DEADLY BELLFLOWER BLVD (Downey): "Street Racing Blamed in Multi-Car Crash That Left Pedestrian Dead in Downey"| KTLA

2nd DEADLY RACING CRASH IN A FEW DAYS:
"
A high-speed street race ended in a multi-vehicle
crash in Downey that sent one of the cars careening
into and killing a pedestrian, police said Monday.
The multi-vehicle collision near the intersection of
Bellflower Boulevard and Imperial Highway was
reported to police at about 8:40 p.m. Sunday, the
Downey Police Department stated in a news release.
..."
http://ktla.com/2016/02/29/street-racing-blamed-in-multi-car-crash-that-left-pedestrian-dead-in-downey/

(Horrific!) 5-FREEWAY CLOSED BOTH WAYS: "3 Killed, Several Injured in Suspected Street-Racing Crash on 5 Fwy in Commerce" | NBC Southern California

"...[racing car] lost
control and struck a UPS semi-truck.
The semi then collided into the center median and
became airborne, striking a gray Nissan sedan traveling
northbound. The semi sheared the roof of the Nissan
before landing on a red Ford Explorer that was traveling
northbound and bursting into flames. Debris from the
collision struck at least two other vehicles, officials said..."

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/2-Killed-Several-Injured-Big-Rig-Crashes-2-Vehicles-CHP-370360411.html

8500 cedar: "Bellflower fire investigated as possible arson" MyNewsLA.com

K
The fire was reported at 5:34 p.m. in the 8500
block of Cedar Street in Bellflower, according
to the Los Angeles County Fire Department ..."

http://mynewsla.com/crime/2016/02/26/bellflower-fire-investigated-as-possible-arson/?google_editors_picks=true

SORRY,I MISSED THIS YEAR:"Bellflower praised for its diversity at BRAVO Awards" (2/4/16) - Wave Newspapers

I WAS IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR A PRO-LIFE RALLY,SO I MISSED this year's bravo awards. Sounds like it was another good one,including a Hollywood Star:
"
BELLFLOWER — Actor Lou Gossett Jr.
complimented the city of Bellflower for its
diversity during the Bellflower BRAVO Awards
ceremony Feb. 4 in the William and Jane Bristol
Auditorium...."

http://wavenewspapers.com/bellflower-praised-for-its-diversity-at-bravo-awards/

Alert,FILL UP NOW,SUMMER BLEND PRICE LEAP COMING: "Gas PricesTo Spike Another 30 Cents After 50-Cent Wholesale Jump" « CBS Los Angeles

ARCO @ ALONDRA & WOODRUFF ALWAYS HAS LOWEST PRICE NOT JUST IN BELLFLOWER BUT SOUTHERN CAL.
"
Gas prices are about to soar dramatically, as high as 30
cents a gallon by the weekend, experts said Thursday.
The steep increases are due to the annual switch to
summer-blend gasoline, which is designed to reduce
pollution in warmer weather and costs more to produce.
Wholesale prices jumped as high as 52 cents a gallon
this week because of the switch, according to consumer..."

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/02/25/gas-prices-expected-to-spike-as-stations-prepare-switch-to-summer-blend/

RIP,Gertrude Verburg,1st CRC Hanford

MY LATE GRANPA REV GARETH KOK MIGHT HAVE KNOWN HER (he was pastor at Hanford 1st CRC ,among other places,for a while back in the day)
"
Gertrude married Clarence Verburg on March 10, 1950
and settled into the farming life in Hanford. Gertrude
spent her time raising their three daughters and was a
full time homemaker. Her life was her family. She was a
member of the First Christian Reformed Church in
Hanford..."

http://hanfordsentinel.com/obituaries/gertrude-verburg/article_a7c3b729-efbe-5ae2-99e9-5819d31c94e4.html

TOUGH TIMES 4 BETHEL RCA of BELLFLOWER: "Encounter Church Replant" | Pastor Mike Larsen

I REMEMBER LINDY TELLING ME SHE ATTENDED THIS CHURCH. I went there once,many years ago & sensed it was made up of long-time locals who knew exactly who was a "regular" & who was a "newbie". This is a problem for new people who feel like the "odd man out" even if they try to make u feel at home. Nobody likes to feel as if they are the new "low man on the totem pole" if they join a church. You just like to assimilate gradually without discussion of "where ya from?" etc
******
"A Church in Trouble
Bethel Reformed Church was planted in 1934 in
Bellflower California. The church will celebrate its 80th
year in ministry in 2015. There has been generations
after generations of faithful believers that have called
Bethel their home and the church thrived all the way
through the 90's. Sadly what was ..."

http://pastormikelarsen.blogspot.com/2014/11/help-encounter-church.html?m=1

NONE OF THE BLACK COMPTON ACTORS INVITED 2 THE BIG SHOW: "Academy: Not Our Fault that ‘Compton’ Stars Don’t Have Tickets to Oscars"

[Compton is included in Bellflower blog because of its proximity to Bellflower]

NONE OF THE BLACK COMPTON ACTORS INVITED 2 THE BIG SHOW: "Academy: Not Our Fault that 'Compton' Stars Don't Have Tickets to Oscars"

"Vulture reported Thursday that the only people
representing Compton at the awards would be the
film's four white screenwriters — Andrea Berloff,
Jonathan Herman, S. Leigh Savidge and Alan Wenkus
— who were nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
..."
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2016/01/29/academy-not-our-fault-that-compton-stars-dont-have-tickets-to-oscars/

IRONIC B/C MY GR FRIENDS MOCKED L.A.: "Millions of Americans Drink Bad Water: Report "| Newser

Wow! I REMEMBER when my GR "friends" mocked me & L.A. for being a smog-filled city & now this article implies G.R. water may be bad,but sounds like L.A. water is good. How 'bout that?!

"Such practices have been found in Washington,
DC; Philadelphia; Rhode Island; and several Michigan
cities, including Flint, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Jackson, and
Holland. "There is no way that Flint is a one-off," ..."

http://m.newser.com/story/219411/millions-of-americans-drink-bad-water-watchdogs.html

(Is this a typo: 63 to 19 ?!) "Valley Christian High School Boys Varsity Basketball beat Ontario Christian High School 63-19"

WOW,THAT'S A REAL BLOWOUT.
"Valley Christian defeats Ontario Christian 63-19. Ron
Massey leads with 14 points and Vaj Rice adds 12 points.
Jalen Hines scores 8 and Trevor LaParl and Jordan..."

http://valleychristianathletics.net/2016/01/09/valley-christian-high-school-boys-varsity-basketball-beat-ontario-christian-high-school-63-19/

I HATE 2 SAY IT but I THINK THERE is anti-WHITE RACISM IN BELLFLOWER. I just get that feeling.

I just get that feeling from various experiences I've had.

WHY R TOO MANY BELLFLOWER STORE CLERKS SO PERFUNCTORY?

I have not yet met a clerk in bellflower who shows any sort of genuine "how ya doing" friendliness.every now & then I stop in at pizza usa for a slice of pizza to go, and the couple (vietnamese? Filipino?) that owns it used 2b friendly,but now the guy is almost sstone-faced in his interaction. Even when I said "merry Christmas" he just mechanically responded "merry Christmas". Maybe he wanted a tip but I didn't see a tip jar,and its not normal to tip when u do an over-the-counter purchase. And over at the auto parts store,they're not friendly either. I don't know how we can become a better America if people,including the "immigrants" start appreciating those who have made space for them to come and make a living. I wonder if they are working too much and not really living,...not really finding true meaning & purpose in life. A lot of thse clerks seem SO UNHAPPY. I wish I could get them to believe in something MORE than jjust trying to "make it" but you can't even engage in conversation w/ such people,let alone tell them the Good News. I continue 2 pray 4 bellflower clerks.

"Misty Copeland’s San Pedro homecoming raises more $75,000 for ballet outreach program"

http://www.dailybreeze.com/arts-and-entertainment/20151226/misty-copelands-san-pedro-homecoming-raises-more-75000-for-ballet-outreach-program?source=most_viewed

"Several gas cans found in Cerritos car fire with male body inside, LASD says" | abc7.com

http://abc7.com/news/lasd-investigating-body-found-inside-burned-car-in-cerritos/1129901/

ticket: valley Christian v Whittier Christian hs football 2015

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

A HOUSE IN BELLFLOWER CA

http://just-my-pictures-glory-2-god.blogspot.com/2015/12/a-house-in-bellflower-ca.html

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

BETHANY CRC BELLFLOWER CA

http://just-my-pictures-glory-2-god.blogspot.com/2015/12/bethany-crc-bellflower-ca.html

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

ABOUT COMPTON (near Bellflower) "Compton Christmas parade set Saturday"

"...Compton has a rich history of famous persons who were
either born or have resided there, among them: former
Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush; actors
Kevin Costner, James Coburn and Niecy Nash; humorist
Mort Sahl; "Today Show" co-host Al Roker; former NFL
Commissioner Pete Rozelle, and hall of fame athletes
Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith and Anthony Munoz.
Compton is one of the oldest communities in Southern
California. The territory was settled in 1867 by a band of
30 families who were led to the area from Stockton by
Griffith Dickenson Compton. Originally called Gipsonville
and later Comptonville, the settlement became Compton
in 1869. By 1887, a petition supporting the incorporation
of Compton was delivered to the Los Angeles ..."

http://m.ourweekly.com/news/2013/dec/12/compton-christmas-parade-set-saturday/?page=2

BUSH FAMILY LIVED IN COMPTON:"George H.W. and George W. Bush Once Lived in Compton"

"...Engineering Company. His son and the future 43rd
president—pictured above playing cowboy outside the
Bushes' Compton home—was only three years old at
the time. They lived in a now-demolished apartment
complex at 624 S. Santa Fe Avenue...."

http://southland.gizmodo.com/when-george-bush-lived-in-compton-1576116422

videos 12/4/15 BELLFLOWER CHRISTmas TREE, LIGHTING CEREMONY 2015

short video

longer video

slide video 

photo-link 12/4/15 BELLFLOWER CHRISTmas TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY 2015 , great tree !

hello bellflower ! nice seeing all our fellow citizens at the tree lighting 2015 . Keep the Spirit. Keep the Faith!

see photos at 

http://christmas-images-2013.blogspot.com/2015/12/photos-12415-bellflower-christmas-tree.html

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

CALVARY CHAPEL DOWNEY: "Funeral for Paris attack victim Nohemi Gonzalez planned for Friday"

http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20151203/funeral-for-paris-attack-victim-nohemi-gonzalez-planned-for-friday

BELLFLOWER SHOOTING: "Hoverboard sale in Bellflower turns into pistol-whipping, shootout"

http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20151130/hoverboard-sale-in-bellflower-turns-into-pistol-whipping-shootout

11/27/15 BOSCO of BELLFLOWER BLOWS OUT AMAT 63-10 to ADVANCE TO FINALS @ ANGEL STADIUM

http://ocsidelines.com/football-st-john-bosco-63-bishop-amat-10/
--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

BELLFLOWER's BOSCO RANKED #1 in NATION! "Why Bishop Amat vs. St. John Bosco [Bellflower} matters to football fans across the country"

"...For Bosco, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation by several outlets, that means first getting past what could be a big challenge from Bishop Amat..."
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/sports/20151126/why-bishop-amat-vs-st-john-bosco-matters-to-football-fans-across-the-country
--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

(I was there!) 11/20/15 (VALLEY COULDN'T SNAP OUT OF IT!) LINFIELD CHRISTIAN ELIMINATES CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN from CIF PLAYOFFS , 35-0

VALLEY KILLED THEMSELVES with bad snaps. This article doesn't mention it , but I was there and watched time after time as the quarterback struggled with handling the snap, either because it was too low several times, or other times just having butterfingers.

"CERRITOS – Lorenzo Burns and Zac Archer combined to rush for 296 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Linfield Christian to a 35-0 victory over Valley Christian of Cerritos in a second-round game of the Northwest Division CIF-SS playoffs Friday night at Valley Christian High.

The Lions (11-1) won their sixth consecutive game and beat the Crusaders (9-3), the Olympic League champions, in the playoffs for the second straight year. The Lions advanced and will face the winner of the Nipomo/Twentynine Palms game next Friday in the semifinals..."
http://www.pe.com/articles/christian-787173-yards-game.html
--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

LOTS OF FREE THANKSGIVING WEEK MEALS IN bellflower | Bless Bellflower

https://blessbellflower.wordpress.com/tag/bellflower/

BELLFLOWER BOY CHARGED as COP KILLER:"16-Year-Old Charged, as Adult, With Murder in Shooting of Downey Police Officer" | KTLA

"Abel Diaz, of Bellflower, was initially expected to be
arraigned Friday afternoon in Los Angeles Superior
Court, according to a news release from the Los Angeles
County district attorney's office. The arraignment was
rescheduled to Monday, the office said on Twitter ..."

http://ktla.com/2015/11/20/16-year-old-charged-as-adult-with-murder-in-shooting-of-downey-police-officer/

(I tried telling a 7-11 clerk about Jesus today) GOOD REMINDER: "Relevant Bible Teaching - Evangelism"

I usually just leave pamphlets under windshield wipers,but every now & then I attempt to engage a person in dialogue to tell them about salvation. Today I was at a 7-11 in Cerritos to get some peanuts & after paying I handed the clerk (who looked mideastern,maybe muslim,or Sikh,or maybe nothing) a small tract that I carry w/ me as often as possible. He said "What is this?" Then realized it was religious in nature, and said "I don't read these things" and tried to hand it back. I didn't take it back. I said "I invite you to accept Jesus Christ as Savior" He kept trying to hand the paper back to me,and didn't respond,but was clearly not receptive.I tried to ask"what's your religion?" And he wouldn't respnd. So I left it at that. But that's how you start,even if you know it will be initial rejection. You can't take it personally. I will return some day (always to also purchase something) and he will know me as the "religious guy" and you never know what might happen. So keep cerritos 7-11 clerk #1 in our prayers!

THIS IS A GOOD LINK:
"
Sixth, he is armed with gospel tracts, gospels of John,
New Testaments, entire Bibles, or some combination
thereof. He may have some literature inviting people to
attend his church, but his primary agenda is to share the
gospel message. ( buy tracts , buy Bibles or portions of
Bibles )..."

http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=140002860&sec_id=140001239

TOO CLOSE 4 COMFORT: "Downey officer shot to death at station parking lot in botched robbery attempt |" abc7.com

http://abc7.com/news/downey-police-officer-shot-to-death-at-station-parking-lot/1091106/

for filipinos living in bellflower re voting (i think) (undated)

for filipinos living 

in bellflower

 re voting

 (i think) 

(undated)

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

Mark your calendar: 12/4/15 BELLFLOWER CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING,630pm

"Downtown restaurants and area
residents to celebrate the holiday season at
the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday,
December 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Friendship Square
(Downtown Bellflower)."

https://www.bellflower.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=257&TargetID=1,2,3,7,8,6,11,12,13,14,5,15,16,4,17,18,19

WEST NILE VIRUS DETECTED IN BELLFLOWER

https://www.bellflower.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=218&TargetID=1,2,3,7,8,6,11,12,13,14,5,15,16,4,17,18,19

St JOHN BOSCO. BELLFLOWER UNDEFEATED, ALL BIG WINS

Check out these scores:
76 - 8, 
67 -7,
66 -17,
55 -7,
56 -14,
62 -14,
42 -21,
61-7,
31-12
http://www.maxpreps.com/m/team/schedule.aspx?gendersport=boys,football&schoolid=229cf8e5-737c-418e-8f4e-f3ac3d566af4

(I was there!) 10/30/15 CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN BEATS MARANATHA 37-6

http://www.maxpreps.com/m/team/default.aspx?gendersport=boys,football&schoolid=ed4250e7-f247-417a-b94e-3067163f2d90

BELLFLOWER IN CRC NEWS:"Training Youth for Church Leadership" | The Banner

http://www.thebanner.org/news/2015/10/training-youth-for-church-leadership

Hs football: 10/24/15 CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN WINS BIG AGAIN,37-9

http://www.maxpreps.com/m/team/schedule.aspx?gendersport=boys,football&schoolid=ed4250e7-f247-417a-b94e-3067163f2d90

THEY DO THIS IN ARTESIA: "Dandiya Raas" - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandiya_Raas

photo-link 10/5/15 st bernards bellflower

http://just-my-pictures-glory-2-god.blogspot.com/2015/10/10515-st-bernards-bellflower.html

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

10/9/15 BLOWOUT: CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS 58,VILLAGE CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS 6

http://www.maxpreps.com/m/contest/default.aspx?contestid=49bdb759-32a1-4a1d-b9d5-390a0a52aea8&ssid=ebff7089-c234-4d83-9f97-7f94d95ffd37

"Hawaiian Gardens mayor wants FBI to investigate deputy shooting that killed grandfather"

http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20150914/hawaiian-gardens-mayor-wants-fbi-to-investigate-deputy-shooting-that-killed-grandfather

TOUGH LOSS for VALLEY:"St. Anthony football stops Valley Christian on last play"

http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/20151002/st-anthony-football-stops-valley-christian-on-last-play

HEY! DON'T MISS BELLFLOWER's. 58th BIRTHDAY! (Oct10)

HEY! DON'T MISS BELLFLOWER's. 58th BIRTHDAY! (Oct10)

"Join us as we celebrate Bellflower's 58th birthday
with a Party in the Plaza! The celebration will take
place on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 4:00
p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Town Center Plaza, 16521
Adenmoor Avenue."

https://www.bellflower.org/depts/parks/events.asp

JASON @ FORD of ORANGE DISRESPECTED BELLFLOWER: ford of orange water bottle: I was DISAPPOINTED w/ Jason & Jimmy @ Ford of Orange

 i went to ford of orange & all I got was this water bottle! I was DISAPPOINTED w/ Jason & Jimmy @ Ford of Orange...actually I got a new torque converter (allegedly) on my ford van for free (ie due to a safety recall). Just what I always wanted...a new torque converter on my van. It doesn't effect the performance unless it fails, at which point the vehicle might die in the middle of traffic and cause an accident...blah blah blah..so I brought my van in for the service...and jimmy first told me they don't give out loaner cars anymore...but when I came back later, another guy said a loaner would be no problem...they have a rental car desk right there at ford and the cost was covered..so I was a bit upset about being lied to by "jimmy"...; later I talked to "jason" about it...but turns out jason didn't like me either. so the two "customer service" guys didn't like me and I was stuck dealing with them for the entire week (yes, it took five days for them to do the job). IN fact, to add insult to injury I came back the next night and found my van sitting in the same spot they left it when I brought it in...with ALL the windows down, and the key in the ignition...they left it that way overnight..and the lot is basically open to people, transients, thieves, etc who might decide to look around at night (altho one of the non-English speakers claimed they have night security...regardless, who wants their vehicle wide open all night exposed to the elements). SO I had to find somebody to talk to about it. I think the guy I spoke with was Henry. I gave him the key (it was after hours so none of the service people were there) and asked him to make sure that the right person got the key the next day. I actually called to make sure it happened the next morning. Finally, on Friday, "Jason" calls and says the van is ready. I tell him i'm in newport beach (because I was) and hopefully traffic wouldn't be a problem...so I could make it there before they close. I arrive no problem, couple hours before they close. I return the rental and as I sit waiting..Jason says to me "Philip, do you live in Bellflower?" ...not sure why he was asking..because actually i do not really live there, but maintain the mailing address at my parents house...and of course sometimes I stay there, but not often. But I thought he was asking for the paperwork, so I said yes without going into any qualifications. And he raised his eyebrows and said "Hmmm"...obviously and clearly trying to make me feel as if it was a bad place to live. I couldn't believe it. It actually didn't sink in until later that he was trying to disrespect me, or disrespect the city of Bellflower as if there's something wrong with Bellflower. It's a nice city...a mixture of people, socio-economics, churches, schools, businesses, etc...about 15 minutes from the beach. And who is Jason to judge anybody, by the way? I don't think you need a college degree to do what he does every day...a bit of paper shuffling ...he couldn't even make sure my vehicle was locked and windows closed for the night. He was sloppy and they also didn't even start working on my van the first day despite claiming they were going to order the parts on friday (for monday). I was really disappointed by jimmy & jason, and even after writing a letter I didn't receive a respond, apology, or anything showing a sign of class or grace from anybody at Ford of Orange. I'm sure they don't like doing safety recall work...they don't make much or any profit from it (not sure how that works out for them..maybe they do make a little assuming Ford Corporation is footing the bill, not Ford of Orange)...but then if they don't like it, they better make sure they build their vehicles so that safety recalls are not necessary. After five days I had been exceedingly patient...I hadn't called to complain...didn't pester them ...just waited patiently...and despite me trying to be nice to them..all I got back was a big DISRESPECT from Jason..and nothing more from anybody else. Shame on Ford of Orange



--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

"Manhunt on in Bellflower after gun battle between suspect and deputies" - MyNewsLA.com

http://mynewsla.com/crime/2015/09/24/man-shoots-at-sheriffs-deputies-in-bellflower-then-flee/?google_editors_picks=true

9/18/15 VALLEY CHRISTIAN def MAYFAIR,14-7

http://www.maxpreps.com/m/contest/default.aspx?contestid=08617116-912e-4706-8b38-719dbae3e860&ssid=ebff7089-c234-4d83-9f97-7f94d95ffd37

Fwd: 7/31/96 memorial program re jim zoetewey, catherine nichols, shawn scott

7/31/96 memorial program re jim zoetewey, catherine nichols, shawn scott ; so I knew Jim from bellflower around 1990...I had left Wayne State Law School and decided to "go west" ..returning to my parents house in Bellflower, not sure what I was going to do. i started attending church at Bethany CRC...and Jim was part of the "koinonia" group (young adults church group) along with Jim Tanis, Doug Boerigter, John Kortenhoven, JOhn HOgan, JOel Slenk, et al. Jim had his own house at the time near Rosecrans CRC. He was a few years older than me. And he had decided to go to calvin college for a masters degree. Later I myself returned to Calvin as well for a second degree (English/Education) . ANd we met up in Grand Rapids again. Then he left GR and headed back west and got a job teaching in Coachella. I left GR and went to Jackson Wyoming for a summer to work. He called me from Coachella knowing I had a teaching degree and told me there was a job opening. SO I drove out and the principal interviewed me, and the rest, as they say, is history. I began teaching 9th & 10th grade English at CVHS, and Jim was teaching in another classroom on the far side of campus. The only problem was that "our principal" (the nice guy who hired myself and jim ) had retired and a new principal came on board. He was a former student at this school, Latino, and had his own vision for what he wanted ...and neither myself nor Jim fit that vision. I saw the writing on the wall quite quickly and decided to leave after the 2nd year ..Jim by that time had also left ...and I took off for Africa in June of 1996...for a month safari and exploration in Kenya, Tanzania, & South Africa. Upon return from Africa my mom told me that Jim had just died in a car accident. He was driving to Big Bear with a few other church workers for a conference and there had been a collission with another car, and Jim along with two others (Catherine & Shawn) had died. So sad. I attended both funeral ceremonies. One at the church in Coachella where Jim was highly involved, and another at Bethany CRC where his family were long-time members. So here's to Jim...this many years later, as well as Catherine & Shawn. We miss you and pray for the repose of your soul. God bless you. 

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

Fwd: 12/22/88 from kara hoeksema

12/22/88 from kara hoeksema

 if anybody knows kara, please tell her to email me:

 vanderkok@gmail.com

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

photo-link 8/28/15 this is "Jason" at Ford of Orange who disrespected me & disrespected the City of Bellflower

8/28/15 this is "Jason" at Ford of Orange who disrespected me & disrespected the City of Bellflower

http://just-my-pictures-glory-2-god.blogspot.com/2015/09/82815-this-is-jason-at-ford-of-orange.html

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

photo-link 8/28/15 GOOD OL' JOE ON CHICAGO AVENUE IN BELLFLOWER

http://just-my-pictures-glory-2-god.blogspot.com/2015/09/82815-good-ol-joe-on-chicago-avenue-in.html

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

photo-link 8/26/16 I stopped by my parents house and picked one of the oranges...very juicy

http://just-my-pictures-glory-2-god.blogspot.com/2015/09/82616-i-stopped-by-my-parents-house-and.html

--

" If u declare with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," & believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, 

u will be saved." 

Romans 10.9

"Fil-Am kids learn about Filipino culture in Bellflower, Calif."

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/127573/fil-am-kids-learn-about-filipino-culture-in-bellflower-calif

- CARUTHERS PARK: "Sword- and bat-wielding assailants attack two men in Bellflower park"

- CARUTHERS PARK:

 "Sword- and bat-wielding assailants attack two men in Bellflower park"

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sword-and-bat-attack-bellflower-20150828-story.html

8/31/15 SHAME ON JIMMY & JASON @ FORD of ORANGE 1350 West Katella, Orange CA 92867

SHAME ON JIMMY & JASON @ FORD of ORANGE

1350 West Katella,

Orange CA 92867

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,                                                                  8/31/15

I am writing in regard to my experience at Ford of Orange (Katella Ave, City of Orange, California) the week ending Friday 8/28/15 . I own a 2005 Ford Freestar which I purchased to be a "temporary vehicle" ( or so I thought at the time). That is, earlier this year (Spring of 2015) as I was suddenly without any vehicle at all due to extenuating circumstances, I found myself  seeking a new used vehicle and could not find one that matched my price & category qualifications in a timely manner.

 

However,  I came across a vehicle that I decided might be suitable as a temporary vehicle as I continue to search for something else. That is, it was not too expensive, yet it was not a clunker. It passed smog at the time, and did not have any major blemishes or dents, etc. All the basic functions seemed to work satisfactorily. In fact, it if wasn't for the high mileage, I would have considered the deal a "steal", so to speak. However, because it had over 400,000 miles on it, the price was naturally low, as one would expect. So I took the vehicle and figured for the price I paid if it only lasts a year or two without major issues, I will still have gotten my money's worth. And it's been running decently ever since I purchased it.

 

Recently (August 2015), I received a letter in the mail from Ford Corporation informing me of a safety recall for this vehicle, involving the need for a "torque converter" replacement. Although I don't normally "live" there per se, the letter was sent to my registered address in Bellflower, which is my parents address, a suburb of Los Angeles, a fifteen-minute drive from Seal Beach; and about a 25-minute drive to Anaheim. I am not familiar with the Ford dealer location in the Bellflower area, but became aware of Ford of Orange because I have various reasons for often being in Orange (church, activism, donating blood, and Angels baseball, among other things). [for those of you who are reading this at Ford of Orange, I am sending this to Ford Corporation in Michigan as well,among others, some of whom may not know the details of southern California , thus my reason for being more descriptive].

 

Let me back up because this will become RELEVANT to why I am writing. I personally am originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, a few hundred miles from the Motor City of Detroit, where Henry Ford and the Ford Corporation began their great automobile business. I grew up rooting for all the Detroit teams thru good times and bad: Lions, Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, et al. I even lived for a short time in the Detroit area as I attended Wayne State Law School (albeit decided to move on to another career after a while). I attended Calvin College in GR, and graduated with honors and later after switching careers attended graduate school in southern California. But our family moved here before I returned as an adult.

 

My family moved from Grand Rapids to Bellflower in 1984 when I was in high school. Why Bellflower? Well, my dad actually grew up, partially, in Bellflower in the late 1930's and early 1940's because my grandfather Gareth Kok came to southern California as a pastor for the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) which is based in Grand Rapids, MI. The name "Kok" is mistaken by some as Asian, but in fact is a very common Dutch name, almost as common as Smith is in the united States. I mention this because there are those who do practice forms of bigotry based on surnames, and I have found myself being discriminated against due to a misperception of me being Asian, and I suspect it may have happened at Ford of Orange as well. I am a white American with Dutch ancestry. My father was born in the USA. My grandfathers were born in the USA. My great-grandfathers were born in the USA. But one of my great-great-grandfather(s) was born in the Netherlands.

 

On the other side of my family (my mother's maiden name is Peters) I believe our family history is even deeper in the USA, and have seen some family trees that indicate I had ancestors who actually fought in the Civil War (for the north). Also my late grandfather on my mother's side was the founder of Butterball Farms in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their connection to Butterball Turkey is only the name, which my grandfather sold to the turkey company many years ago, along with retaining the rights to use the name in association with his "fancy butter", which is also sold in small patties to McDonalds across the USA for the morning breakfast platters. It's always fun going to McDonalds here in California and seeing my grandpa's butter all the way from Grand Rapids on my hotcakes. Today, my half-uncle Mark operates Butterball Farms. He's a year older than me and we grew up occasionally boating on lake Michigan together, learning to water ski together, etc.

 

I tell you all of this to give you some context about who I am. I absolutely do NOT believe in prejudice and discrimination of any sort, (ie discriminating against people based on their race or surname, or skin color as well as  "name bigotry" (mocking or ridiculing or discriminating against people based on the sound of their name or what one might think rightly or wrongly their name suggests about their race or ethnicity). I say this because I know for a fact that I have been discriminated against because of the way people read my last name "Kok." I've heard it intentionally used in a way to disparage me, and other times I've realized that people are making negative assumptions about me based on their negative assumptions about whatever biases they have against a certain group of people, based on a perception or misperception of the etymology of my name.

 

Sadly, due to this sort of bias, I have actually attempted to not use my birth name around southern California or in places where I believe it will be discriminated against. This is sad because I grew up a normal, healthy, Anglo kid in Grand Rapids Michigan playing football, basketball, baseball, …. skiing, and the list goes on …rooting for the Tigers, Lions et al  …a good, red-blooded, American patriot. In fact, my late uncle was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. He even served in Vietnam, and we actively helped his kids (my cousins) in some of the issues of being a "military family". Thus we were a bit of an extended military family.

 

But we moved to Bellflower in 1984 after my junior year of high school. This was, as mentioned, due to the fact that my dad took a job in southern California working for the Crystal Cathedral as a pastor (before it fell on difficult times in 2012-2013). At the time, he also was in association with the Christian Reformed Church in Bellflower. I myself was planning on attending Valley Christian School in Bellflower to finish my senior year. Why Bellflower? In order to understand why Bellflower (and why this matters to me writing to you) you have to understand the Dutch  (& Christian Reformed) roots of Bellflower. My grandfather came to Bellflower in 1936 to be a CRC pastor for the 1^st Christian Reformed Church of Bellflower. At the same time he was responsible for founding the Valley Christian Schools, which is a highly respected accredited K-12 school system still in Bellflower/Cerritos.

 

My grandfather spoke Dutch & English and helped new Dutch immigrants assimilate to American society as many of them came straight from the Netherlands. At the time, much of Bellflower was dairy farmland, many of the farms owned by new Dutch immigrants who employed other Dutch immigrants. Later, many of these Dutch farmers moved to Ontario California as the Bellflower area became more urbanized.

 

Today, there remain several Christian Reformed Churches in Bellflower, all of whom still have a largely Dutch-American identity, albeit less so than decades ago. The pastors of these Christian Reformed Churches all still come from Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan and are part of the "Reformed Tradition". The Dutch Reformed Church  that came from the Netherlands and originally settled in "New Amsterdam" (now Manhattan Island, New York) split into two separate denominations early on in their American history: 1) The Christian Reformed Church; 2)& the Reformed Church of America (RCA).

 

However, the differences seem trivial today and the RCA and CRC are separated mostly by name only , not by any significant theological or doctrinal disagreements. The Crystal Cathedral led by Robert Schuller was part of the RCA. Because the differences are so trivial now, for this reason my father found himself working for both an RCA church as well as the CRC in 1984. And for this reason he decided to move his family to Bellflower, so that we could be within close distance of both the CRC stronghold of Bellflower, as well as close to the nearby Valley Christian schools, and also within a short driving distance of the Crystal Cathedral, which was thriving in 1984. My dad was given an office on the 10^th floor of the Crystal Cathedral as he became director of the pastoral care services for the church. It was a great time for our family and for my dad. And it was exciting coming to "sunny southern California" at the time. What young man wouldn't want to be living near the beach and nice weather at such a time in life?!

 

Anyways, that's the story and history of how and why our family came to Bellflower California in 1984. I actually ended up eventually started going from California to Michigan and back as I attended college back east, and many of our family still live in Michigan, but Bellflower has remained a home address for our family since that time, even if I don't spend that much time there anymore.

 

I eventually taught school for many years both in Coachella California and Los Angeles, and later transitioned into Christian ministry as well, and attended Fuller Seminary in Pasadena for many years. This brings me back to Ford of Orange. As mentioned I received a safety recall letter. I might add that the vehicle I bought as a temporary vehicle is a former taxi, and I found out they had changed the engine and possibly the transmission as well (maybe even the torque converter), but they would not provide paperwork to confirm any of their mechanical work.

 

When I drove in to Orange of Ford on August 21 (?) I first met a guy who called himself "Jimmy" (Asian I think, I mention this for a reason). I showed him the letter, and he said if I can get a receipt showing the work had already been done then I could get a check for $1400. I wasn't sure the taxi company had actually done this work, and was aware they were not providing any paperwork attesting to it (by the way, I did NOT buy this vehicle from the Taxi company but from a party who had purchased it from the taxi company), so I wasn't hopeful I could get such paperwork, and wondered even if they changed the transmission whether they would have included the torque converter with it.

 

Thus, I inquired about how long it would take to do the job, and Jimmy said one day to get the parts and one day to do the work. I asked whether they could provide a loaner car for a day and he responded that "We don't provide loaner services anymore." So I didn't want to leave my car for the weekend, and told him that I would have to come back on Monday and have to rent a car. He said he would order the parts and have them ready to begin work on Monday.

 

Returning on Monday, Jimmy was NOT there, and somebody else helped me. I asked whether Jimmy had ordered the parts , and the guy didn't seem to know, ….didn't seem to be aware of any instructions left by Jimmy. I told him I didn't want to rent a car but …And he interrupted me and said that they could provide a loaner vehicle via their Hertz rental agency on the same site. I wondered why Jimmy told me otherwise a few days prior?! I was happy that they would provide a loaner. That would make life easier, and what should not be an expense for me, given this was a safety recall. But I felt insulted because  Jimmy had basically lied to me, and I was starting to wonder if I was being treated in an inferior manner because I was here for a safety recall, not a paying customer with a new car or new warranty etc.

 

Nonetheless, I brushed it off for the time being and got my rental car and expected that they would call me the next day and tell me it was ready. However, the next day (Tuesday) I didn't hear from them and so I called and asked how it was coming along. Around this time I spoke initially with "Bob" who I was told was Jimmy's boss. Bob transferred me to "Jason" (Latino maybe? I mention this for a reason)  who sort of apologized (not with much conviction) for Jimmy telling me they don't provide loaners . I complained that I didn't feel he was treating me respectfully. He gave me his cell phone # if I needed to follow up. And he told me that they still didn't have the parts when I was expecting to hear him tell me they were almost finished. Thus my car had been sitting there all day Monday & all day Tuesday and they  hadn't even gotten started. Jason said that they had used the ordered parts for another Freestar  (really?). All the while, neither Jason nor Jimmy ever called me "sir". It was always "Philip", in a controlling manner, another reason I've gotten accustomed to not using my birth name very often anymore. At age forty-eight, I don't like people using my name the same way my kindergarten teacher used to do so.

 

I told him that I would have to come by and get a few things out of my vehicle . I had a lot of things in my van because I was personally in the process of moving, as I had informed both Jason & Jimmy. He said that wouldn't be a problem. Later that day around 6:00pm I returned to Orange of Ford, driving from Newport Beach where I was working at the time, and found my van in the back with the WINDOWS WIDE OPEN the way they had left it the day before, and the KEY in the IGNITION!  It was my calculation that they had LEFT MY WINDOWS OPEN ALL DAY & NIGHT ! I couldn't believe it. If anybody had wanted to take stuff out of my vehicle, it had apparently been left wide open for them all night long (with what appears to be easy entry on to the lot at night). Again, I assumed they were careless or negligent because they disparaged the value of my vehicle or anything in it, despite me telling them more than once that I was in the process of moving and had "lots of stuff" in the vehicle.

 

Most of the Ford of Orange offices were closed at this time. "Jason" & "Jimmy" were apparently already long gone (I put their names in quotes because it  appears that some of them may be given "American names" for the sake of working at Ford…which is NO PROBLEM for me…but makes it more ironic & outrageous if I myself was discriminated against for my last name and/or for socio-economic reasons). So I went into the customer waiting area and I see a guy in a suit and ask him if he works there. He says he does , his name is henry and I  ask him why my car windows are wide open and the key is in the ignition exactly the way it was when I left the day before, as if it had been sitting wide open with the key in the ignition for two days and a night?! He was dumbstruck himself and apologized for it.  He said he would take the key and make sure he followed up the next day.

 

The next day (Wednesday) I called back around 9am and made sure I spoke with Henry to remind him about the key. Henry had just arrived and said he was taking care of it. There was no further mention of this matter. Another day went by and the car was still not finished. By this time, I re-arranged my schedule. I tried to be nice about it the next day and told Jason that given the heat I don't want to hurry you, but just want you (ie "Kenny" the Mechanic) to do a good job so that there won't be any need to bring it back later.

 

Finally, around 1pm on Friday the 27^th I received a voice mail from Jason indicating they were taking the "final test drive" and were going to wash it and then it would be ready to go. I called him back and told him I was in Newport Beach (working) and hopefully would be able to get there before they closed. He said "We close at 6 buddy" …Now it's "buddy"?

 

Traffic was good from Newport Beach to Orange, and it was also convenient to pick up the car on Friday because I was planning  to attend the Harvest Crusade at Angel stadium that evening. I pulled in and found my van and transferred a few things from the rental back to my van and then returned the rental. As I sat by the rental car desk, Jason returned and started going thru my paperwork. At one point he pointedly says, "Philip, I notice you live in Bellflower." I didn't bother reciting to him all that I mention above or that I was in the process of moving, figuring he was verifying my mailing address for paperwork reasons. So I said "yeah" and he responds in a haughty highbrow manner saying "Hmmm" as if trying to imply something. It was CLEAR THAT HE WAS TRYING TO DISPARAGE ME BASED ON MY ZIPCODE, in a subtle, but all-too-obvious manner.

 

I couldn't believe it ! I did not confront him about it at the time, but definitely DWELLED UPON it later after I left and realized that I NEEDED TO WRITE TO YOU ABOUT THIS. I don't know what makes "Jason" think he is SO HIGH & MIGHTY as to try to imply something inferior about Bellflower, California; or where he lives that is so much better; or what makes him a superior person to me, but it definitely was insulting and uncalled for.

 

I did NOTHING to deserve being insulted. Despite the things mentioned above (1)being originally told they do not provide loaners; 2) having my car windows left open all night with the key in the ignition; 3) a one or two day job turning into a whole week; I had remained gracious about everything. Yet here this guy was trying to make me feel inferior because of the zipcode on the paperwork. And I am a white educated male. I can ONLY IMAGINE what kind of treatment a black male with less education from the City of Compton might receive. That is called, plain & simple, RACISM ! And of the worst kind. There's NO EXCUSE for it in this day and age.

 

I mentioned me wondering if "Jason" is Latino because I am well aware that Latinos outnumber Anglos and blacks in southern California  and are able to discriminate more so accordingly. At many stores & restaurants & shops it is often a Latino clerk, and their attitude, favorably or otherwise, towards you as a customer, makes all the difference. They can intentionally, subtly or obviously, discriminate by how they treat you as a person. When Jason called me "buddy" on the phone, there was a bit of an attitude to it. I've had Latino clerks at other places call me "boss" and that ALSO is actually a very clear term of disrespect. I didn't always know that but now I do. They're implying something derogatory even though they try to make it sound like their just being deferential. Often times it is plain disrespect for the educated person.

 

I came to Ford of Orange due to a safety recall that needed to be done to keep the vehicle in good operating condition. Given it was a safety recall regardless of whether I drive a brand new Ford vehicle or if I drive an older Ford, I should expect normal respectful treatment of me as a person. I should NOT in any way feel like I am less deserving because I do not drive a new Ford, or because I am not paying anything out of my pocket for the work being done.

 

I spent many years of my life going thru the education system (BA/BA/M.Div) and am proud of what I have accomplished as a teacher and a missionary (I also did mission work in the Philippines & Costa Rica) and continue to do so for Christian m inistry. In general, Christian ministry is NOT a lucrative career, nor should it be, in general. I'm NOT complaining, and don't require a large income. I pay my bills,my taxes. My car is properly registered & insured.

 

That's all Jason & Jimmy need to know. I work for God and He will be my judge. I don't know why Jason or Jimmy working behind the desk at Ford can come to the conclusion they are superior to me, or why they feel they need to marginalize me in the way the address me or treat me. I don't assume their jobs require a lot of education or training. I have much greater respect for the mechanic himself who does the actual work. The jobs they do are simply making sure that the paperwork is complete, and that the customer is treated fairly and respectfully, and to  simply make  sure that the car's windows are up and doors are locked and the key in the office at the end of the day. That alone would have merely required a walk thru the lot at the end of the day to see that one of the vehicles was WIDE OPEN !

 

Finally, as I was finally about to leave, I started my 2005 Ford Freestar and heard a BUZZING NOISE that I hadn't heard previously. It was a definite abnormal noise, not something incidental. So I pulled around and asked Jason about it. He called Kenny the mechanic and as we waited for Kenny , Jason says to me, pointedly, "How many miles are on this?"  Why was he asking that right now? He had my paperwork. He already knew how many miles were on it.

 

Clearly, once again, he was trying to IMPLY SOMETHING. Yes, it has over 400,000 miles on it, but it was running decently. There was no buzzing when I came in a week ago. He was preparing a "counterpunch" against me in case I tried to say that they had caused a further problem. Kenny arrived and listened and said "It's a bad catalytic converter." I just said OK at the time, and didn't argue. I knew Jason was ready to attack if I argued that it WASN'T DOING THIS BEFORE. SO I said ok and left. It may in fact be a bad catalytic, not due to anything Kenny did while working on the car apart from moving things around. I'm not a gold-digger trying to get something I don't deserve.

 

I just tell you this for further context about how I felt mistreated by Jimmy & Jason at Ford of Orange on Katella Avenue. It was NOT FAIR to me. I shouldn't have left knowing they had tried to make me feel as if I was an inferior person (to Jimmy & Jason ). There is NO JUSTIFICATION for Jason or Jimmy thinking they are superior to me  (or want me to feel that way) and  that I am inferior to them, either based on education, on race ethnicity or skin color, or socio-economics, or not being a paying customer, or any other reason. Or that based on any of this I should accept sub-standard treatment and customer service. Once again, if I have to write this letter as an educated Anglo person, I can ONLY IMAGINE what a less-educated black person from Compton might have to endure from Jimmy & Jason.

 

And after so many years of progress we seemed to have make in creating a more equitable society for all people, with which I have actively & intentionally participated, isn't it disturbing if some of those people for whom many of us have strived to help create a better society, in turn do the opposite for us?

I'm 48-years old, partly disabled, but nonetheless not complaining and not quitting, and should NOT be mistreated by Jimmy & Jason, or anybody else.

 

SHAME ON JASON & JIMMY AT FORD of ORANGE

(and of any "winking" superiors who allow this sort of discrimination to occur, if such is the case). By the way, I am actually contemplating a permanent return to Michigan after this many years now for various reasons, not limited to, but including some of these sort of "unpleasant social issues" that seem to be on the rise, making life in southern California not always so desirable anymore.

Sincerely   Philip A. Kok

 

 

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"And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love Him,..."
Romans 8.28

Fwd: SEPT 26:"Free Estate Planning Seminar to be held in Bellflower, California"

SEPT 26:"Free Estate Planning Seminar to be held in Bellflower, California"

http://www.assistnews.net/index.php/component/k2/item/923-free-estate-planning-seminar-to-be-held-in-bellflower-california

--

"And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love Him,..."
Romans 8.28

Bellflower Serve 2014

https://m.facebook.com/bellflowerserve2014?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbellflowerserve2014

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON:"The Roller Rink Origins of N.W.A." - NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/magazine/the-roller-rink-origins-of-nwa.html

8/10/15 "Goodyear Blimp "Spirit of America" retires" | Goodyear Blimp

http://www.goodyearblimp.com/news-and-events/soa-retires-7-26-15.html