The Art of....living...

I think I'm in love....

2009-02-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Well if you know me I'm not a huge car guy! Pretty much if it can get me from point A to point B, then 'm cool with it. But when I met Jenny I was driving a black 70 Ford Mustang with a 351 Winsor, four barrel holly carburator, straight headers, removed the mufflers for a while, and this thing could peel out on the freeway. The rear suspension was slighlty lifted with some thick tires and the front appeared to be lowered just from the size of the rear tires...scraped up $1200 to buy it against everyones better judgement. Long story short I blew up the engine racing.....go figure right? I ended up selling it and my muscle car love has been dormant since...

Then I saw THIS!!!!!!!

Its a 2009 Dodge Challenger....OMG!!!! I'm trying to convince my wife its the perfect family car, mixing tradition and current technology.........yeah she aint buying it either....

Economical? Who cares!

MPG? Who cares!!

Comfortably sits 4 people? Who cares!!!

Cost? Who cares!!!!

I'm in love!!

1 Way Up date....

2009-02-06T22:59:00.001-08:00

Okay its been a busy month and I don't see it slowin down just yet. Thank you for everyone who has helped out in one way or another through prayer and time. Everything has been a learning process for me and my familia. It's alot to juggle and keep in front of me, but through God's grace have I had the privelage of moving forward. Rick Bambrick!! Thank you for words of encouragement and advice...I'm taking you out to diner with Mike to pull more info out of you! Taxes suck!! I said Taxes not Texas....easy Charlie...
Richie! Thanks for helping out some of my customers with your hot wire touch! We'll hang out and smoke some peaches with Joe. Maybe this weekend we can all get together...just chill.
Gotta call Bubba so we can jam soon, I've got that bug now, gotta scratch that itch to make some music. Miss you guys!
Thank you to Jenny, my beautiful wife, for putting up with my sh#$.. and long hours...don't worry babe..just because we can't see where we're going doesnt mean were going the wrong way...we'll get there. I don't know everything there is to know about things but I know how to keep working toward these wide open doors. Just don't want my closest doors to close first. I've had the pleasure and blessing of having great people as friends, I miss everyone like crazy...so dissconnected lately..
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things to wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Thank you everyone!!!! Miss my lifegroup, Bible study and friends over at LBRM and Kingdom Causes. I should be getting back in the mix soon enough here....c u guys....

The struggle within...

2009-01-30T22:35:00.000-08:00

This tattoo reminded me of a story from India I wont soon forget...

A boy had told someone that he constantly had nightmares of two wolves fighting...
One was bad and other was good...and they were fighting to keep him...

The strongest one would win...

The boy then asked...which one will win?

He was afraid the bad wolf would win and take him away...

They calmly told him, "the one you feed the most."

I have to remind myself to keep feeding the good one too...not just myself... :)

Doubt.

2009-01-16T19:50:00.000-08:00

Here it is…it was a chilly night. The count was 3-2, it’s the bottom of the eighth inning and we are down by 1 point. The pitcher throws and it is perfect, it’s almost in slow motion right down the middle….but I hesitated. In a split second the ball flies by and it’s a strike…I didn’t swing. I struck out. We ended up losing the game….did I mention the bases were loaded? Uhh yeah…I was about 12yrs old.
You can imagine the brain trip in my 12 yr old head…It was bad and I was confused. What happened? Why didn’t I swing? Why did I choke?
Doubt. I doubted myself and that’s all it took.
See today, there are moments that are like being up to bat and feeling the weight of the pressure and all I have to do is doubt again….and I miss the “swing.” It could be a hundred different scenarios but a few days ago, I doubted myself again…. Again the head trip was bad..
You see, I began to question everything, everything…around me, close to me and just me… My thoughts were just scattered leading to some serious confusion!! What am I so afraid of that leads to this doubt? I’ve asked God to stretch me and challenge me for growth. Christ gives me these moments to make the choice. The choice that I’m supposed to make when the opportunity is there, I just need to accept it, without doubt.

James1:6-8 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

A wave at sea? Unsettled and restless….that would be me. I was being tossed around in my questioning. But something remained that I completely pushed aside…my faith. I know not to doubt that!!! Then why don’t I rely on that…on Him. What else could be less confusing then having a rock like that. Don’t want to be tossed around anymore, don’t want to question anymore, don’t want to doubt anymore…just want to make the right choice he prepared for me.
So now I’m praying for strength, wisdom and courage again…that my choice reflects that and not me. What’s in me is false. What’s in Him is true. So I pray for another opportunity to not limit myself in just what I know. To move past the lie and the confusion..and to just know to unlimit myself through Him.
My God, give me your strength and wisdom to get back in the batters box…..set my feet..…keep my eye on the ball……and swing.

Christmas dancin'

2008-12-11T22:48:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!!!

2008-11-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Long Beach Rescue Mission....

2008-11-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

Friday nights message at the mission was about being thankful. It was pretty cool to hear Gene's testimony and experiences from Vietman and about being "touched" by angels in the worst of moments. He questioned his own mortality in varies situations and asked why was he lived through some of these moments. I know alot of the guys sitting there could really relate to some of those experiences. Thank you Gene!
The message of thankfulness was given by Richie. I've heard Richie give a message in India but he blew me away on Friday with his message on being thankful. He started out talking about what we generally think are things to be thankful for like our family, our homes, but quickly made the point to the audience that these things are just material and that there is something greater to be thankful for.
1. Thankful for and it's okay to be "weak." "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9
The best part about this is that we often feel weak. Life comes at us hard and unexpected, I (we) feel weak, we can't carry some of this stuff all the time, we just can't, believe me I've tried! The last time I checked the self help industry is a multi million dollar machine. Does it satisfy? Maybe for a little bit but it never lasts, so we just bury this stuff. When it creeps up we just push it back down, never letting it go. No matter what the "outside" says, inside we're a mess! God is our strength.
2. Thankful that He cares. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 2PETER5:7
Religion by itself is a belief with no power. Having a personal relationship with God is when His power becomes your strength. Who else knows you better? He's been with us through every step even when we don't want Him. He'll carry our worries because we know he cares.
3. Thankful I'm forgiven. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 JOHN 1:9
Thats a tough one. Forgiven? I can't seem to forgive myself on so many levels, but He has already forgiven me. Jesus died not for the righteous but the unrighteous, they didn't take his life, he gave it as a sacrifice, to take our place, to carry our sins so that we may be forgiven. It's definetly not to say we will never sin again, but He's forgiven us for things we've done and things we're going to do. We still need to recognize our tendencies to sin and rely on His power to overcome it.
4. Thankful He will never leave me. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - DEUTERONOMY 31:6
Never leave me or forsake me. If one thing I do know for sure is that people leave. People I've loved and still love are no longer in my life. Through whatever circumstances I've felt the pain of being left or separated from relationships. It sucks. I'll leave that there for now. :(
5. Thankful he loves me/us. " But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - ROMANS 5:8
Jesus died for us not because we were good enough, but because He loved us. For a time in my life, I didn't even want God, but He wanted me. I pushed Him away and He waited. I fought Him and He never fought back, He just loved back. How could I not be thankful for this kind of love?
Gene, Richie, you guys were great! Paul thanks for playing guitar with me, we have to get together again! It was a fun night. For anyone interested in serving at the LBRM, let me know good things always come out of it..I am truly thankful for what God has given me/us.

Praise you in this storm....

2008-11-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

I was sure by now
that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away
stepped in and saved the day
but once again...I say "Amen"...and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
...and takes away

I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
how can I carry on
If I can't find You?

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth...

-Casting Crowns

Kids gone silly!?

2008-11-17T22:46:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to Rick and Dawn Bambrick. We can't thank you enough for the great time at Thousand Trails. The kids had a great time and this is the proof... more pictures to come.

If there's one thing we can count on...it's change.

2008-11-09T21:47:00.000-08:00

Nothing comes at us harder or more unexpected than change. Life changes, whether tragic or comforting, good or bad, things just change. They can't stay the same. My heart changes within me, and I need God to guide me. Remember how we get lost in the woods? ...one step at a time. I need His truth to direct my steps. The next couple months will be crazy!!

BTW...Michelle and Rick, I'm not talking about the Election! Stop it already!

UPDATE ON JOSE CRUZ..

2008-10-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you all who prayed for Jose and his family during this time when things don't go the way we want. Unfortunately, these times are tough and on saturday morning we had to layoff Jose... I was worried about his reaction, his emotions, his family, him! What was he going to do? What can I do to help? Can this be prevented or postponed? I was consumed..with every thought you could imagine.. Well his reaction said everything...
When he found out, he calmly gathered his thoughts and through teary eyes said "I have faith in God and I know that this will be an uphill battle for me, but God will not leave me or dissapoint me. He will be with me during this time. I don't want to go through this but if God does, he will see me through and I will go in faith." Can you believe that? His response was of somebody not losing something, but gaining something.
This made me think you of few things. Why do we really follow God? When things are good, God is great, when things go bad, where is God?
"Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"Psalm 10:1
"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" Psalm 13:1-2
How many of us feel like this, even right now? But God is good, right? I guess we picture goodness as being synonymous with safety. Life and the mess that comes with it are everything but safe. Our faith is definetly found in our response to loss and suffering and why we follow God. I follow God because he is real, no matter what I go through, good or bad.
I can think back at some of the worst moments of my life, when I wanted to feel nothing, think nothing and be nothing... In those moments nothing mattered, I wanted them to go away:( But today I look back and would never want anyone to take away those times because they made me who I am today. Even though I didn't believe it then, God was...with me and with us.
The Bible says "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
Cruz, I know you'll read this, you told me a while ago how we're all auditioning for a show with God as the director. This life is not about us and we are not the main characters. Some of us will be cut at the end of the audition and some will stay. Its not about what we want because were not in control of the show. I'm sure your new role will be better than the one you're leaving, I'm going to miss you here bro..

Spotlight on...Jose Cruz Jr.

2008-10-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, about 8years ago the first time I met Cruz he was standing on a dock in Torrance with a "wife beater" tank top, covered in more tattoos than I care to remember, staring me down like I stole his wallet. He walked up to me and the first thing he tells me is "Let me tell you about respect.." He was the night supervisor at the time and just to spare you the details he wasn't exactly the friendly type..Wow, how things have changed.

Today, I can't imagine my time at work without Jose. You see, I believe nothing is by accident and God places people in our path for a reason.

This is an example of who he is today. "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin." I'm whispering "I was lost," Now I'm found and forgiven. When I say..."I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain, I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow.. "

You see, I have the pleasure of experiencing his friendship and walk with Christ along with mine. Is it difficult to carry the cross? YES it is! The gift Jose brings to any conversation or "counseling session" always starts with "the Bible says....." and rarely a "Well, I think..." He is so knowledgable in the Word that sometimes what he says just stings sometimes, but it is the truth, directly from the Bible. I admire his Faith and his willingness to share and pray ANYWHERE!

Unforunately, like an active believer, he is hurting right now to stay up. He is fighting right now even as you read this, for his wife, his kids, his job, his future and he needs prayer. We may go to different churchs, but we know we are all connected through Christ. Life just goes wrong sometimes, right? Sometimes through our bonehead moves or sometimes through circumstances out of our control, we need to lift each other up in the process. There is enough crap around us to knock us down! "Knowing" just isn't enough sometimes, we constantly need each other to stay focused and take these hits. Our hearts are always being broken, molded, reshaped, rebuilt, all in an effort to get closer to Him. Cruzer thank you for being you and helping me keep my head on straight when I need it. You are an amazing person, bold, and ALL heart! What would I do without you? Luv ya bro!

India trip 2008

2008-10-07T14:22:00.001-07:00

MIAMI DOLPHINS WIN!!

2008-09-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Last week I made a bet at work that my Dolphins would beat the Arizona Cardinals......well they lost....whatever.

What was the bet?

If they lost, my cube would have country music "stuff" on it.

If they won, I would put Dolphin gear on their cube.

Easy enough....it was better than shaving my legs or having a Hannah Montana, or a Jonas Brothers desk like some suggested...

For the whole week this is what my desk looked like, with each day getting a little worse and people bringing country stuff from their homes and putting it on my desk! It wasn't fun telling people that the reason I "went" country was because I lost a bet.

Lesson learned.....no more betting.......yeah right..

First of all, I'm a guy and second, my wife will tell you (besides being a dork,) I hate losing bets!

This week Miami had the New England Patriots who have won 21 straight home games, undefeated in the regular season, and the game was at New England!

Miami wins 38-18..........payback.......here I come.

Times Like These

2008-08-31T09:53:00.001-07:00

Having some fun with some old and new pictures....

Guess who?

2008-08-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

My Wife......10yrs later.

2008-08-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

Today we are celebrating our 10yr anniversary. We decided to go to the Body Worlds Exhibit in Los Angeles and then head over to the Grove in LA. Stopped by Wood Ranch for dinner when I was finally able to conduct the interview of my beautiful wife...

Favorite color? Yellow

Favorite TV show? Lost

Favorite christian song? I can only imagine
Favorite movie? Grease

Favorite book? The Bible

Favorite author? Mary Higgins Clark

Favorite restaurant? Wood Ranch!

Favorite store? Target

Favorite sport teams? Lakers, Miami Dolphins!

Favorite Hobby? Reading books/blogs

Top 5 happy moments of the past 10 yrs?

- Getting married to the love of my life.

- Having Matthew and Justin.

- Club Med Ixtapa

- Finding Christ through Revolution Church

- Going on a mission trip to India.

Top 5 worst moments of the past 10 yrs?

- Giving back 2 beautiful boys back to God. (we love you, Daniel and Aaron)

- My mom getting cancer

- Revolution Church getting an unexpected makeover.

- Rene's dad going to federal prison.

- Rene going through back pain

Where do you want to be in 10 yrs?

With family on a long term mission trip.

Whats your greatest challenge?

Letting God lead the way...

I can't believe it's gone by so fast!!

I love you soo much. Thanks for great time tonight :-) The last picture was during our honeymoon. 10yrs ago?!

Summer just got better!!!

2008-08-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

We ended up with a redneck pool?! By the way I asked the same question, whats a redneck pool? Well according to our neighbor who was nice enough to give us this pool, oh, and by the way, thank you Becky!! It's basically a giant above the ground pool, and its from.....Wal-Mart. Whatever.....the kids like it, so now we are the proud owners of our own giant pool. filters? chlorine tabs? algae? uuhhhhh.....does it come with a diving board?

San Diego ComicCon 2008

2008-08-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

I started collecting comics when I was a kid and have gradually grown out of collecting them. I have always loved the creativity, artwork, storytelling, and just the imagination of people out there. Weird and different is good. One of the places that I started going to, and see how my artwork "measured up" was here...San Diego. About 9 years ago, it wasn't this fancy but they must be doing something right if over 100, 000 people decide to stop by now. Here are some pictures Jen and I took...

LONG BEACH RESCUE MISSION

2008-07-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile....who reads this stuff anyway? Well here it is, the Long Beach Rescue Mission is a freaking amazing place with some dedicated staff members.

Just to start off our Lifegroup has been volunteering at the RM for about 4-5 months now, we've made some friends and along the way have seen the growth in some and the challenge in others. It's a daily battle no different from you and me. I had the privilege of sharing a few thoughts on "independence", real independence. Don't confuse independence with self worth or confidence. First......

Romans 7:14-25 Paul says.." We know that the law is spiritual:but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do good but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do, no, the evil I do not want to do...this I keep doing. Now if I do what I don't want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is the sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law: but I see another law at work in the members of my own body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

The Bible shares 3 lessons in Paul dealing with his sinful nature....

Knowledge is not enough. We usually know enough, we just don't do it. For example, we all know not to drive drunk, but how many people still do it? We know the consequences of speeding but we do it anyway. We knew that the Lakers were going to win the championship and what happened? <----sorry bad example... Anyway, we know enough, we just chose not to do, whatever "it" is. Bible studies are great, and its great to know what eschatology and exegetical mean, but if we can't even reach out to our neighbors.........is it that we don't know enough?
Self determination is not enough. I don't want to imply that our own determination is not good, because it is, but if that is the only thing we have in this is a daily battle, what happens when everything starts caving in around us, things go sideways and we begin to feel the weight. There are times when we're in those "valleys", when I don't care who you think you are, we just need help getting up. Those that avoid this help, are frantic and usually find either something to numb them out or their hearts are hardened just a little bit more. They don't want to feel their own need. Self determination, by itself, out the window.
Becoming a Christian is not enough! The word "Christian" has such a negative connotation in this society and its not by accident. Just because some say they are Christians doesn't mean they've officially removed every trace of sin from there lives and every decision will be easy and life will get better because now God is on their side!....whatever! If I look back on my life, I think "Christians" kept me further from God than anything else. I'm sure even today I'm not the best example, but we are all poor imitations of the truth in Jesus Christ. It's not enough to say it, our lives must reflect His glory, not ours.

This is who we are, this is how we were created, we are wired to need not only each other but our creator. At times christian maturity comes through suffering and rarely through blessings. In your pain don't immediately pray for deliverance, but seek God first. Don't waste the pain, by numbing it away.Romans 5:2-8 Paul says..."And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

"Hope" is the expectation of the future that sustains us in the present. Sustains us in the present. Sustains us through trial. God is carrying us through. But still the world echoes another message. We're constantly under attack with a message of dissatisfaction. Things sell around us everyday with the promise of making us better than we are. The "self help" industry is a huge money making industry. We all buy in and getting nothing in return. But when life is great everything is fine. But for many of us, we're still in that valley....reaching for the big empty. Reaching for ourselves and finding there nothing left anymore. Where is our independence, then? Because we know in our hearts its more than knowing, more than wanting and more than just a "religion", its in the dependency of Jesus Christ. Listen to your life. Life is more than just the sum of its events.....its not about us.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 "All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 " I denied myself nothing my eyes desired: I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind, nothing was gained under the sun."

The Long Beach Rescue Mission is definetly a great place to stretch ourselves into new territory by not being in complete control and letting God do what he does best by using everyday normal people and empowering them to understand when they can't, He can.

Larry Shewfelt - Happy Birthday!

2008-05-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know who Larry Shewfelt is, you are missing out.... The first time I saw Larry was on the stage of Revolution at the El Dorado Campus when we would meet in this small auditorium. He went up on stage and looked very confidant and when he started to share his testimony he began to cry. Cry!? I was touched by his honesty and his willingness to open his heart to everyone. He spoke, we listened....
How would I've known? Little did I know that I would later have the privelage of being his friend, serving with him side by side in India, serving with him at the Long Beach Rescue Mission, playing music with him or even being in the same Lifegroup sharing our faith and experiences while growing in our walk together. I am thankful for his wisdom in Lifegroup, and his boldness in playing guitar and taking me with him.
Larry you are great friend, and happy birthday! I'd say wishing you another 60yrs, but there are a couple problems.....
1. Another 60yrs puts you around 120yrs old....not good.
2. 60 more years wouldn't help your golf game....hah!
Anyway, Larry we love ya, let the good times roll, and just so you know, the first time, when I went on the stage and shared my testimony, I cried too.....see what you started! Have fun bro!

Battle at Kruger

2008-05-12T11:16:00.001-07:00

When one can't, many can..cool video

Staying focused.....

2008-05-01T21:37:00.001-07:00

We are studying Philippians 3:12-4:1.

Basically, Paul tells us to always press on toward the goal. He says " Not that I have already attained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..."

If you don't know, a quick explanation, Paul used to be named Saul and he used to persecute (kill) Christians with a passion. He would literally hunt them down and it wasn't until he was on the "road to Damascus", when the Lord spoke to him, from that point on Saul was then named Paul and he dedicated his life toward being a servant of Jesus Christ. What amazes me about Paul is that he dedicates his life to Christ and basically suffers more any of us will even dream of, for the grace of God. (Grace is defined as undeserved favor.) While going through his pains and struggles, he never boasts about what he has done for Christ but says he has not taken hold of what Christ has called him do. I wondered, if Paul, experiencing a life of discomfort, pain, humility, jail, never submitting to life's "status quo" is still focused on Him, then what about.....me? Can I stay focused? Can I be strong? Can I look beyond what's in front of me?

I asked a lifegroup member about Christian maturity, we talked about attaining "maturity"? How do we know, is it through reading more, studying more, education, loving? He thought for a moment on his own life and then calmly said, " His own maturity, has comes through suffering, never through blessings." Yeah, that sucks...but it makes sense.

This took me to Romans 5:3-5: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

This scripture never says we should rejoice of our suffering, but in our suffering. (Hope - an expectation of the future that sustains us in the present. Does not disappoint us.) I could think back at some horrible experiences in my own life, either decisions I made or just situations beyond my control. In those moments, I wanted nothing more than to all of it to just go away. But today, would I want someone to take those things away from me? As bad as they were...never. Because those moments shaped who I am today and important lessons were learned. Even when I didn't believe in Jesus, He was still shaping my heart, molding my life and carrying me through it.

So today my challenge is to "Be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be." To not dwell on those things that cripple me but to use the pain and experiences to focus back on Him and his direction. Despite of all of our technology, all of our advancements, all of our knowledge, we're still very human, continually lacking and in need of God's grace. I like how Paul describes moving forward as "straining ahead." It's never easy and now I know its not suppose to be.

Lifegroup was really fun this last Tuesday, thanks guys.

Beethoven?.........nope...

2008-04-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

You Are Rowlf the Dog

Mellow and serious, you enjoy time alone cultivating your talents.

You're a cool dog, and you always present a relaxed vibe.

A talented pianist, you can play almost anything - especially songs by Beethoven.

"My bark is worse than my bite, and my piano playing beats 'em both."

The Muppet Personality Test

I gave in..."what time of day are you?"

2008-04-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

6:49am? Only when I sleep in.....

LB Grand Prix Thursday night

2008-04-21T13:42:00.001-07:00

Watching these guys live was pretty incredible. These guys were pulling off some amazing stunts. I would've taken more shots had my memory stick not overloaded. I'm not a big motoX fan, but watching these guys live just blew me away. These guys literally risk their lives for this stuff. One of the jumpers was just 18yrs old, and I think he was the craziest one! Great show, special thanks to Kirk and Tara for showing us a great time this thursday night! By the way the chicken dinner was great!!!

Wow!

2008-04-21T13:31:00.001-07:00

These guys are amazing...

Drifting at the LB Grand Prix!

2008-04-21T13:30:00.001-07:00

We had a great time...

Gettin down n' dirty....

2008-04-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

I was watering my lawn and it was such a nice day, summer is around the corner......hmm...ah, Matthew! Justin! wanna play in some mud?... If you've never had mud poured on your head, I highly recommend it....

Dizneyland....

2008-04-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

I took "DJ robotic puppy" and the kids to Dizney....Jen and Justin were having a blast with there Birthday pins and we finally got to go on California Soarin and the Nemo submarine, both were very cool and not a typical ride. Here are some pictures of the day. Matthew and Justin both shared in taking some pictures...

Happy Birthday Jen!! April 3rd, 2008

2008-04-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

I hope I never have to DJ.....

2008-04-07T17:01:00.001-07:00

Your DJ Name Is:

DJ Funky Peanut

What's Your DJ Name?

Take a Hike!!

2008-04-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

On Monday a few days ago, I took Jenny and the boys to a hiking trail that I've been going to for about a month now. A friend at work, Jose Cruz, told me about it, and I had to try it. I've been trying to go just about everyday after work to get in some exercise, plus its a good time just to think and chill. You literally feel like you're in the middle of nowhere and it's in Whittier of all places. The kids did great just looking at all the bugs and lizards, we walked about a good 2 miles. My goal is to eventually try and jog it. Here are some pictures............

2008-04-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here it is Jen.........I'm a ..............?

You Are a Question Mark

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning.

And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong.

You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more.

You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.

Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking.

(But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)

You excel in: Higher education

You get along best with: The Comma

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Lakers 126 Washington 120

2008-03-31T01:58:00.000-07:00

Nothing wrong with a grown man and some face painting on his head?.........right?....guys?...right?

Hang time with Ed...
Richie, Tony and me at the Staples Center...
Roscoes Chicken and Waffles....if you are on a diet this is perfect for you...........whatever
"What?......you want to face paint on my head?" I didn't expect that, but she did a good job.

3-30-08

Today was Aldo and Ed's birfday. Aldo could not make it but Ed, Richie and my bro in-law Tony went down to see the Laker game over at Staples Center. The game went into OT but we pulled out a victory! Here are some pictures from that night. We finished the night with some good eatin' over at Roscoes Chicken and Waffles down in Long Beach. I'm still full from all the food we ate. Diet? uhhhh.....what diet? I better work out tomorrow.

Long Beach Rescue Mission..

2008-03-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Lifegroup in action! For those of you who don't know about the Long Beach Rescue Mission, please contact Paula Chism or Cheryl Harrington, this is a great opportunity to give of your time and be a part of reaching the homeless communities of Long Beach. Our lifegroup has performed two Chapel services and we've assisted in food preparations for Easter dinner. One wednesday evening Dennis Crawford and I helped cut up almost 500lbs of ham while Mindi, Dillon, Paula, and Rhonda helped out in the stock room preparing dinner that same night! The staff really appreciated our help and the homeless who eat this food appreciate it as well.

I've got to say I was pretty nervous the first time we went because I didn't know what to expect. I was very out of my comfort zone. I mean what can I tell someone who has nothing left, to have...hope? I can't compare myself to their situation in many ways, they could see right through me, I'm not going to pretend to know what they are going through. So I wondered what should I say?

After our first Chapel service we had an opporunity to hang out and, I noticed a guy walking away and shaking, I followed him and asked if he was alright? He turned to face me but wouldn't look at me, I lifted my arms to call him over and he just started to hug me, then he started crying. He was crying saying thank you, thank you and he wouldn't let go. He just wanted to be held. That's it. Wow, it hit me, I didn't have to say anything, at least nothing dramatic or amazing, just being there.....said everything. Just being there, showing up and tangibly showing God's love for us, through us. We looked at each other and we had tears running down our cheeks and then we both started laughing. He gave me another hug, said thank you brother, it's been a long time, thank you.

Isn't God amazing.....I could go on forever, but now it's your turn....

INDIA

2008-03-29T19:53:00.001-07:00

India team 2008 waterwell dedication

2008-03-26T23:16:00.001-07:00

Having fun in a village...these people were getting a waterwell for the first time. Over 200 villagers will benefit from this waterwell. The women no longer have to walk miles just to gather water for their village. We were so blessed just to be a part of there celebration...

Catching up..

2008-02-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

---DECEMBER 29TH, 2007---

For Jenny's christmas present, I gave her two tickets to Dancing With the Stars the Tour. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the show at all, but she loves it. She was not expecting it and I actually kept it from her and her mom until christmas. I told her mom I was going to get her a special FX lightsaber that "glows and has real live action sounds" just like a the one's from "Star Wars." The kids love Star Wars and were always geting them stuff but I told her that Jenny would love this lightsaber! She gave me a perplexed look and then she probably wondered why her daughter married me. Well, it was worth it because Jen was definetly surprised at the tickets.

We went to the show at Staples Center and we had a great time. It was actually alot of fun and those dancers are awesome. They were flipping and jumping and twisting and it was fun to watch. The music was good, fun atmosphere, I'd do it again......yes, at the expense of an FX lightsaber......more to come.....

Dizney....

2008-02-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

---DECEMBER 12TH, 2007---

DIZNEYLAND, the happiest place on uhhh......

Head spinning....kids screaming...spinning...kids crying....spinning....kids running....head pounding...getting dizzy....need to go home...and then we go from the parking lot into the park.

It was a great day.....I'm tired...

Check this out.......speechless

2008-01-14T19:46:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Rick Bambrick for posting this on his blog. What a great visual, I can't help but relate and see this played out in real life...wow.

World War Hulk.......

2007-11-15T16:40:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about comics, then you've heard of World War Hulk...........oh by the way, yes, I am a comic book geek.... :-)

Almost left behind.......

2007-11-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

Last thursday night, Jenny and I went to go see a speaker named Tim Lahaye, he is the author of the "Left Behind" series. Tim Lahaye is also an expert of Bible Prophecy, we were both looking forward to seeing him speak at Calvary Chapel Downey. By the way, thank you to Dennis and Rhonda for giving us the info on this. Anyway, on our way to the chapel.........my wife and I get into an argument........this is how it went.

I stopped at a gas station to get some fuel when my cell phone started to ring. I answered the call and it was an old friend who was in need of a washer n dryer. I start pumping gas and Jen goes into the quick mart to get some cough drops. When she gets back I'm on the phone. I finish pumping a full tank and we start heading to Downey, I'm still on the phone. I get on the freeway, I'm still on the phone. She picks up her phone and loudly says that I'm being rude, and I need to get off the phone. My friend stops talking because he could hear what she said. I give her "the look", you know...the look, I give her "the look".....so then, she gives me "the look". It's getting hot and I don't have the heater on......I let my friend know that I'll call him back later.

We quickly get into the back and forth thing. I shouldn't be on the phone because this is our time together, our date, I'm being rude, not making her the priority....I'm telling her that what she did was rude, unnecessary, untimely, controlling.....and we go back and forth some more. She apologizes and before I apologize, I explain my position and what I wanted her to take from this experience. She doesn't like the fact that I wasn't apologizing, we are tempted to turn around and head back home, the mood is definitely gone....

Then we discover that where we are heading is definitely spiritual and that we are being spiritually attacked.

Just like that, as if for a quick moment the vail was lifted. I asked her to listen.....I think I know why she was so upset at the phone call. It really was my fault...my fault because for the past couple weeks when I was getting home from work, I was still at work. I wasn't doing those little things at the house and with her to make her know for a fact that she is my priority. I wasn't keeping up with those little things around the house and in our relationship for her to know without a doubt that she is so important to me. So all it took was this one phone call to push her feelings over the edge. I told her if I had not failed to do these things during the past week maybe this phone call wouldn't have been such a big deal. And maybe, this was one of those little things, to tell my friend to call me back later because I want to spend time with my wife. So I finally apologized....and meant it. We had a great time just "unpacking" everything and getting closer. Great speaker, great night, man this relationship thing is work!! But I love my wife so much.....none of us are perfect.

Bug a Boo...

2007-11-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

What a great night, the kids had a blast. Here are a few pictures of our booth. Special thanks to Jenny, Dennis, Rhonda, Larry, Mitchah, and friend for putting this booth together in my garage the night before. We ran around from store to store trying to put this thing together and with God's help, it came together as if we seemed to know what we were doing. I have to admit I was kind of nervous, I didn't want it to look cheesy. We pulled together and this is what was produced......thank you guys...and gals.

Check this out.....plus a four letter word!!

2007-11-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

For those that may not know, I had a back injury that occurred at work back in March. At first, it was just hurting alot and it limited me to do certain things. Eventually, I got a tingly feeling running down my leg that lasted for a couple months. When my back wasn't hurting, the pain in the back of my leg was really bad. During this time I was going to the clinic and getting a ton of therapy. But I was getting the same results, pain! Some days were really bad and some days were just a discomfort. I had to quit the "set up team" to keep myself from possibly getting worse by a mistake in bending over wrong or not being in correct posture or whatever. I'm sure Charlie was thrilled about that....sorry bro.

Well eventually I had an M.R.I. done to see what was going on with me. It's at a point where if I stand for a certain period of time I have a ton of pain shooting down my left leg. I need to sit to stop the pain and bring it down to a more tolerable level. Walking seems to be better than just standing. But anyway, I thought it would be cool to show you guys what the M.R.I. looks like and what it says..

I want to share with you a four letter word that is very offensive to me. DIET. Yup, I need to get on a diet. I am 6 feet tall and weigh............a cool 270lbs. I noticed that when I drop in weight my pain decreases.(yes, I am a genious.....whatever) I know to some people that may be totally obvious but I think I was just avoiding the issue. The issue of me having the drive to avoid bad foods and take care of my body, the right way. In preparation for India, I want to be the best physically as well as spiritually. The planning genious that I am, I choose to lose weight during Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. You guessed it, I need some prayer...

I will keep you updated on my progress....late.

Chris Tomlin singing Enough

2007-10-03T20:55:00.001-07:00

September 12th, 2007

2007-10-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know it's been a while.....but back on Sept 12th, my boss Jerry took Aldo and I to the Dodgers vs. the Padres!!! Jerry is my boss and Aldo is my counterpart at work, both are my friends. Jerry called the both of us up and asked if we wanted to go to the game because he had some extra tickets! I was pretty excited due to the fact that it was near the end of the season and there was a tight race to the top of their division. The Padres were a team that they needed to beat and it was going to be a good game. Aldo is a huge Dodger fan and Jerry is a huge Angel fan, but I grew up watching both and came to the conclusion years back that I didn't need to pick.....so I like the Dodgers and the Angels......go ahead....hate me......whatever. HA!

Here is the cool part, Jerry had these amazing tickets, I have never been that close to the field before. But the cool part was that we got to go to some restaurant that I never knew existed right in Dodger stadium. As the three of us walked in I knew immediately that I was a little under dressed to say the least. There was this giant bar, guys in suits, writers from the press, sport agents, the girls dressed to impress. Jerry told us that he would be right back and he would get us a table. As Aldo and I were standing there we are staring at this giant buffet of food..........good food, not food from a 99cent menu. I had my access pass sticking out of my shirt pocket just to prove to people walking by me that I belonged their.....I was trying to stand there and pretend to be cool....I could hear Jenny now........"you're such a dork." Anyway, we got the table, got the buffet, got this amazing food, and the boss got the bill.....you don't want to know how much it cost......whoa. The orange chicken was incredible, I rolled some in a napkin and tried to sneak some out of there........ i got caught......I'm kidding.

The dinner was great, we went to our seats and the game had already started, we sat next to some cool people, enjoyed the rest of the game. My claim to fame is Nomar Garciaparra, I went to high school with him, St John Bosco '91, man I'm old.. Anyway, I always cheer for him whichever team he happens to be on. They won the game and they had a good shot of getting to the post season. Unfortunately, they didn't. Regardless, we had a great night and Jerry really knows how to show his "dates" a great time.....Aldo and I have a cool boss but Jenny knows I never kiss on the first date.

My Church.......

2007-09-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

It's been more than 3 and a half years ago, Jenny asked me to come to this "new" church her friend Laura had suggested. Well...... I was not the church going type of guy....but as luck would have it football season was over. But, I was like hmmmmmm.......churches just want our money, people are fake, nobody's perfect, and and and and I have enough friends, I don't want to meet anybody new......whatever.

I remember laughing when we showed up to this giant church(EPCC) and then we had to meet in this tiny room off to the side of the giant church. There wasn't alot of people but I remember feeling like I just didn't belong, nobody really looked or seemed to be.........like me. I wasn't into it, then this scruffy haired surfer guy came up to me with a smile and put his hand out and said "Hey, nice to see you, whats your name?" This guy wasn't like other "religious" guys I had known before, he was.....different/genuine/scruffy. I spent that morning judging the service and the Pastors son, who was this tall skinny....oops, he was the Pastor...jk Anyway, my 1st time was.....fun, the music was great but what I took away with me was "that guy". That guy who for just a moment made me feel like I did belong there. Different.

Different was the word to describe Revolution Church. I can't believe we're going to celebrate 4 years of Revolution next week. Has it gone by that fast.... I can still remember that tiny room, in the past 4 years, life just hasn't gone the way I've wanted or expected it too. Wow, little did I know that what was going on in this tiny room would.....change my life forever...it wasn't instant, but that in this tiny room I would meet some amazing people, make great friendships, strengthen my marriage, become a better father to my kids, and ultimately give my life to Jesus. That the guy who made me feel like I did belong there was named "Jerry" and he is as genuine today as he was the first day I met him.

My Church is incredible.........today we meet at a high school instead of a tiny room, but what makes my church incredible is not the outside.....it's the inside. It's the people. The people who are going through and have gone through so much over the past 4 years......we know that life is tough ...but while it tears us apart, Jesus puts us together a little stronger than before. "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us."Romans 5:3-5NIV

I'll be at Unite celebrating these past 4 years, celebrating what God has done to us, for us, with us, "against" us, and that he gives...........and takes away. I will also celebrate our Pastor, Dave Trotter and his family.....for just opening up his home and teaching the Word in practical ways to apply it today.

Hey, lets face it, we're all jacked one way or another but,.......this is my family......this is my church....

Congrats to Joe and Christy!!!!

2007-09-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

New Edition!

Weight: 2pounds 14 ounces

Aiden Bryce Calderon

Joe!! you are a great friend and I wanted you to know that you are very much loved and appreciated for your generosity and for just being you....Christy, keep going and love each other forever!! Jenny and I appreciate the two of you so much..We're looking forward to getting to know another member of our family.

P.S. Joe, just so you know be careful drinking another Coke, somebody might booby trap your straw with ketchup....ritchie!

The Critic

2007-08-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
(Paris Sorbonne, 1910)

Just a thought....

2007-08-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

Usually on Mondays, I sit at the dinner table and work on "the flow" for Lifegroup. Sundays and Mondays are my time to really study God's Word. I was at the table trying to slow down and concentrate on just what God was trying to communicate. As I started to pray I looked at my wife, Jenny. She was getting dinner ready for us and I was just taking her in. Wow, how long has it been since we first met? As she's getting dinner ready, she's just totally focused on "her mission." I am so thankful to God for her. I can already think back to our 1st date.....The Spike and Mike- Sick and Twisted Animation Festival midnight showing in Long Beach. Man, things were so much easier back then, as you can tell I was pretty smooth in showing a lady a good night....whatever. I can think of other times that were not so easy. Wow, its been a crazy ride, who would ever have guessed back then where we would be. I'm looking at what a woman she's become, and I'm so amazed. I can reluctantly remember on two separate occasions when we held two beautiful baby boys in our arms...............and had to give them back to God. Life can be really tough sometimes.........really tough. As believers in Christ we say God is in control and he has a purpose and a plan, it still sucks sometimes. Regardless, God is with us sustaining us through those times. What a woman he has created in her, I couldn't imagine going through life with anyone else by my side. I am so proud of her.... she catches me staring at her..... She's like "Whats wrong?" I'm like "Um......could you grab me a Coke Zero with ice"..................wow, I am a jerk.

HILARIOUS!

2007-08-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

This was the second year for Hilarious and it was well put together. Great night, great people, Carlos Oscar was very funny. It's cool to enjoy an evening with people from our church family. I think these evenings are good to get to know more people, but I still get nervous. It's funny how I can say "hi" to alot of people on Sunday, but never really "talk" to some of them. I know I'm not the only one who feels like this, but I wonder why we do that. I've got to get better at talking to more people, my wife thinks I'm anti-social, and don't like to be around people... I don't think so, I'm very social..........Uh oh I hear footsteps coming down the stairs into the basement, I knew I should've locked the door, I've only been down hear for a few hours...I guess I've got to upstairs and spend some time with the family.

Angels vs. New York Yankees 8/20/07....1 yr ago...

2007-08-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

"My first post anniversary, one year ago when I started this blog, these were my first "recorded" thoughts of a baseball game with Matthew.. "

Thanks to Dennis and Rhonda Crawford for the tickets to the game!! Wow, there is something about baseball games that just takes me back.. I am not a huge baseball fan, but being at the game is definitely different than watching it on TV. As soon as Matthew, on my shoulders, and I approached our seating section, I could smell the peanuts, hot dogs, mustard, relish, cotton candy and then something happened to me. Just like that, bam! I was carrying Matthew on my shoulders and he was so much younger, years ago when we were at a Dodger game . It was our first baseball game together. I almost had forgotten that day when I walked out on top deck with him on my shoulders, looking down at the field and feeling........good. Now were getting to our seats and I notice he's growing up so fast. The atmosphere and the conversations around us about stats and players just draws us in. When the game starts he's cheering at the top of his lungs, I'm cheering. We're having a great time enjoying the game, he's asking a ton of questions. I slow down and just can't stop looking at him and how much he's grown. God is so amazing..... stress, life, work, and worries were put on hold tonight for a few hours. What a great night, cool people around us, great game, Angels won 6-5. I'm full of all these emotions for my kids, wife and realizing how grateful I am to God, I get home and Jenny asks me "How was the game?" Instead of telling her everything that happened to me "inside", I'm like, "yeah, it was alright."............I'm such a jerk.

My First Post Ever!!

2007-08-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

Alright, you guessed it, I'm going to surprise a few people........