» The Open Door!

I felt that feeling that I had not felt in a very long time... last Sunday.

I had the priviledge to get called on to go preach at Starting Point this past Sunday morning. I was thrilled, excited and nervous. I prayed to God so He could help me with words (somehow, I think that I can't speak english, good english. That's weird. weakness?).

I believe that Jesus is the door. I thank God for Him being the door.
John 10:7

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily,

I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."

And sometimes I have felt in my life that God closed the door on me (abandons me). I mature by praying those verses that say that He never will leave me or abandon me. Sometimes you can feel like Jesus felt on the cross (that His father had left Him), although our circumstances cannot even compare to His sufferings.

But all the time that I have heard the loud bang of the door closing behind me, I look ahead and continue walking. That is the clue... Keep walking when the door closes. Oh, I think of the opportunities that God has given me. I encourage you to think of the chances that He has given you. Where have you sung? Where have you Sunday School taught? Where have you preached? Where have you given service?And now, you feel like there is no light at the end of this tunnel. You knock here, no answer... You knock over here, still no answer. Ugh! It gets frustrating! Your friends call and try to discourage you. Have fun, they say. Forget about that, they smile. But you've been taught one thing and one thing only...

"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

(2 Timothy 2:3)

You have learned to suffer and endure. This race is not for the weak... This race is not for the quitter. I daresay, that this race is not for the loser. This race is for those who feel the sweat of their work come down their eyes trying to slow them down, but they keep running. This race is for those who want to give up because they cannot breath, but sprint to the finish line.

They tell you to chill. They tell you to forget about church. Come on, Tony... get a "REAL CARREER". Become a Business owner. Chill with the "pastor " thing, already. Look at all these pastors suffering. Do you want to be like them?
I stare at their faces that mock the call of God...

I see their sneer and their eyes full of ambition for the things of these world. I can only tell them...

"No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life,
so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier."

(2 Timothy 2:4)

So sorry, friend... I cannot entangle myself. I have to fight. I have to seek the door. I can't wait until I find it. My spirit is desperate. Dude, I got swollen eyes because I cannot sleep thinking, dreaming, healing, reviving. The earthquake in my heart begins. I can hear a tremor. The shaking is here. Ah, I found it! Behold!!!!

"I know your deeds, Behold, I have put before you an open door

which no one can shut, because you have a little power,

and have kept My word, and have not denied My name."

(Revelations 3:8)

He says that He knows my deeds. Oh man,! that is awesome. And now he tells me that he has opened a door that nobody can close. I didn't have to open this door. Oh shoot! It's not by my strength... but by His... you get the point?

He says I have little power... yes I have been running around looking for this door.

He says that I have kept His word... I have not left my first love. Hehe.

He says that I have not denied His name. Thank you Jesus.

Let me do the pentecostal dance the only way my mom knows how (you know the one where you break it down while the singers are singing "Toda la noche sin parar"). You dont know about that. Its all about being a friend of God, now. Hehe.

I am feeling it right now. The feeling of Freedom. The feeling of accomplishing my call. And let me tell you something. As soon as I got out of that service at Starting Point, I felt so happy. Yea, The "Tony corny" happy. "Cheesy smile all over the freeway" happy. God had opened yet another door.

Oh, and guess what? The leadership at Church of Champions called me this Tuesday. I'm heading back to Starting Point this coming Sunday AGAIN. So pray for me. I desire your prayers.

"Close the doors on me... God you know what you are doing. Build me Jesus. Develop me in the middle of my battleground. Test me. I will not fail you. You will save me. I will trust in you."

That was a dangeous prayer. Pray it. And be strong. See the hand of the Lord.

Whoa! look at this! There is another OPEN DOOR on your journey.

Step through it.

» "We're gonna get shot!"

"We' re gonna get shot!" That's what she said. Haha. It was hilarious! O.K Let me fill you in. Today, Ruthie and I went to eat at the Pupusa Loca. For my english friends, pupusas are... ah... some good food... better than gorditas. That was for my Mexican friends. Hehe. Well, I got me a pupusa, a tamal de elote, and a tamal de gallina. (I was hungry). Ruthie just got 2 pupusas and some beans. M-M-M!!!
We had a good time... eating, talking. I rally am in love with this girl. It will be 3 years in November that we started dating (I dont recommend years of courtship, but we are a special case. Hehe) and I am still loving every minute of it, except when we disagree.

And if you don't disagree with your girlfriend or wife, YOU ARE NOT NORMAL, and somebody has you on check!!!!

I mean, come on... there has to be some things you dont agree on. Well, anyway, we were having a good time. This is a good place to get some good Salvadorean food, you know. Thank God they don't take long... That's the problem with many pupusa places. You know what I mean.
This place is on Long Point Rd. and Wirt Rd. It was about 9 PM... and we were walking out to the car. Full stomach and a happy heart. Hehe. We stood in the parking lot talking for a bit, and then she said...

"Let's go because... we're gonna get shot."

That cracked me up. It was hilarious! And if you don't understand me, I guess you had to be there.

I told her that Spring Branch was one of the safest areas of Houston to be in... (SMILE). Yea Right! Not that safe anymore. There were 2 rapes last week in a Hammerly Blvd. Park. Northbrook Middle School and Northbrook High School are like Sodomah and Gommorrah. Haha! and its getting crazy. It was not like that a couple of years ago, when I was in 4th grade. I mean, when we first moved to Spring Branch, our family and friends thought that "we were movin' on up..." and I am serious! Haha!

I guess when you love a city... when you love an area that you know that God has called you to... when you love the people that push shopping carts full of food from the Fiesta at Blalock St. all the way to their house in Long Point Rd....
I'm trying to say that when you have a burden for a place... it seems safe to you. You love the people. You wave to busness owners. You know the people that cash your check at the Bank. Im serious.

I love Spring Branch.
God will raise up a church that is a church in that city... in that area of Houston.

"We're gonna get shot!" Hehe.
I love my girl...

» POWER SUNDAY!

Hallelujah!!! Glory to God! I am thankful... Come on now... I said I am thankful... I can't hear you! I said I am Thankful!
Well, what an awesome day it was... Let me try a bullet point blog post this time... these things are popular and I think you'll be able to understand.

• I love my family.
• I went to Starting Point and tore it up. Thank you God for helping me. I was really nervous but I got a blessing myself.
• Met some guys from Canzion and really loved their humble spirit.
• I was amazed at how God's love and Word still convicts people of their sin. Seeing people repenting in the altar does it for me.
• I preached on the title "The Sin Of Brokeness"
• I went to the 2nd Spanish service at Iglesia de Campeones.
• We need Volunteers.
• More than 60 people in attendance.
• I got to see many people that I had not seen in months (maybe years).
• I saw my good friend Red.
• Worship was awesome... Joel and the team did a good job.
• Pastor wrecked it AGAIN!!! He "tore it up from the ground up", like he says. He preached with the title: "ELIMINANDO EL PLAN B" (Eliminating plan B). What a message!
• We are getting it together. It is amazing how God puts it all together. You can acyually see God's hands arranging this and fixing that.
• I was glad to see Ruthie's mom at the service today.
• I was so tired after service... ate some good food at chili's.
• My girlfriend bought me some new shoes (so... I dont wear out the other pair. hehe.) I love her. And we are not even married yet. WOW! Amazing woman, huh? Wife material. Haha!
• I'm at work. But still excited. hehe.