season as WE DREAM of being gathered with you in October or November. Here is a great dream, don ’ t wake me if it isn ’ t true … we can have live Chapel in La Palma without masks. dis- tancing, or limited numbers able to enjoy the reality of the Bible and the love of Jesus Christ for each of us.. An outstanding line up of speaker are already excited to be with us beginning in October. Have a fabulous summer, attend church, and we ’ ll see you in Chapel at 8:50 each Sunday. God bless you, your family and friends.

Jim Gwinn Chaplain

ORACLE

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APRIL 2021

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