» Funny!

» Issues! (A couple of Pet Peeves).

I'm not perfect.. I never will be until I get to see Him face to face. and be like He is... but until then, I recognize that all of us have Issues.

Here are some of them. Can you relate to them?
Can we fix them?
Please.

• Saying, "I'm praying for you!" - No you are NOT! Quit your lying! (Ok that was too much emphasis). But really, when people say that, they usually do not pray for you. Next time, don't say that you will pray for them, but pray for them right then and there.
• Saying, "This is your Home", when someone visits your church. You already know about this one. You just want them to go to your church. So... just don't do it. Read my post about this topic: "This is your Home?" Really?
• Saying, "I'm blessed!", when someone asks you, "How are you doing?" - Now... You know you got a whole bunch of stuff going on in your life that's not all that good. Why aren't you just honest and say, "Well, I'm struggling a bit, but I have a God that will help me through."
• Young people cussing on myspace, needing attention. You know you would not act and say things like that in front of your pastor or your mom. Quit being a hypocrite. (Oh, man! That's some holy anger). Hehe.

There are more, but that's enough for tonight.

Also, an update in my life:

• I took Ruthie on a DATE!
• Today we went to Memorial City mall. It was packed because of Tax free weekend.
• We ate at Panera Bread.
• I did not buy any clothes or shoes for me.. boo!
• We went to Cinemark in the mall and saw a movie.
• We got 1 of those big Cinnabons.. D-licious!

I really love Ruthie! She is an inspiration to me as a person that can hold a testimony after being crushed with Life's problems and still stand and serve God. One day she will join us in the blog world. Pray for her. (just kidding).

My prayer:

"Jesus, I love you. Please guide us and let us keep hearing your voice. Let us serve you. We do need you. Thank you for being so merciful and kind. You are praised. I worship you. Thank you."

» Bring your Fishes and your Bread!

I was reading some stuff and I stumbled across this:

The Church World-wide:

• 175,000 gave their life to Jesus today world-wide
• 50,000 of those accepting Jesus are in Communist China
• 40,000 of those accepting Jesus are in India
• 2,000 new churches will be planted this month alone in India
• There are more Christians in AFRICA (450,000,000) than there are people in the United States of America. (300,000,000)

The Church in America:

• 8 out of every 10 church plants fails
• In the last 15 years church attendance has decreased by 36%
• 2,500 new churches start every year, while 4,000 close their doors (negative 1,500 growth rate)
• The unchurched population has grown just under 100% over the last 10 years
  

Now, why do you think this is so? I am just so tired of the church in America...
I remember when I went to Honduras (that was some years ago, but I still remember), there were churches everywhere... My sister and her boyfriend came back from El Salavador, and they told me the same thing. There are many churches over there, as well. My father tells me the same thing. He says, "There are tons of churches here... There is a church right down the street from where I live. There is no pastor though... The people just gather."
OH GOD! Please help us!

And here we are...

• worried about our own life.
• seeking more friends.
• going out and having fun.
  

God, give me conviction! I need to repent. We need to repent. Really, when I look over these statistics, it makes my heart burn with a burden that is too dificult to carry. I am so much in need of a reality check. We are in need of a reality check.

Matthew 14:14-18

"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was

moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying,

This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away,

that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

He said, Bring them hither to me."

Does anybody feel a burden to go and make disciples?
Does anybody feel the compassion that moved Jesus when he looked over and saw 5,000 men, women and children, hungry for something.He said... "they dont need to go without being fed... let's give them so food."

God wants you to bring what you got.
He says, "Tell your story. Tell your testimony. Let them know that I'll take care of them as I took care of you."
He says, "Bring your brokeness. Bring your small amount of experience. Bring your heart of compassion. Bring them hither to me."

Can I tell you the same thing?
These people are dying without hope and forgiveness, can you help me give them something that will fill that void?
Can we stop worrying about our daily duties and start bein disciples of Jesus?
Can we stop being so involved in church politics and rally the church in Revival?
Can we stop trying to climb that old "ministry ladder" and do what God has called you to do?

Matthew 9:37

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but

the workers are few."

Can you start working in the field without any leader, preacher, pastor telling you every Sunday? People need to hear your story. They need to hear your testimony. Don't let nobody stop you.

I am sorry. This is why people don't like me, but I will tell it like it is.

Don't let no organization, no pastor, no preacher, no person, stop you from telling the world your testimony. If it is your time.. go for it. Go and make disciples.

GO!!!

» Randomness!

Randomness! My Life...

• I need to enroll in school for this semester. I need to get along in my endeavor to get my B.A in Biblical Counseling.

I figured if I have to get a degree (haha), my name will be changed to Dr. Tony... haha! (that sounds weird). I'll have my own talk show... a pastor with a talk show... What do you think?

• I need to take my wonderful girlfriend out. She has been so good to me these last couple of days. I love her.

Maybe Rush Hour 3? Chris Tucker is sooo funny. Grand Luxe cafe? Some good food.

• I thank God for my family...
• Still looking for a car... anybody selling one?
• I work Overnight at a call center... and I am ready to go home.
• I will run and run and keep running...
• Church of Champions first Bilingual service is this Sunday August 19, 2007.

I'm excited! Pastor Hutchins and Pastor Rios will be tearing it up! You are invited!

• Did I mentioned that I loved her?

Well, this was unusual... it's ok.

God will do great things. Get ready.

'Til tomorrow.

» Hey Ugly, Don't die in your cocoon!

Admit it! Most people are concerned with how good or bad they look. We can try to worry so much as to how we look, but we sometimes forget that God made us from the dust of the ground. That's humbling!
Genesis 2:7

"The LORD God formed the man from the

dust of the ground

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..."

Anyways, WOW! WOW! WOW!

What a Sunday Service! I got to tell you... I heard one of the most life changing messages this morning. It was definitely one of the best in a long time...

David Grigsby preached, because Pastor Hutchins was out of town this weekend and it was explosive.

His text came out of 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away; behold,

all things are become new."

MAN! THIS IS AWESOME!

He started talking about how the worm is hid in his cocoon before he becomes a butterfly. We all know that story. The METAMORPHOSIS preaching... That can never get old, because when you think of the transformation process of a lost, unsaved soul becoming a newfound soul. That's just amazing!

Let me just give you a few points on the subject which David Grigsby entitled:

The Other Side Of Process

Apply it to your life:

• The worm is ugly before it becomes a beautiful butterfly. You are ugly (just kidding). Let's just say that after the process, you will be beautiful.
• The worm is lonely in its dark cocoon. Have you ever been lonely and you feel that there is no light of hope for you?
• The worm does not have mom and dad to encourage, a preacher to preach, or a cheeleader to cheer it on. Your process will have to be developed by you and you only. Nobody else. So, quit relying on people (that was mind-blowing!).

This was the best though. This was the service closer...

The Greek word for Regeneration is palingenesia and is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. But in this case of Transformation, it means to: "restitute all things... even to before Adam."

BEFORE ADAM!

That means that when you are in Christ and become a new creature, God takes you to the beginning state that He formed you in... to the state that God created you in. God wants to restore all those things that Adam had before he fell.

• The authority in his voice (to name the animals).
• The purity and innocence before sin entered the world.

God wants to transform you! He wants to change you!

What an awesome service. This is exciting!

Can you pray with me?

God transform me.

God change me.