Improbable People Ministries

The Music & Ministry Of Sally Klein O'Connor

Halos and Pitchforks

A Tour Of Roses Israel, Day 1

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(L-R-Front Row) Sunny, Evi, Lura, Yara, Karen, Annie, Khalida, Sally
(Back) Ingeborg, Robert, Dave, Eric

Dear Friends of Improbable People Ministries and A Tour Of Roses,

As you can see by the 12 beautifully assembled visages above, the entire ATOR contingent has landed in Tel Aviv, tired but glad to be, at long last, in The Promised Land. Apparently, it’s been an eventful day. Unfortunately I have only sketchy reports on what has transpired as most have gone to bed. While I sit in the air conditioned comfort of my home at 7 PM Central time, our weary travelers are mostly fast asleep. To give perspective, those of you readers in the Eastern Time Zone–Israel is 7 hours ahead of you and it’s already Sunday. Add another hour for the Central and the difference is 8 hours. And those of you shaking and baking on the West Coast are a full 10 hours behind God’s Chosen People. No wonder you’re so complacent. How will you ever catch up?

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A Tour Of Roses Israel Preview

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Partial ATOR Team arriving from around the country at Bush Intercontinental, Houston, TX

Dear Friends of Improbable People Ministries and A Tour Of Roses. Welcome to our preview of the ATOR missions trip to Israel, 2024. The team has been working for months in the planning of this momentous excursion abroad in the Land of God’s Chosen People. My name is Michael O’Connor and I’ll be your tour guide through these daily updates we will be sending to you by way of your email inbox. Before we introduce the team you’ll be following for about two weeks, we should take care of a little business:

You are receiving this update because you are either a regular subscriber to the GraceNotes From Sally Devotional, the From Here to Eternity Blog, are a prayer intercessor for one or more of the ATOR Team Members or you happened to hear about the amazing mission and decided to see what it was all about. If you do not wish to receive our daily updates for the next two weeks all you need to do is go to the bottom of the email we sent to you and click the UNSUBSCRIBE button at the very bottom. We don’t want to be junk mail for anyone.

We will do our best to get you the latest information as soon as it’s available from the team. Please understand this will be an uneven process with hopefully at least one report per day. But the time of day will fluctuate because the first order of business is the ministry and care for the condition of our Team Members. And some days there may be no report because the team is too weary from ministering on the streets of Israel. Our faithful correspondent and intrepid cub reporter Robert Emmert will interview team members on the day’s activities and relay his quotes back here in the States where I’ll compile the stories and photos to release a new edition of the A Tour Of Roses Update.

The main purpose of these updates will be to inform you, our dear friends in ministry, so you can be vigilant on behalf of these warriors on the front lines of the Kingdom—especially in the midst of war.

The Team thanks you in advance for your prayer covering and for those who were able to support the team financially as well.

At the end of each post there will be a chance you you to send words of encouragement in the Comments section and we hope you’ll take advantage of the chance to lift the spirits of a particular brother or sister.

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Remembering Camelot

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It’s truly hard to believe it’s been 60 years to the day since our youngest elected President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was taken from us in so abrupt and shocking a manner on November 22, 1963.

Those of us who are, shall we say, “of a certain age” can remember where we were and what we were doing when the announcement breached our homes and television sets,  revealing the 35th President of the United State had been felled in Dallas by an assassin’s bullet.

“Democrats AND Republicans had lost their leader that day.”

At the time there was so much confusion and so many unanswered questions. How could such a thing happen? Have they caught the perpetrator? Was anyone else hurt in the gunfire? Did Mrs. Kennedy even know her husband was dead, her children left fatherless? Many of those questions, which left us momentarily in the dark, were answered soon enough by intrepid reporters of the news. But many, many questions remain to this day.

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Another Spin Down The Aisle

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Taylor Ann, color designer of THE DRESS

 

NOTE: Today November 3, 2023 marks the 5th anniversary
of Dusty’s marriage to Sergey Tsalkov whom we affectionately
refer to as “The Russian Kid.” We rejoice in their special bond
to each other with God at the center of their love and life together.

I‘m not sure what made me revisit my wedding dress. I was sitting in a coffee shop, wrestling with the arc of my novel. I’d gotten a decent chunk written, so my mind was seeking an excuse to exit. What I really wanted was a good old-fashioned distraction.

What turned up in my mind was the back of my closet. Something precious was stored there… but why?

In my mind’s eye, I pulled my shirts and dresses down the closet bar and removed my wedding dress from the very back of the closet. It has been hanging there for almost five years.

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It’s beautiful. An absolute work of art.

I paused, a nagging question bubbling up next to the image. But why am I keeping this?

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The Final Splash

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NOTE: On May 30, 2023 Disneyland’s Splash Mountain saw the last patron ride its steep, clothes-soaking flume for the final time. Our own Bonnie Joy imagined what the final days were like for the ride’s long-time characters who called this place Home. Here is her report:

Disneyland had just closed for the night, and everyone had gone home. Up at Splash Mountain, Brer Rabbit and the rest of the gang woke up from their animatronic sleep. This one night, Brer Rabbit, who usually would hang around the briar patch and play with his friends, had an itching head. Yet he somehow couldn’t figure out what it was. So while Brer Fox and Brer Bear were distracted, he snuck away from the ride and wandered around the rest of the Magic Kingdom. Maybe a raft trip to Tom Sawyer’s Island might clear his head. Once he arrived, he looked upon the island that had a few changes, but was still the same as when it first opened in 1956. He then looked up at the sky, still smoky from the firework show, yet one bright star managed to shine through. “Is there one more adventure out there for me beyond the ride? I would love to see it,” he wished.

Eventually, he could see a streak of sunlight coming up over the horizon. Before he could ask “How long have I been out here?” he heard Brer Fox’s voice in the distance, “Brer Rabbit! Get your cottontail back to Splash Mountain! The employees are coming in an hour!” “Not again!” he said to himself, as he hopped onto the raft. Just before he pushed off, he heard a lady’s voice softly singing, “I remember Daddy told me fairytales can come true. You gotta make ’em happen, it all depends on you…”

Making sure Brer Fox and Brer Bear hadn’t seen him, he followed the voice to the far left side of the house on the pier. “Princess Tiana!” he exclaimed with a bow, “Your Highness, how do you do?”

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Does God Watch Star Trek?

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I laughed the other day when I said to my husband, “I’m pretty sure God watched every Star Trek episode there is.” Some statements feel kind of obvious, but in a weird way that makes you do a double take. In my head was a voice that whined, “Well, yes, He’s omniscient so that’s technically correct, but…” which only added to my amusement. What—God is too detached and holy to watch Star Trek?

Is He a Trekkie? That one’s up for debate. But He’s certainly not above using story segments as reminders, and for that He had to have watched them all.

“What—God is too detached and holy to watch Star Trek?”

Currently, my husband and I are plowing through Star Trek: Voyager. We started with Next Gen, moved on to Deep Space Nine (BY FAR THE BEST), and are now on Voyager. The Captain—Captain Catherine Janeway—frustrates me on so many levels, but because of that, in part, she is a very good character, if a sorely deficient captain. She captains a Federation ship called Voyager that was thrown into an entirely different quadrant of the universe, and it’s a 70-year journey home if all goes perfectly. Spoiler, it does not all go perfectly.

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A Summer Fable

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NOTE: This piece was written 29 years ago and is being shared today in honor of my father, Charles James O’Connor, Jr. who read and appreciated the essay when it was published. Dad passed away a few years ago, short of his 92nd birthday. This is also for three special young women—Dusty, Bonnie and Shannon—who carry my heart with them always. —M.O.

 

I force my foot down on the shovel which splits the newly softened earth. My daughter and I have been watering this spot for a week. The careful preparation is paying huge dividends for one of our tired backs. The abandoned furniture, busted fence and stubborn weeds have all been cleared from this ten by twenty-foot patch of land to the east of our house, commonly known as “the side yard”.

 I manage to dislodge a hunk of clay that looks as if it hasn’t seen the light of day since before the Stone Age—or at least the Truman administration. “This is dirt from my backyard”, I mumble to no one in particular. I’m not sure if I’m more amazed at the sight of dirt on my hands or from the words “my backyard” crossing my lips.

You wouldn’t know it to look at me but I’m not exactly a backyard kind of guy. My idea of a journey to the great outdoors is packing the family in the van and heading off to Dodger Stadium. If I decide to live a little dangerously, I might stop and find out how much the scalpers are charging for the really good seats.  As an adventurer, I wouldn’t know Marlin Perkins from Marlon Brando.

To me the backyard has always been the place where the trash is stored until garbage day. It’s a field which requires occasional watering, mowing, and once-a-year raking. I suppose I have always associated a back yard with the sense of duty. Why this is I am not altogether sure. But I have often wondered why people fuss so over their prize petunias and rustic rose bushes. Some actually talk to their azaleas as if cooing to a newborn: “Does my planty-wanty want more water-otter?”

“My idea of a journey to the great outdoors is packing the family in the van and heading off to Dodger Stadium.”

Good grief! Can’t those Better Homes and Gardens types get a life? When I’m President, my first official act will be to pass a national bill requiring mandatory Astroturf installation over any plant with whom anyone is on a first name basis. Where’s a congressman when you need one?

This introductory exposition is my simple way of sharing the relative unimportance the process of photosynthesis has thus far played in my life.

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Seeds

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That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13: 1-9)

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Improbable People Ministries was born quite unexpectedly on July 15, 1990, Michael’s 35th birthday. It was a sunny day and we planned to go to Raging Waters in San Dimas and spend the day celebrating on slides and floats.

But first we stopped by the Rock of Israel Ministries office, Sally’s place of employment, to pick up discount coupons promised by her boss and our good friend, Robert Specter. While we were there the phone rang in the office, interrupting our exchange.

The lady on the other end of the line asked where she could get a copy of our first album, Hey God, Are You Talkin’ To Me?  This was highly unusual. The cassette was barely released, with no plan, no airplay, and no distribution. Only the Rock of Israel was selling it on their table at the end of services.

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Encore: Once In A Wifetime

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NOTE: This piece was originally published here 5 years ago today on Michael & Sally’s 31st wedding anniversary. It’s one of the author’s favorite pieces because it’s about one of his favorite subjects. And we thought, on the 36th anniversary of their *cough, cough* storybook union it might be worth revisiting. Thanks for your indulgence.

On May 2, 1987 a young woman took my hand, placed a ring on the closest finger she could find and speedily said, “I do.” I repeated the gesture as it seemed only sporting at the time. With those two words I made Sally Klein the happiest woman in the world.

31 years have passed from that day to this, our Baskin Robbins® Anniversary. Yes, we are actually registered with the national ice cream retailer in case you were planning to send gifts in scoops, pints or those freezer-friendly 3-gallon tubs.

“With those two words I made Sally Klein the happiest woman in the world.”

Sally’s favorite flavor is Tax Crunch for its smooth blend of vanilla and Kona Coffee-flavored ice cream with a thick Fudge Swirl and Rice Crunchies. Mine is Vanilla. Like me it’s uncomplicated and melts all-too-quickly at the beach. White Desserts Matter. Right on!

Tax Crunch ice cream

But this is not a dissertation on ice cream. If it were we’d be talking SpicyWifey and ChubbyHubby. One of those is a flavor I just made up. Hey, a fella can dream, can’t he?

Wedding anniversaries are often fraught with danger for the male of the species as he is forever in danger of forgetting or confusing the day with another special event on the calendar—say, Tuesday. I have a different reason entirely for fearing spousal retribution on the day I was wed.

You see, I have three anniversaries.

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The Gospel According To Elwood P. Dowd

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 Michael and I participated in an interesting discussion at our Bible study last night that centered on evangelism. As we were discussing various forms of “sharing the Lord” with others I had this picture come to mind.

“He is oblivious to their reactions of concern when they cannot see Harvey for themselves.”

It was a scene from an old Jimmy Stewart movie, Harvey. The movie focuses on Stewart’s character, Elwood P. Dowd, and his friendship with an invisible 6-foot-tall rabbit named “Harvey,” which only he can see.

Nearly everywhere Elwood travels Harvey remains with Dowd.  They seem inseparable. Elwood almost always introduces the people he is with to his special friend, Harvey, and never thinks anything of it. He is oblivious to their reactions of concern when they cannot see Harvey for themselves.

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The Rest Of The Story

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So the message of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said. —2 Chronicles 36:21 NLT

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. —Hebrews 4:9-11

 


When Bonnie Joy was very young, she asked me, out of the blue, about the Sabbath. She wanted to know why we didn’t observe it and rest. Since that day, all those

“Since that day, all those many years ago, I have wrestled with what it means to enjoy the Sabbath.”

many years ago, I have wrestled with what it means to enjoy the Sabbath. For me, as a Jewish believer, who is also a music minister, many Saturdays I “work.” Therefore I like to think about it as ministry—but it is also work. And in the last few years I have often told myself, Jesus said “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) And if healing a man’s crippled hand is a good thing to do on the Sabbath, what about a broken heart—or broken soul? I believe the ministry that we do is a good thing. And yet… I often wonder what it means to truly remember the Sabbath and keep it holy?

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A Simple Lesson

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I started reading a novel called Momo by Michael Ende (same person who wrote The Neverending Story). I haven’t finished it, but there’s this little passage that caught me off guard. The story describes a barber in a struggling town:

One such person was Mr. Figaro, the barber. Though not by any means a high-class hairdresser, he was well respected in the neighbourhood. Neither rich nor poor, he owned a small barbershop in the centre of town and employed an apprentice.

“Raindrops were spattering the pavement and the sky was bleak and dreary“

One day, Mr. Figaro was standing at the door of his shop waiting for customers. It was the apprentice’s day off, so he was alone. Raindrops were spattering the pavement and the sky was bleak and dreary – as bleak and dreary as Mr. Figaro’s mood.

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Annette Louise Alvidres Grable: An Appreciation

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I first heard about the passing of my dear friend and mentor, Annette Louise Grable, on November 13th. Both she and her husband, Kevin, meant so much to me as I entered college. She was a huge part of organizing so many of the fun and ministry events at the Valley Vineyard, our home church in Reseda, California while I was growing up. Looking back at the many times she touched me, there are two in particular that stand out.

“This revelation fascinated Annette and, far from questioning the vision, she appreciated that I shared it with her.”

The first is when I was looking for someone to help me with my writing. She introduced me to Jarre Fees, a woman at church. Jarre and I became fast friends. She saw potential in me and, with patience, helped me become a better writer. When Jarre passed away in May of 2014, Annette was one of few people I felt comfortable sharing a vision God gave me in the midst of my grief. I saw Jarre, the way I last remembered her: elderly, short gray hair, bent over and using a walker. Then she stood upright; her walker was gone, she grew younger, and her hair became blonde and long. This revelation fascinated Annette and, far from questioning the vision, she appreciated that I shared it with her.

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Buy 1, Get 1 . . . Best Deal EVAH!!!

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Yes, I know it’s December 8 and 87% of your Christmas shopping is already done. But for those of you who haven’t had the foresight and dread the idea of facing legions and legions of The Walking Mall People at your local, y’know . . . mall, this offer may just be for you:

Now through December 31 we are offering the music of Sally Klein O’Connor at our best deal EVAH! When you buy one product (CD or DVD) you get another one ABSOLUTELY FREE. And it’s your choice which one will be the freebie

The software elves are busy getting ready for the big day so we can’t program the BOGO offer into our system on such short notice. So, we’re going to improvise here at Improbable People Ministries and this is how the deal works:

1. Order 1 or more products from our IPM Store.

2. Send us a separate email telling us the title of the CD or DVD you would like as your freebie.

3. If your order includes 5 CDs paid, then send us the titles of which 5 products you’d like for FREE.

4. If you order one of our value bundles which includes either 7 or 8 products, you will receive an entire second bundle absolutely FREE

5. When you send your email please include your name from your order so we know to match your freebies with your paid items.

6. If you fail to send an email after your order that’s ok. We will pick a random CD as your freebie and include it in your package.

7. Questions and your freebie emails after purchase should be sent here:

 

ipm @ songs4god.com

 

Sally and I know this is rather last minute, but if you order by December 10, there is still a good chance you will get your music before Christmas. If not, there’s nothing that says I Love You so much as stuffing an IOU for a present in this year’s stocking. Trust me–we’ve been there!

Remember, ALL packages are shipped by USPS Media Mail and the shipping and handling is only $5 per order–NO MATTER HOW MANY ITEMS YOU ORDER. Where else are you going to get a deal like this?

Sally and I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and an Uplifting and Peaceful New Year!

 

The Stars At Night Are Big And Bright

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Recently overheard conversation somewhere in the stratosphere:

“Say” says one to the other . . . “whatever happened to that ministry with the oddball name? You know, the ones who pulled a reverse Beverly Hillbillies and left Californy for somewhere in . . . you know—the less civilized part of the world?”

“Oh yeah. The Impertinent People,” said the other to the one. “I think they moved to Texas and started a jug band music . . . band.”

“ . . . whatever happened to that ministry with the oddball name?”

“No, I don’t think it was jug band music. I’m pretty sure she gave up California Dreaming for a spot in the San Antonio Kazoo Symphony,” offered a third potential rocket scientist. Called themselves The Impregnable People.”

“Not even close to true,” argued the first. “I know for a certainty she had three kids with quintuplets on the way. And it was more like she was living in Havana or Tuscaloosa or somewhere the fertility rate is astounding for senior citizens.”

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“I heard they bought a house and turned it into a squirrel sanctuary.”

“Well, I heard they tore down the squirrel sanctuary and are now sod farmers. Too bad about the drought. But brown is a nice color too.”

“I know for a fact they changed their name to Impossible People and gave up the ministry for Lent!”

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