Tony Villatoro's Blog

Thank you friends!

2009-11-10T18:50:00.003-06:00

It has been a great day!
I may be one of the only ones that has not told myself that familiar prase, so here goes, "Happy Birthdhay to me!" Haha!

The only sign of me getting older and wiser (?) is me losing some hair... gotta talk to my dad about that (I think it's in the genes, know what I mean?)

Having a birthday on a Tuesday is not THAT bad..
I had to work today and I am at school, about to hit my Gospels class thats starts at 7 PM and goes all the way to 10 PM. I thought about skipping it, but egggh, you know... Ill party this weekend. Hmmm.
Let's celebrate!

I would like to thank all my friends, family and acquaintances that have wished me a happy birthday today..

I was tempted to respond to every comment (I'll probably do it later) that you guys left me on Facebook, but then I thought I would just write a blog... Easier :)

It is a great feeling to know that people wish good things for you, I tell you.
I am grateful to have you guys in a facet of my life.... somehow.

The Apostle John in his second letter said, "I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father."

The greatest, bestest (just made up that word) gift that I would be able to receive is to have friends that walk in truth.
That makes me happy and I rejoice in that.

Well guys, pick up your glass and let's do a toast. A toast that... OK, never mind.

Stay strong, friends.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Remember to pray for me when you think about me, and that may not be often.. :)

Thanks once again for your birthday wishes.
Luke 9-16 is calling me to class.
Adios!!

Matt Chandler - The Enduring Gospel.

2009-09-17T18:26:00.003-05:00

I had a great time at the Acts29 church planters boot camp here in Houston, TX. One thing that I love about this network (even though I'm not in the network as a church planter), is that in every session, the speaker pointed out your sin and then pointed you to Jesus.
That is amazing to me.

Without the help of an instrument or of the speaker's attempts to cry in his conclusion of the message to draw you to repent, there were men in there that were convicted by the Holy Spirit to change their ways and Endure for the long haul in ministry.. I sure felt it.

Starting with Matt Chandler - "The Enduring Gospel"
He walked us from Genesis 1, through Joshua 4, through 1 Kings 8, through Psalms 8, Isaiah, Acts 15, where the whole idea that God has was to reconcile all things to Himself.
God tells Abraham in Genesis that all the nations were going to be blessed.
In Psalms, he says, "Let the nations be glad."
In Isaiah, he says, "Turn to me and be saved... all the ends of the earth."
In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."

Matt Chandler told us to be careful of elevating ourselves.
"The Kingdom does not need you."
"You are not the answer to America's Christianity problem."
"You are just a blip on the radar."
This speaks to to church planters big time...
Even if you want to appear humble and meek, please, man.

Church planters have egos... Lets face it. I have faced it and will always face it.
At times, you can ask some people close to me, I have said, "I can do it better than that pastor."
I'm being honest.
And at those times that I've said that, I've been sinful.

I want to be surrounded with men that, with christian love, can hold my heart in check and help me.
Matt Chandler closed it with this.
Hebrew 12:1-2, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus..."

Read it closely.
I am not the next big anything.
I am not the next Mark Driscoll or the next Steven Furtick .
God has set MY race for ME.
I cannot race somebody else's race.
I gotta run my own race.

I will make it.
I will finish my race.... when I look to Jesus. (Hebrew2 12:2)

I was called out to repentance and thanks be to Jesus that when he laid down his life, I was forgiven.

I love Jesus, man.

College of Biblical Studies and Church planting Boot Camp.

2009-09-14T17:55:00.003-05:00

It has been a while that I don't post on my blog... I need to start being more consistent with this (not that many people read this anyway).

I have started my classes at the College of Biblical Studies again. It is frustrating to think that if I would have continued, I should have been done with my Baccalaureate degree. I came to CBS in 2005 for 1 year, accumulated some credits and quit. Not a wise thing to do.

But I'm back.. I actually started last week with my classes. I'm loving it, man. Here is my schedule:
-Monday night: English 1
-Tuesday night: The Gospels
-5 Saturdays of this semester: Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling.
and 1 class of Christian Ministry.

I have been doing a lot of required reading and I am enjoying it. I don't want to get behind, so I have already figured out when can I read and do "homework".
I'm a student again.

In other news:

Last year in November, I went over to Dallas, TX and attended a Church planting Conference at The Village Church. The Acts29 network puts out several of these a year across the nation and also overseas.

This week will be an exciting week for me.
I am taking off Tuesday and Wednesday from work to go to this conference.
It will be held in Houston, TX and I will be there!
Here is some info.
This conference will mark history in my life and I am anticipating it.
Not only do I want to start a church, but I also want to endure in ministry.
What does it matter if you don't endure... if you don't persevere?

I will be posting articles, recapping the conference here on my blog.

There is a dream inside of my heart that I know will be coming to reality in the coming months and years...
I will be psting more of that as the days go by.

I hope that you pray for me.

Stay tuned.

Wise words...

2009-07-27T18:49:00.002-05:00

I would like to share some of the stuff that I read online...
These are guys that have had an impact in my life...

Here they are:

Jonathan Herron on Prodigal Thoughts.

Perry Noble on Increase my Faith.

Steven Furtick on The Vision Veil.

John Piper on Why There Are No Perfect Pastors.

The Resurgence website on Hometown Church Planter by Jeremy Carr.

Enjoy some good reading..

My future father-in-law and me.

2009-07-13T20:13:00.004-05:00

It's Monday...
What do you expect?
Not one of my favorite days at this time of my life.. Maybe later, because I'll probably have it off.. (that's the pastor in me talking).

One of those Mondays where you really don't know how you got to work because you were asleep in traffic on the Beltway 8. Ugh.

I had a productive work day today and my boss really likes that.
You see, my boss is my future father-in-law.

Some friends of mine have joked with me that I am like Jacob in the bible working 7 years for his future father-in-law, Laban, to be able to marry Rachel.
Funny. Very funny, but not so.

I met up with my boss, my girl's dad after work because I wanted to talk to him about something important.
I went over to his house and told him that I loved Ruthie and it had been 5 years this month that I had asked him permission to date his daughter.

I remember him telling me that night that I better respect his daughter or he would bring out his gun... then he laughed. He was joking.
It was not funny to me.

You see, I've been dating the same girl non-stop for 5 years...
That is an accomplishment in this society, but I won't stop there.
We are nearing the time where I make the decision along with her to spend the rest of our lives together... and it gives me great joy.

Although, there has been pressure from everywhere to tie the knot, I know its one of the biggest decisions of my life and cannot take it lightly.
This marriage thing is for life, homie.

I asked for advice and he gladly gave it to me..

We talked about marriage... about money in marriage, about life in marriage, about owning a home and about other things.
It was a great afternoon for me, really.
I feel like there will sped up progress from now on. Hint hint.

I recommend you to check out this book by Voddie Baucham Jr. Its a really great resource for those that want to please their future in-laws... Since, it a good thing to do.
What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter.
Here is a summary of the book:

"All parents want their daughters to marry godly young men.
But which qualities, specifically, should they be looking for?
What will you say when that certain young man sits down in your
living room, sweaty-palmed and tongue-tied, and asks your permission
to marry your daughter? What criteria should he meet before the two
of them join together for life?
What He Must Be . . . If He Wants to Marry My Daughter outlines
ten qualities parents should look for in a son-in-law, including
trustworthiness, a willingness to lead his family, an understanding
of his wife's role, and various spiritual leadership qualities."

I am excited of reading through this book so I can learn a thing or two... or three..

I am finding myself not stuttering when I talk to my future father-in-law about me wanting to steal his daughter from him and keeping her for myself (in other words, marrying his daughter).
That's some progress. Hehe.

The smoking Apostle, Charles.

2009-06-29T18:29:00.002-05:00

OK, check this out! I got a story for ya... I was at Starbucks on Saturday.. The one that never closes by the Galleria (if you are from Houston, you'll know which one I'm talking about) I was re-reading my highlighted notes on "Comeback Churches: How 300 churches turned around and yours can, too," surfing online (where else?) and writing a blog post entitled, "Where am I at in life."

Umm, not at the same time, but at different... You get me.

Anyway, in the middle of my spontaneity of my last post, I saw this old guy approach my table. He wanted to sit in the table next to me.. So, I did not look up and continued to write (type). He came forward and just stood there. After about 10 seconds, I slowly looked up and he was looking at the book that I was just reading moments before.

In that book, Ed Stetzer has some great insight on how to revitalize a declining or dead church. Dead? Yes, dead. He researches hundreds of churches and comes up with factors that have helped plateaued churches. Ill give you a short list of chapter titles in his book... not all of them... Get the book.
Chapter 2: Rising with Leadership.
Chapter 4: Worship and Preaching Matters.
Chapter 7: Motivating and Mobilizing People out of the Pews.
Some really good stuff from Ed. I really like his research. He's good.

Anyway, so I look up at this stranger.
Never seen him. Never met him.
He's a tall white guy, has not shaved in a while (which is cool by the way), and is wearing a white t-shirt and jeans.
OK... cool.

Without a formal greeting and before I say, "Hello."
He points at the book and says, "Why don't they (dead, declining churches) just put their face on the floor and pray?"
Long pause and I actually smiled... smiled big.
I was laughing so hard inside.
That was hilarious!
He was right... but come on... know what I mean? Hehe.
He smiled with me and proceeded to sit down next to me..

"Great, now I have an old man sitting next to me at Starbucks," said my inner, worldly, selfish, sinning self.
I really wanted to finish my "interesting" blog post.
But I rebuked (um, scolded) myself and decided to engage him in some conversation.
Note: How many times do we have an opportunity to talk to someone and end up talking about Jesus. It seems that our conversations throughout the day are only limited (other than talking to friends) to order fries at Burger King or to tell the guy behind the counter at the gas station, "10 on number 4, please"? Huh, huh?

So, lets recap our conversation.
Me: Hello.
Him (getting serious): My name is Charles. I'm an apostle and I'm on a mission.

Me (smiling bigger): Cool, I'm Tony. What mission are you on?
Apostle Charles (thinks for a bit, narrows his eyes): I have been called to start a church.

Me: (have not wiped that smile off my face): Awesome. Where at?
Apostle Charles: All over.

OK, by this time, I just stare blankly and don't ask anything so my new friend, the apostle, can talk.
He says, "God called me over 30 years ago to start a church and I'm 50 now and 7 years ago (when he was 43) I decided to go ahead and obey the Lord."

I don't get all feely-feely and start jumping up and down, get down on my knees, kiss his hand and say, "This must be God! He is telling me something!"
But I nod and don't disregard this a simple meeting.

I don't tell him that he was speaking to a future church planter.
I don't tell him that I constantly am dreaming of a group of people taking the Gospel and living it out, showing God's love to a community full of need.
I don't tell him that I was writing a blog post on that certain topic of church planting.... before I was rudely interrupted. Hehe.

I just listen.
He tells me that he is homeless and that God always ends up providing for him.
He does not ask me for money.
He tells me that one day, "he will pastor a church of thousands,"
Great.

We end our conversation and he goes outside of Starbucks.
I finish my blog post and its time to go home for me.
I walk outside and find my new friend, Charles the apostle, chilling on a chair, smoking a cigarette.
So, apparently, my apostle friend Charles is a smoker.
How cool.
He is kind of shocked and tries to play it off...
I smile, (mainly at the thought of what would a religious person in this situation?)
They would probably lay hands on him and pray that demon out. Then, getting in their car with the "Honk, if you love Jesus" bumper sticker, mutter how unbelievable people can be.
Because we know that good Christians do not smoke right? Hehe.

I tell him, "Ill be watching out for you and your church. Have a goodnight, Charles."
"Ill be watching out for you too," he tells me.

Getting on the 610 loop (freeway) on my way towards Hwy. 290, I think of the grievance that I would have in my heart if I would reach 50 years of age and look back 27 years to a vibrant, young, inspired kid that wanted to be part of the plan that God had in transforming a community, with believers alongside him.

I don't know if my new friend was "called" to start a church 30 years ago.
I don't know if he was an apostle. Well, actually...
I don't even know if his name really was Charles.

But this I know, that at the end of my days in this earth, I want to say, "I glorified God in my youth. I followed His promptings." and like Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Say a prayer for me tonight, will ya?

Where am I at in life?

2009-06-27T23:10:00.005-05:00

I just hung up with a friend of mine that his words gave me goosebumps (or was it the cold a/c at Starbucks?)
He told me, "You need to stop talking about it and start doing it."

We started talking about Church Planting (one of my favorite topics).
He questioned me in a friendly way where was I at regarding the vision that I had..

I told him that I needed to get going with this work of planting a church..
He proceeded to tell me things that I had wondered aloud and was actually comforted by having someone else say them back to me.

He asked about what kind of church would it be..
He asked about where I would plant this church..
He asked me if it would be an English or Spanish congregation..
He talked about me getting "under a covering". In other words, selecting a pastor that I would be accountable to.

I shared all these things with him and my heart skipped a beat.. I tell you, it's certainly the best topic for me.
I read church planters blogs almost daily when I come home from work.
Sometimes on my way home, I stop at Barnes and Noble or Starbucks (to avoid traffic) and read books ranging in topics like church growth, church government, theology, how to launch a church..
I podcast guys "talks" at church planting conferences..
My life revolves around listening on how to take the gospel into the community.
And I still don't know how to do it. Hehe.. Ironic, I know.

Until it begins to make sense... I don't need to know how.
We have examples in the Bible of guys that did not know how to do what God had called them to do.
They did not have a clue.. At least I have books, blogs and conferences.
The only thing that they had was that powerful phrase, "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" When they said that, everyone knew what was up.

Consider Exodus 3 when God shows up to this educated guy that grew up as a prince in the land of Egypt. He told him, "Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.'"
Moses felt unqualified at the start of his mission.
In verse 11, Moses expressed his doubts on this mission that God was sending him to do. He told God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

I've come to realize that I don't need to be perfect.
It's not about me.
It's not about having a large church.

Although some people tell me to get married, have a few kids, own a home, have 2 or 3 "good" cars, enjoy life a bit before I commit to starting a church, I am starting to despise that attitude.
I don't want to waste my life.

Yes, the character of the planter must be in check.
Yes, things need to be in order.
But, let's never take that position as an excuse to not do what God has called you to do.

I'll tell you what's in my heart.
Yes, I'll share it with the whole World wide Web.
I have wanted a little more money in my pocket.
I have wanted a little more stability in my life.
I have wanted a better car before I start a church..

As I read what I just wrote... it's laughable now.
I wonder if John the Baptist had a newer horse chariot when he ministered.
I wonder if Jesus was rich when he started his ministry.
Does having more material things equal to the loud voice of Jesus saying, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me?"

Don't take it too the other extreme... just think about it.

Murder by Family...

2009-05-11T22:47:00.002-05:00

I've been going To Barnes And Noble lately on my commute to my house from work.. Houston traffic gets crazy, so I decide to relax and read a magazine or read one of my books..

Today though, I picked out a book from the shelf entitled, "Murder by Family: The Incredible True Story of a Son's Treachery and a Father's Forgiveness" Sometime later I was flippinmg through the last page of the book.. It was late. Hehe. Here is the description from Amazon.com

"One evening, the Whitaker family returned home after dinner, celebrating a son's impending graduation from college. On opening the front door, they faced a gunman lying in wait. The gunman opened fire, instantly killing the younger son and Kent's wife, leaving Kent and his older son lying wounded until police and ambulances arrived. While recovering in the hospital, Kent (the father) resolved in his heart to forgive whoever was responsible for the deaths of his wife and son.Over the next few weeks, it was discovered that the whole murder plot had been orchestrated by the surviving son -- whom Kent had unknowingly forgiven. After a trial that resulted in a death sentence for his son, Kent emerged from this harrowing ordeal to share their astonishing journey toward forgiveness and redemption."

I came home and looked it up on youtube and apparently ABC did a news story on it and featured it on 20/20..

One of the interesting things to me, other than the father forgiving his son for killing his wife and youngest son, is that this all happened in Houston, Tx (actually Sugarland).

I've visited the church that this guy (the dad) goes to (without even knowing).

Anyway, if you want to read the book, go ahead.. It is anawesome story..

I leave you with these links..
A vid of Bart Whitaker on the stand in Court..
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3385436n

Here is the link for youtube..
The news story on 20/20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuJYnAPo26A

2009-04-18T07:52:00.001-05:00

Well, well, well, my friends..For the next 10 days I will be unplugging from some technology... No phone calls, no internet, no houston traffic, no ipod.. (wait, the ipod, I need.. gotta get my daily dose of sermons by john piper, matt chandler and Mark Driscoll. Hehe).

After weighing our bags and stripping for security, they made us walk to the gate (got my morning exercise). I am currently siiting in the airport with my little sister, Tey, writing my last blog for a while..

I am going to El Salvador!Both my parents are from there and this will be my first time to visit the smallest country in Central America.

I will miss my lovely girlfriend.. (love you babe)I'll bring you a bright, colorful salvadorean purse that says "El Salvador" in the front.You'll love it. Hehe.
Ill also miss my moms, my bro Aber and my other sis Beca..

I am excited, first of all, to see my fatther.. Not being able to see him for 2 years, I am happy to be able to give him a good son-ly hug and spend some time with him.
I also am anxious to get rest (can you be anxious to get rest?), regain some strength and refocus my vision.

I plan on seeing some new sights, volcanoes, mountains, waterfalls, the pacific ocean and some good looking beaches..I plan on sleeping in a hammock for 9 nights..I plan on spending some time in solitude in a canoe on some lake..I am pumped!

So, please keep me in your prayers that God would keep us from la Mara Salvatrucha... aka MS13 (a terrible, famous gang). Hehe.

So long.. until next next Monday..
Ill take some pictures and come back with stories.

Make an attempt...

2009-03-26T15:34:00.003-05:00

That was weird.. a cool weird.

Anyway, let me tell you what hapenned about 3 days ago..
I went to Barnes and Noble with my youngest sibling, Ester..
She wanted to use my laptop and I wanted to read some books... so off we went.
She could not find an outlet to plug the laptop for the computer until she found one. I dont know why they dont have more outlets.. geez, making people look crazy trying to find one.

Well, I left her and went on my way to get a couple of books that I wanted to read from.
-I got a book on Personal Finances "Youre broke because you want to."
-Another one on Picking Stocks by Jim Cramer "Mad Money"
-Another one on marriage, "His needs, her needs." (Excellent book by the way)
-And the last one was "Vintage Church" by Mark Driscoll.
(Man, I give you my whole life on this blog)

I skimmed through a couple of chapters of each book.
-Loved the finances one...
-stocks are interesting in this downturn market..
-Reread favorite parts of His needs, her needs...
-and dug deep into Vintage Church.

Anyway, this took about 3 hours and close to closing time I decide to look for my sister.
Come to find out, the only plug that was availble in the whole bookstore was in the Sex and Relationships department..

I hear a guy's voice.
Apparently there is a man talking to my sister about the bible.. of all places...
This guy looked decent and was conversating with Tey about God.
At this point, my sis was done with the laptop and doing her devotional with her bible..
I looked at her and turned to the Kama Sutra books on the shelves.. That was weird.

I turned to the man and introduce myself..
He said his name was Robert. Robert was (or is) in his mid 50s and had a church background in The Church of Christ.. He was baptized as a kid but does not attend church. He told me that he wanted to go back to his roots and get back to church..

For about 30 minutes, I heard him ask things like,
"When you say you are saved, what are you saved from?"
"How can a person that says he is Christian still sin?"
"Does baptism save you?"
"Tongues? Huh?"

I was astounded as I shared the gospel, man.
That is a feeling that you live for.
I did not have to get on a pulpit.. wasnt even wearing a white shirt and tie.

I went through the process of santification.. We will never be perfect until we see him just as He is.
I told him that we were saved from Hell.. Do you like that answer?
Well, we are also saved from our own selves. From our sin of pride, of hipocrisy, of self righteousness.

At times, I would see his eyes squint while we talked and then I would see his eyes get big, as he nodded, as if to say, "I understand."
He was a huge man.. almost topping 6 and a half feet.
A lady stopped by and told us that she had overheard our conversation and liked that every answer was backed by a text of scripture..

We said goodbye, exchanged emails and told him one last time that I hoped he would encounter the cross of Jesus and repented of his sin.

I am glad.
It is a joy that the personal finance book, the stocks book, the marriage book cannot bring. Not even a book about Church can bring that hapinness.

Pray for me and rejoice wiith me, my friends..
I leave you with this quote from Charles Spurgeon:

"Even if the souls we seek should all persist in unbelief, if they all despise and reject and ridicule us, yet still it will be a divine work to have at least made the attempt"
Wow..
Make an attempt.

The Treadmill y yo (and me)

2009-01-14T23:10:00.003-06:00

So... I have been hittin' the gym lately (well, for the past 3 days).
Hey, that's an accomplishment for me!

I've been getting my groove back, you know what I mean?
I like running a lot...
My bro Aber is trying to get me to lift weights but I don't dig that, man.
I just love to run!

I used to run track in Middle School and loved running the 1 mile run.
Ahh, I get flashbacks... 3rd place in the district.. Yea, baby..

I also used to run a lot when I used to play basketball in 7th grade.
We went to the district championship game. We lost.
But we went!

So, now that you know that I like to run.
Guess what my favorite piece of equipment is at the gym?
You guessed it.
The Treadmill.
You are so smart.

So, I get on and start to run... I start thinking about my glory days in track. Hehe.

For the last 3 days I have done 5 miles and burned more than 700 calories.
That's what the machine said.
You see, I want to lose some of this weight.
I'm still young and want to look "good" for my girl... so this is for you baby.

Here are a couple of things that I have learned at the gym lately:

I need to stop looking at the TV (Rockets vs. Lakers) or today (A&M vs. Baylor) watching basketball games, and running.
Why?
Because I get distracted and start fallin off the treadmill.
It happened twice and the gym was full... People turned around and just stared at me. It was embarrassing.
At least I did not fall off and bust my head. Freakin track belt on the treadmill never stops.
I need to stop paying attention to how many miles, how many calories, how many minutes I have been running. I get tired faster.
It sucks when you got an athletic guy on the treadmill right next to you and he never stops running, but you gotta stop like 5 times in 20 minutes because you are out of breath!
I wonder what that guy is thinking?

So, that's my journey on my physical side.

On the other hand, I miss my girl (who is in Huntsville for college SHSU!) I cant wait to see her tomorrow and the rest of the weekend.

I'm thinking of going out to Chillis and getting me some Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers.
Have not had them in a while.

Extra ranch, please.
Thank you.

Bible-in-1-year plan..

2009-01-09T17:24:00.002-06:00

I gotta tell you... I'm enjoying reading my Bible.

I have always thought about reading the WHOLE Bible.. All of it. Every word of it.
And I will start in Genesis 1, go through the Creation Story, The flood, Abraham's life, Isaac marrying Rebekah, Jacob puling that sneaky stunt on his brother Esau, and Joseph's life amazed me.
I mean, these stories were the stories that were told to me when I was in Sunday School so it was easier for me to read the book of Genesis.
So, I went to Exodus, it was good too. Moses and his adventures with the Pharaoh. I mean, come on... so "Prince Of Egypt", you know.

But whenever I got to the book of Numbers, I lost it. The first few chapters were good, but when it started talking about "Laws of this" and "Laws of that" OK man.... I put my bible down and pick up a book on practical ministry instead.

I know, I know... I am very bad and evil for doing that.. Hehe.
Then I would start to read the Gospels in the New Testament, some of Paul's letters, but never got around to reading books like Jeremiah, Isaiah and the "little" prophets, the one that no one talks about like Nahum, Hosea, Habakkuk (Huh?). Yeeeaaaa.

But see, I love God's word, man.
It convicts me when I'm in sin.
It lifts me up when I don't have any strength.
It humbles me when I get cocky.
It points me to the cross all the time.
It shows me His redemptive ways all over the Bible.
I love it!

So, for one of my New Years Resolution, I once again decided to read the whole Bible.
Will you keep me accountable?

I went to John Piper's website and downloaded the Bible Reading Plan that they use at their church.
And this time, I am certain that I will make it!
Why?

Well, let me tell you why.
There are a couple of reasons why I see that this plan will work.
Here they are, adapted form John Piper's website:

-You get to read short passages every day.
-You get to read from 4 separate places in the Bible every day. Meaning that, you wont be stuck on the boring Laws in Leviticus (sorry God, I know there is a purpose for them being there), but you will be reading a portion from the Gospels, a portion from Leviticus and a portion of Psalms and a portion of Paul's letters in one day.
-It seems like a lot, but it would only take you around 30 minutes a day.

-"To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only 25 readings.
Since you'll have several "free days" each month, you could set aside Sunday to either not read at all or to catch up on any readings you may have missed in the past week."

-If you finish the month's readings by the 25th, you could use the final days of the month to study passages that challenged or intrigued you.

Join me in this journey.
Read the Bible with me...
I heard its good for the soul. Hehe.

Starbucks, sickness, the museum...all in a Saturday!

2009-01-03T21:15:00.003-06:00

I am having an awesome Saturday…
Sitting here at Starbucks, I ran into a guy that I had not seen in a long time. I met him and one of his buddies a while back at the Starbucks that I'm at right now. I spent some time at a small group with them. Those guys are in love with Jesus and it was an amazing time that I had getting to know them a little a couple of months ago.

I'm at Starbucks because Ruthie is at the Toyota Center for “The Radio City Music Spectacular” with her mother. I never come to this Starbucks but decided to stay here to meet her mom so she could go with her to the show.
Guess who I saw at the Starbucks when I walked in? Hehe..
The same friend that I had met a couple of months ago! Pretty cool! Hehe.
We talked for a bit and then I stayed for a while to read and get online.

Well, let me tell you about my Saturday.
I started out my day sitting outside of a Starbucks, another one (Its been a Starbucks day) with Joe, a friend of mine. We took in the beautiful morning and caught up since we had not seen each other since last year. Hehe (corny, so what?).
We talked about life, church planting, new year resolutions and other things.

Then I met up with my sick girlfriend…
When I say sick, I mean physically.
Not sick as in “Cool” or sick as in “Gross” but sick as in mucus, sneezing, in need for her boyfriend to cook her some sopita (soup).
So that was my job. I can now cook. Ha!
I can say that because my love got "healed" after eatin' my cookin'!

We then went over to an exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science to go see “The Birth of Christianity” They have been advertising this thing on the radio and all over the city billboards.
They were going to have original parts of the book of Isaiah, authentic parts of the Gospel of Luke… I was excited!!!

Have you ever been in a hurry and gone inside a gas station and picked out a Pepsi soda can, paid for it, ran out to your car, drove off, opened the soda, took a huge chug from it… and it happens to be a DIET PEPSI!!!??
Have you ever been in a hurry in the morning and got dressed so quickly that when you re at your job, you happen to look at your socks and one is black and the other blue?!!
AGGGHHHHHHH!

After going over to the museum and forking over something like $50, we go into this tiny room where they had clay pots, a painting that hung on a wall, jewelry, a bath tub from King Herod’s palace (although that was pretty cool), I was screaming at myself, inside my mind, almost saying words that Jesus would not have liked.
Is this it?!
I came here for this?!

I mean, its cool and all but dang show me the scrolls where Paul writes to the Ephesians!!!
Well, after 20 minutes of bumping into people in that tiny room, we went into another room and to my relief, I saw fragments of the authentic pieces of “paper” that Isaiah had written on.

But the damage was done.. I was hating it.
It was probably my mistake to think it would be more exciting.

To their credit, I totally loved the exhibits where I saw fragments of the original pieces of the Book of Hebrews.
I saw the fragments of the original pieces from Epehesians and Galatians..

My best one?
I saw the original passage of Scripture where John writes those awesome words that get me thinking all the time when I read them..
"The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” -John 1:29

If I could take one good thing from this exhibit… that would be that I saw with mine own eyes these fragments of words that are inspired by God!
Amazing that I could experience that!
I love God’s word…. With all my heart… and I want to strive so hard to follow Jesus’ teachings.

So that was my Saturday.
Pretty neat huh?
Well, maybe not for you, but for me… it was great.

Until next time, peace.
Chunk the deuce!!

From distress to a living hope!

2008-12-30T23:04:00.003-06:00

2008 has been a good year... and here comes 2009.
With only one day left, I reflect on the things that happened this year... and I also look to Jesus for guidance in this next year.
To tell you the truth, I am kind of confused.

My plans are not His plans. Hmmm.
I can strategize and plan, but at the end not be at peace with what is about to be done.
I'm in turmoil right now.. Its turbulent and I look to Jesus to calm the storm.

I repent.
Seriously, man, He feels so far away, but still feels so close that I can smile and be reassured that everything will be OK... one day.

My life as it is, is fine... its good.
I mean, I can have more, but I have everything I need.
I am learning that Jesus is all I need.

I can conform to this world and say:
-If I only had a little bit more money.
-If I only had a better car.
-If I only had a better house.
-If I only had more name brand clothes.
-If I only had more... more... more...

God, I repent for my foolishness and immaturity when I start to desire things that don't bring glory to you and only bring glory to me.

I hear the apostle Paul muttering these words while in a prison, writing to the Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

How can a man having had everything and now had nothing wrote to the church like if he had everything?
He says in Philippians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

How can someone say all that while being beaten and put in jail?
Ahh, the glorious Jesus.
I tell you, when you recognize the beauty of Christ, you can say the same thing.

In my weakest moments, I turn to Christ on the cross and like that thief, I say, "Jesus, remember me... remember me."

Some may see this post somewhat depressing in such joyous times as the new year begins, but others may see that in this post, there is an abundance of humanity, sin and weakness in my part.

And also a hint of living hope... the hope that Peter wrote about in his first letter.
"According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" I Peter 1:3b

I have that living hope...

Why do people go to church on Sundays?

2008-12-22T15:17:00.005-06:00

I know I'm getting myself into a hole here... some will take this the wrong way, and that's okay. I don't mind.

2 Sundays ago I missed church... on purpose.

I have been visiting churches these past Sundays. Ive been to Fellowship of the Woodlands, Kaleo Church with Bill Streger, The Promise Church that my friend Daniel Espinoza pastors, Community Of Faith Church, River Pointe Church... and other churches.

A couple of weeks ago, I told my pastor that I would be looking for the next step in my ministry life and, although that was the hardest thing to do, since Pastor Rios has been my pastor forever, it had to be done.

It has been a good experience to go to these churches and see the way they do church. Some worship differently than others. Some teach different than others. Some pick up offering different than others. It has and still is an awesome learning experience.

2 Sundays ago I decided to stay home and not visit or go to a church.
Dude, when I woke up, I realized that I had slept in and I felt good!
I slowly got ready, put some relaxing clothes on and ran an errand that I had not done that Saturday. After taking my time, I went over to one of my favorite places, Starbucks, and sat outside enjoying the breeze and reading a book and my bible. It was great, man.

I started thinking, "Why do people go to church on Sundays?"
Tell me guys, why do you go to church?

Do you go because you have always been to church every Sunday of your life?
Do you go because your youth buddies will pass notes during service making fun of the lady that has big hair and gets a "breakthrough" every 5 minutes during service?
Do you go because "if Jesus hung on that cross for 6 hours, you should at least sacrifice 3 hours on a Sunday and go to church, brother."

Why do you go?
More importantly, why would any unsaved person go to your church?
Think differently. Think about your lost friends.
Why would they go to your church?

Is there a strategy that's in place for every lost person that sets foot in your church?
Is there a process?
Is there biblical teaching in your church... or does the pastor talk about tithes and picks up an offering whenever you bring a friend to church?

Why would anyone after working hard the whole week, plus Saturday, maybe worked overtime and has Sunday as the only day off....
Why would that person wake his family early and dress them up to go to a service that will not benefit his spiritual life and will cause him to dislike church? How do you think his kids will view church when they grow up?

Ah, I just wonder.
NOTE: I went to church yesterday and will "not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25)

Hey yall!

2008-12-21T23:33:00.003-06:00

Well, well, well...

I have not blogged since forever.
My laptop has been acting up and have been getting on from random computers every once in a while to check my email..
Boy, I'm addicted to the computer.

We got so much to catch up on... so much to catch upon.
I have been having this overwhelming feeling that I have for the year 2009.
Some dramatic changes will be coming to my life and I'm ready to go to another exciting phase in my life. I'm excited.. I can actually jump for joy! Hehe. God has been good.

2009 is MINE baby!
OK, forget that I said that. Cheesy...

Lets do this.
This is what you, my friends, have missed on.
Its not that important, but lets go for it:

I went to a holiday party with my girl 2 Fridays ago... Pretty good, pretty good. My girl was looking fine, I tell you. She always is tho.
It snowed about a week ago (?) in Houston, TX. Yes it did! (Go global warming! Hehe)
I did not go to church last Sunday... on purpose. More on that later.
Ive been hittin the Panera and Starbucks every evening after work to read and to study.
I recently caught up with a friend that has some talent when it comes to computers. George, it was good to get some Denny's at 10 pm with you... and thanks for fixing my laptop. You re the man.
My girl is excited that she is going to be moving to Huntsville (1 hour away from home) to go to school (Sam Houston State University). Friends are asking us how we are going to make it.. Hehe. Its funny, we crack up. We've have been going at this relationship for yeeeaars! Haha. No really, it seems that nothing will change since I just see her, maybe once during the week and shell be home for the weekends. Lighten up guys.
I went to Community of Faith this Sunday and took a friend. Really good message by Mark Shook. Ive been there twice and both times they have shown the different things that they are doing for the community where their church is located... and they're awesome!!
It was cold today
Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow, again!
Did some Christmas shopping for the family.
Reading The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson. Really good book.
I saw "The Tales of Despereaux" today with Ruthie, my girlfriend. It was a hilarious movie! A kids movie, but hilarious.
I love my girl. She is perfect for me.
3 more days for Christmas.

Peace and joy to all.
Hit me up.

Consumerism.

2008-12-08T19:33:00.002-06:00

Consumerism.
Yep thats the word...
I looked it up on Wikipedia (hehe) and the definition summed it up for me.

CONSUMERISM: The equation of personal happiness with consumption and the purchase of material possessions.

I was thinking about the whole "financial crisis" that Americans are going through... it seems like everyone is being bailed out... Where is the application? I gotta sign up and stand in line.
I'm thinking of gifts for Christmas. What to give people...
But here is a question: What do you give to someonethat already has everything?
Huh...

Really, it seems tha everyone has everything they need.
More than 10 Billion dollars were spent on Black Friday, the day after thanksgiving, at malls and stores.
Did you get that?
More than 10 BILLION!

Here is another question:
Where are the days when a kid could ask for a toy truck or a doll? Where are those days?

I remember as a kid, opening up my presents on Christmas Eve... not Christmas morning. We were too anxious, so that became our tradition.

I remember unwrapping the gift wrap... opening the box and finding out that there was a TOY FIRETRUCK inside... Yea, man, Those were the... Im telling you, man. I vroom-vroomed it all day every day in the hardwood kitchen floor.
I also remember opening up another gift and was so happy to find out that I had a new TOY JUMBO JET!
Oh, I loved that one.
The funny thing is that my brother Abraham had gotten the same identical one. Haha!
But they were fun.

I was not asking for an Ipod Touch.
I was not demanding an Iphone.
I did not desire a laptop computer.

I swear... (forgive me) the next kid that I see at Wal-Mart throwing a tantrum, screaming, demanding that he NEEDS that Wii... Im gonna punch... er, pray for his parents.
Boy, if I ever did that as a kid, my father would have taken off his belt in the store and I would not have felt the seat of my pants for days, man!
I just dont get it.
The world has dratically changed in the last 15 years.

Personally, in my family... It will probably be the Gift Card Christmas this year.
No expensive gadgets, no expensive clothes... just simple, inexpensive gift cards.

Listen, where is Jesus in all your hustle and bustle?
Whereis Jesus when you are standing in line for 30 minutes paying for a gift that maybe the recipient wont even like?

Remember the real reason for Christmas.
These 2-3 weeks of the year, remember the gospel.
Rememner that if Jesus had not been born in a manger your sins and mine would not have been taken away.
Remember that if Jesus had not been born, you and I would not have the hope we have today.

I pray that in my shopping for my gift cards, I can ultimately remember that I am blessed to live this life and that I need more of Him.

He became a curse for us.

2008-12-04T18:23:00.004-06:00

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by

becoming a curse for us—for it is written,

"Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree."

Galatians 3:13

Wow, what a scripture... I was talking to my youngest sis, Tey! Hehe. We were talking about things and touched on the subject of God's unconditional love for us.

Is it not amazing that Christ died for us?

Ok, you knew that...

But think about it.

God is a just God.

So, if you are a rapist... a murderer... a thief... a liar, God has to be just!

He cannot just say, "Ahh, thats ok... youre alright. Ill let you pass."

He cannot sweep your sin under the rug.

Where is the Justice?

If God would do that, He would not be a just God.

But He is just.

What does God do?

God becomes a curse for us.

God becomes human and bears what we are...

A rapist, a murderer, a thief, a liar... whatever you are!

Jesus becomes our substitute.

Jesus says, "Listen, Tony, I know you are a sinner, but I love you so much that I will bear your sin and... instead of you dying, I will die."

He says, "I will become what you are in order to save you."

God is angry at your sin. He is mad.

But when Jesus steps in and dies for us, he becomes our substitute... and God's wrath and anger is absorbed in Jesus (through the sacrifice of the cross).

And God's anger is satisfied, being able to forgive our sin.

Jesus takes in the anger of God on the cross.

When we sin, we look towards the cross and repent saying, "God is mad, but his anger was spent in Jesus and now I can accept his forgiveness."

What love!

What grace we have found in God, guys!

As I told this to my youngest sister last night, I could not help but think about what God had done for me. We also shared this verse in 1 John 4:10 and I literally received strenght as God's child when I read it.

"In this is love, not that we have loved God

but that he loved us and sent his Son

to be the propitiation (the wrath-absorbing) for our sins."

Think abou that verse.

Recognize his sacrifice.

See his love.

Repent because Jesus paid it all.

Thanksgiving.

2008-11-26T19:25:00.004-06:00

Does it feel like Thanksgiving to you?
I don't know you'll, but it does not feel like it.
Maybe its just me, you know? Maybe.

I personally have not heard about turkey much... and the weather in Houston was so warm.
For thanksgiving, I'm used to it getting cold.
What do you think?

Anyway, it does not matter if its cold or hot...
It does not matter if your family is cooking or not...
It does not matter if your cousins are coming over to your house or not to eat on thanksgiving day...
Let me take you to a scripture in the Bible, where we can focus on this last part of the week.

Although we can look at the context of the scripture and come out with some good things.

But concentrate on this verse and look at it closely.

Ephesians 5:20

"giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

Remember:
IN everything that happens in your life... give thanks to Jesus.
FOR everything that happens in your life... give thanks to Jesus.

I thank God for the life that He has given me because of His sacrifice on the cross.
I thank God for my loved ones that surround me in my everyday life.
I thank God for the calling that He has place in my life.
Thank you, Jesus!

People are in need of Jesus.

2008-11-24T19:59:00.005-06:00

People are in need of Jesus.
Really. we are so used to "just" saying that and we don't really know how much they are in need of Him... or know of any friend that needs God.
I was that type of person.
I used to say to all my friends, "People need Jesus."
Of course, all my friends were Christians... and we HAD Jesus, you know? We had Him!
Now that I look back on it, we were thought we acted like Jesus, but were so far from it. We were full of arrogance.

I cant tell you about it enough without bringing up that one time where Jesus was hanging out with sinners.

Matthew 9:10 says,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples."

He ate with them at their house. Imagine that!

I bet he heard a couple of words that were inappropriate.
I bet he heard some nasty jokes from these men.
So, when you meet someone that does not go to your church... does not go to your youth group... does not believe the way you believe... then and only then, (hehe) you can ask that one question, WWJD?

Really, what would Jesus do?
He would sit and talk to them.

I was waiting for my friend Joe at Starbucks and was killing time. I opened my calendar and was thinking about Thanksgiving, Christmas, my girl, the upcoming weekend (already!)... you know, just killing time.
On my right side of me there was this young guy that was reading his bible.
I was intrigued.
I started to make conversation with him.
We eventually got the point where I asked him ,"What church do you go to?"
He responded, "I don't go."
He then told me that he had moved here from another state, so I thought, well, he has not found a church.
He then told me, "No, I just don't approve of churches."
Oh God, this is about to get interesting, I said to myself.

If I was still hanging around my "Christian pals", I would have said, "Sinner!"
I would have said, "He is not part of us."
I would have said, "He doesn't get our vision, lets move on. Forget him."
I would have judged him wrongly.

But, I asked myself, WWJD? (Yeah right! Hehe)
For the next 30 minutes (Joe was taking too long to meet me), my new friend took me through 1 chapter of Acts and 1 chapter of Galatians.
We talked about God's righteousness, the law, believing in Jesus through faith...
He obviously knew his stuff.

People are in need of Jesus.
I have come to realize firsthand that they do.

I came out of that conversation kind of shocked at the views that many people have about the church.
Its one thing to hang around with your church camp friends... its another to make friendships with people that need Jesus.

People are so full of bitterness towards the church, but yet they still realize that they need Jesus.
We all need Jesus.
Go out there and make a friend this week.
Talk to them about Jesus... because deep down... deep, deep down, they know they need Him so much.

"I pray for my friend. I pray that God reveals to him that Jesus said that the church was His... That He was going to build it. I also pray that the church starts acting like the church. Jesus, help me act and be your church."

Church Planting Boot Camp: Day 2

2008-11-21T00:27:00.008-06:00

Im so tired... but its all been worth it.
It took me 4 hours to get to Houston from Dallas, but it was 4 hours of dreaming, some phone calls, listening to John Piper and dreaming some more... I actually dozed off a couple of times on the road.. Not good.

Before I go to bed, let me leave you with the experience that I enjoyed so much today.
As you all know, I have been learning some amaing things at an Acts29 Church Planting Boot Camp in Dallas, Tx.

Well, here we go.
We started out with JR Vassar telling us to go deep with the Sabbath rest.
Ministry will disorient you at times, thats why you need to Sabbath.
Disconnect from TV, myspace, facebook, email, blogs at least one day a week. Huh? Yea, that was harsh to hear.
He talked a little about not abusing people to build our ministries but build our ministries by building people. Wow.
Hey guys, Christ died for you. Jesus did it all... get out of "performance mode" and chill... take a nap. The Kingdom wont desintegrate.
Sabbath deflates our inflated selves.

Jonathan Dodson was amazing.
He talked on this topic: Spirit-led Ecclesiology, Following the Spirit through Church Planting.
We sometimes rely on our research, books, timelines, and blogs to plant our churches.
We sometimes just plow trough all "obstacles" that arise while we are planting a church.
For example, a guy commits a sin, and is supposed to teach next week. What do you do?
I often see pastors just call that "an attack from the devil." Hehe... and they just rebuke it and continue with their plans, leaving the "brother" to fend for himself.
I learned that the question we must ask is this, "What would the Holy spirit have me to do in this situation?"
Lets restore our brother. Lets help our hurt brother.
What a difference that would make.
What do you do when the unexpected and unplanned things happen?
Stephen gets killed in Acts 7.
Angels tell Peter to go to Cesarea to talk with a gentile named Cornelius.
What do you do? You rely on the Holy Spirit.

Matt Chandler talked about Jesus deconstructing worldviews in Luke 15.
Real quickly. this is what got me the most.
When the prodigal son came back to the house, the father made a party for his son sayiong, "My son was dead, but now he lives."
The older son gets angry and jealous because they are throwing a party for the unfaithful son.
Look at me. Ive been here my whole life "serving" in the "house." I have always "obeyed" my dad's orders.
What does the father do?
Does he tell his servants, "My older son does not gt it... turn up the music and lets party. We get it. Forget him." No Way!
The father goes outside where his older son is at and PLEADS with him to come inside.

If you are reading this bulletin/post/blog and you find yourself feeling like you have serves Jesus and have been faithful to Him your whole life, but still feel down and out, ready to give up, feeling anger, jealousy, bitterness....
I encourage you to drop me a message, send me an email, text me... whatever.
Lets pray together so that we may both go in the house and glorify God.

Goodnight.

Church Planting Boot Camp: Day 1

2008-11-19T20:54:00.003-06:00

Humility.
Reluctance.
Repentance.

These are the words that are on my mind as I come out from the first night of the Acts29 Church Planting Boot Camp.
I just couldnt ask for more..

Matt Chandler started off this morning saying, that if we build our churches on INFORMATION ALONE and not TRANSFORMATION, we are headed into big trouble.

He also said (and this is for the legalist religious people), that you cannot have a doctrine of grace and still walk with a swagger.
And thats so true...
You cannot preach grace...
You cannot preach that you are a sinner that needs Jesus every day...
and walk with pride.

Matt Carter followed by declaring that there is a big difference from the Christianity that Jesus taught and the Christianity that we live out.
We must be for the poor, for the needy and not only for the rich.
He described in Amos 5 where people come together for church and God literally says, "Stop it... just shut up." He would not accept their offerings or their noise (songs), because they were not caring for the poor and needy...
Looks like the church that we have today in America and God is telling us to stop it.

Darrin Patrick talked about Cultivating a Culture of Repentance. What a message!
I literally teared up, recognizing that we need to repent well.
These words burn in me.
I am afraid for my life that my gospel proclamation will outpace my gospel application.
We, as leaders sometimes must be weak, because in our weakness, He is made perfect.
He also talked about the sins that pastors face.

We must memorize James 3:16, "For where JEALOUSY and SELF AMBITION exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."
But James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Mark Driscoll basically called us prideful and arrogant because we think that we can do it better than anyone else.
He told us, that as church planters, we must strive to make Jesus look good because He is good.
He told us to walk in the light.
He told us to be humble and not prideful.
He admonished us to repent well... to repent of our sin publicly.
He told us to turn critics into coaches.
He finished the first night by telling us to persevere.

Without the hubba hubba...
Without anyone falling down their chair because... well just because.
Without the heavy breathing of the preacher catching his breath...
these preachers called every one of us to repent of our sin and look to the work of the cross.

Tomorrow we continue this journey.
I met a couple of people... some young, some older, putting small differences away but all with a heart to serve one another.
What an amazing thing the body of Christ is.

The City: Dallas

2008-11-18T21:06:00.005-06:00

Dallas, baby, Dallas!
I'm here and its nice.

4 hours away from Houston and my car did just fine, thanks Jesus.
Its nice... and I find it very different than Houston, but its cool.

Although I have to say, it seems to me that the cops here have noting better to do than to hide their cop cars and stand right next to it and point the speeding gun towards incoming traffic.
Since I'm not very popular with the 5-0 (They like giving me speeding tickets for some reason), I assure you that I'm being careful.

I would like to to give a shout out to a special family, the Perez family, that is housing me for the duration of this chuch planting bootcamp here in Dallas. I have known this fam. for about 6 years and I remember Israel and Sam being 15, 16 years old.

Now, they are older and have their responsibilities... and Sam is still proud to be an avid skateboarder while his older brother Israel rides on his motorcycle. Pretty cool guys.
They live about 20 minutes from The Village Church where the conference will be held.

Well, so far so good!
Tomorrow, I turn on my mind towards church planting 100%.
Can you believe it?
2 full days of straight talk from some amazing teachers.

Can't wait.

Acts29 Church Planting Boot Camp!

2008-11-17T22:28:00.003-06:00

Am I excited or what?!!

I just registered and went on mapquest for directions and packed!
I'm going to the Acts29 Dallas Church planting Boot camp!

Pastor Mark Driscoll from Seattle founded this network to help church planters start churches... To give future church planters resources and training on how to plant a church that is bible-based. Really bible-based.

I'm ecstatic, man!
I pray that my car makes it all the way, since it ONLY has 205,000 miles. Only... Hehe.

I will be learning things such as:
-"Developing a Missional Core."
-"Pitfalls of Church planting."
-"The Role of Social Justice & Poverty in Discipleship"
-"Cultivating a Culture of Repentance"
-"How Firm a Foundation: The Sufficiency of Scripture"
That's only the first day!!!

The second day, I will be exposed to:
-"Going Deep with Sabbath Rest"
-"Developing a Repentance Ministry"
-"Spirit-led Ecclesiology: Following the Spirit through Church Planting"
-"Vivification & Mortification: A Process to Holiness"

I am ready to meet some other guys that have planted, are planting or are wanting to start a church.
I pray that I can absorb everything that I hear, see, imagine...

I have not been to a conference in a very long time (2 years maybe), and I am in need to learn something.

I cant wait to get on my car and drive 4 hours all the way into Dallas for this event.
I'll let you'll know how it goes.

Pray for my car.

23 years ago.

2008-11-11T18:41:00.005-06:00

November is always an awesome month for me. Important dates fall in this month...
My father's birthday, Ruthie's birthday, our "anniversary", Thanksgiving... you get my drift.

Well, 23 years ago on November 10, I came out of my momma's deal, and I mean womb, crying with a lot of hair. Ironic, now Im just losing hair.

So, last night, I along with some family and friends, celebrated at BJs Brewhouse. Oh man, talk about some good food. I got the Chicken and Ribs combo with the baked potato the size of a football and a coke. I think coke is killing me. But wow... some good food.

The highlight for me was to see and hang out with some special people last night. Thank you guys for coming out and celebrating my "oh so young age" with me. You know who you are.

I was glad to spend this day with my brother, my 2 sisters and my mother.

Ruthie, my girlfriend is just.... simply.... amazing.

It takes a special kind of love to put up with this guy, right babe? Hehe.

I do have to thank her for my wonderful gift.

I got a new Dell Mini9 and now my man-purse wont be so heavy.

I love this thing.

Its so small and it feels like it can get the job done. Hopefully it does.

To all my firends that came out, your presence there was all I could ask for. Thank you.

Well, enough of that.

Why?

Because I just get to feel special for that day.

Huh?

Yeah, Ruthie steals my thunder, since her birthday is Friday!

Dang. Hehe.

My Father.

2008-11-07T14:10:00.003-06:00

A tribute to my father...

I use this blog for many things.
Sometimes, I write about what I'm reading. Sometimes, I write about what is happening in the world and sometimes, I write about what I'm doing in my life.

But today, I want to write about my father.

He turned 48 this Monday on November 3.
I called him up and wished him Happy Birthday and I truly hope he gets to live over 90.
You see, I love my dad.

Even though, he has made mistakes as a parent, his qualities and what he has taught his sons and daughters surpass all of them.

My dad is a calm guy.
I remember one time getting into trouble and him sitting me down at the kitchen table with a belt in one hand and very calmly asking me if I would ever do it again.
I obviously said no. Hehe.
Yea, those were the times where parents would not let their kid talk back to them. They had a belt. Hehe. That was a symbol of authority way back in the day. Smile.
Although, he punished us (his children) many times. The times that I mostly remember were the times that he would talk to us so that we would understand.
He rarely raised his voice.

My dad is a working man.
The guy did not need an alarm clock. He was up way before the sun rose. He would get dressed in his work clothes and put on his boots. He does not like shoelaces. He always wore boots. Hehe. Now that I remember, my dad always used to tuck his shirt in. He always looked funny. He used to tell me that a man always need to wear belts. Ah, my dad.
He is a bricklayer. He built some of the most beautiful homes that you have ever seen. He worked from sunrise to sunset. I know because I did it for a year with him and my brother.
My dad always provided for his family.

Even if my father is away in El Salvador for now, I wish him the best.
It wont be long before I see him again and I cannot wait.
I miss him dearly...
I'm just being a son.

I could keep going on and on about him but I'll just keep it short.
But once again... Happy birthday, dad.

New Life Church

2008-10-30T22:45:00.002-05:00

Last night I did something that I had not done in months!
I preached from a pulpit that I never would have thought that I would prech from.

Last week, I got a call, inviting me to preach at New Life Church.
I was ecstatic, focused, contemplative and I aint gonna lie...a bit nervous.
Wha? Can I tell you the truth?

So, I show up at Pastor Joel Montes church, thinking I was going to be greeted by young people.
Yea right. This was a full service filled with young people and old people that were there to hear something from the Bible.
And if you know me... I didn't waste any time.
We preached the gospel of Jesus and I hope people left saying, "I need Jesus in my life. I need to follow Him."

I thank the friends that showed up and backed me up. I was glad to see some familiar faces. Thank you guys.

I am forever thankful... forever honored and forever humbled by God's calling.
Sometimes, we think that we are ENTITLED just because, "Well, brother, I am called of God."
You know what? We need to get off the high horse and always know that we are sinners saved by God's grace that was shown as he bled on the cross.

We deserved death... but I give thanks to Jesus that he loved me so much that he died for me.
Just because of that, I am thankful.

I know that other things such as ministries and titles can be taken away in a blink of an eye.
But if you have Jesus... Oh God, thank you.

Remember, Religion is about you.
but the Gospel is about Jesus.

I choose the gospel!

UPDATE...

2008-10-28T20:03:00.003-05:00

I have not done a lot of blogging in a long time. So lets do this. Here goes.

- I had an awesome but short weekend.
- I was supossed to meet a pastor friend of mine on Thursday, but he ended getting nasty flat tire and did not get home until 2 AM.
- I got a call on Thursday from a church leader asking if I could preach at his church this Wednesday (tomorrow). I said yes.
- My best friend and love all in one, Ruthie, and I went to Joe and Priscilla's wedding on Saturday afternoon. Congrats yall. Time to reproduce and fill the earth.
- Sunday! We went to Pastor Daniel Espinoza's church. I wore a sweater... It was kinda cold when I left the house. When we got there, I was told that the church was having service outside in a tent because hurricane Ike had flooded the sanctuary. So, then it got hot! Dang.
- Daniel took us to Pappas. Dude, thanks bro.
- My mother's birthday was on Monday.She does not read this, but Happy B-day mom!

Well, I have not preached in a while. But I will be doing so at an "apostolic" church tomorrow night.
We'll see how that goes over.

I got some people coming along with me.
Thanks, your support is welcomed...... and needed. Hehe.
I need to see some familiar faces

Preaching The Cross.

2008-10-15T19:42:00.003-05:00

What a day!

Rainy and humid... Thank you Jesus.

Hey, if we can give thanks to Him when its cool and nice, we gotta thank Him when its... um.. ugly outside? Hehe.

Well, I finished reading "He is not Silent: Preaching in a Post Modern World" by Albert Mohler. The guy.. oh man. That man can break expository preaching down. Before finishing that one, I read "What is a Healthy Church" by Mark Dever... All I can say is Wow!

Because I loved the passion that these men have for a healthy church and biblical preaching... guess what I did today?

Yep, I walked into Lifeway Christian Bookstores and looked these guys up...

I was in for a TREAT, No tricks... Huh?

I guess Halloween came early. Haha..

Uh-oh. Watch out for the Religious people.

They'll have my head because I mentioned "Halloween". Hehe.

Anyway, I got a book that Mark Dever, ALbert Mohler, C.J Mahaney and Ligon Duncan wrote together.. The bits and pieces that I skimmed reading it, made me rush to the cashier and buy the book.

The title of the book is "Preaching The Cross"

Its dedicated "...For the next Generation of Preachers of the Cross." Oh man!

Gotta get back to that fundamental truth.

We have been so used to preaching about the power and the manifestaions of the Holy Spirit that we see in Acts... and thats ok, because 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"

...but we have skipped over 4 major accounts of the humbling experience that Jesus endured to give us that power... which is the suffering of the cross.

Can preachers bring all their preaching back to the cross?

Can we bring everything back to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross?

Can we be reminded that we have 1 purpose in our preaching... and that is to "preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, " 1 Corinthians 1:23

Im going to enjoy this book.

Starbucks and Citizen Cope.

2008-10-11T09:09:00.003-05:00

Its the weekend!
Wheew... Finally! Hehe.

I'm meeting a friend at Starbucks and go over Acts 1 to 5. Some call it the Birth of the Church... and I'm excited!
It's an awesome feeling that you have when you meet with people during the week and share the words of Jesus. You don't only get a sermon, but you also get prayer for people's needs.. and I tell you, prayer still works.

Later on today, Ruthie and I will go to a concert at the Verizon Wireless theater, where Citizen Cope will be singing. We got hooked to his song "Sideways" a long time ago... We found out that he was coming to Houston, so we bought the tix a couple of weeks ago. My girl is super-excited and I am excited too! Haha. No... We will have a good time. Any day with my love... is a good day.

So, everyone...
Good day!

Open the Bible.

2008-10-07T18:49:00.004-05:00

I'm sitting at Starbucks right now... I came here after work to relax and wind down. What a day!
What I'm looking forward to tonight is one of my passions.

Last week, I met with some friends at their home to read the Bible and dissect the book of First John (Thanks Bill for the outline. Hehe).
Today I will go back to Josh's house and open the scriptures and go verse by verse and study them.
I enjoy getting together with people and opening God's word to read and explain what it says. God's word is amazing!

It helps you, it comforts you, it guides you... but it also convicts you, puts you to shame and reminds you that we are just sacks of dirt. Ooooh. Hehe.
It messes you up and stirs in you a change.

I'm excited for tonight.

The book and the date!

2008-10-03T22:20:00.004-05:00

Well, I actually finished "What is a healthy Church?" by Mark Dever. What a book! I really enjoyed and took some things from it...
Here are the 9 marks of a healthy church and my thoughts are in parenthesis:

Expositional Preaching. (Lets get back to what Jesus has to say and not your bad feelings that you got when you woke up on Sunday morning concerning "that" pastor that dissed you. Hehe)
Biblical Theology. (we desperately need SOUND DOCTRINE)
A Biblical Understanding of the Gospel. (What really is the good news?)
A Biblical Understanding of Conversion. (People need to know what does Conversion hold you to)
A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism. (Is evangelism a department or a lifestyle. Oooh!)
A Biblical Understanding of Membership. (is there a need to BE a member of a church? Yep)
Biblical Church Discipline. (Umm, this chapter should be read by many people in church leadership... all I have to say. Hehe)
Biblical Discipleship and Growth. (The church has to grow in numbers but also in holiness, grace... Peter said, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord..." 2 Peter 3:18)
Biblical Church Leadership. (Elders and Deacons. Blows me away every time I read about this model of Leadership)

Well, I'm done with that one! Hehe.
All I know is that I will reference to that book many times in ministry and apply those marks to the church. We gotta be in healthy churches.

Switching the subject, I'm ready for the weekend!
I'm taking my lovely lady out on a date to a "surprise" restaurant and catch "Nights in Rodanthe" starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane (talk about a chic flick).
They say it is "The Notebook of 2008". We'll see.
Hopefully, Gere does not start forgetting Diane Lane at the end of the movie and I find myself sitting in the middle of the room with people crying all around me... Hehe.

Goodnight.

I have a Problem!

2008-09-25T19:30:00.004-05:00

Ok... I have a Problem. I need some self-control in an area of my life. I really don't know why I do this. I am starting to act like I did before.

I am starting to read one particular book and have not even finished it when I pick up another book!

That's not a very good problem, because I get confused. Hehe.

No really, in all seriousness... I started reading "Elders and Leaders" by Gene Getz and got up to Chapter 10 and I picked up another book. This book is like a textbook because before reading every chapter of the book you must read large portions of Scripture. For example, a chapter from Titus where he talks about Elders in the church.. or Acts where Paul goes on his missionary trips. I only made it to Chapter 10. Ugh...

The next book that I picked up is called "He is Not Silent" by Albert Mohler.. This book deals with the art of Preaching in the Postmodern World and its one of those books that you really need to focus on what the author is trying to let you know. An amazing book that you will not understand if you are reading another book. In other words, I'm screwed.

This Monday, I was drawn to buy and start another book called "What is a Healthy Church?" by Mark Dever.
Dude, I should not have picked it up!

This book has only 120 something pages (small and short). This book answers the question of what is a healthy church and how can you tell that it is. Its one of those books that once you start reading you get momentum and suddenly I'm halfway done with the book... a very practical book.

So, I am reading about Church Leadership, Preaching, and Church Growth, along with my daily reading of 1 John. I need to focus, right about... NOW!

Pray for me.
I think Ill finish "What is a Healthy Church" first, then work my way up.
I need to stop buying books.

Did you know that Mark Driscoll came out with a new book called, "Death by Love -Letters from the Cross"?

Uh-oh.

Fema Pod on Saturday.

2008-09-22T17:49:00.004-05:00

What a weekend!

I tell you, when you have electricity in your house... when your TV works, when you can charge your phone, when you can flick the light switch on and the light comes on in your closet, we sometimes forget what it is not to have that luxury. Well, because of Hurricane Ike, my family and millions of other homes in the Southern part of Texas did not have that luxury. We were without power for 6 days, until all the lights came on Friday around 2 AM. Thanks Jesus.

Saturday morning, I decided to go to a FEMA POD and help out by passing ice. I loved it. Its priceless the look on people's faces because they are getting a couple of bags of ICE.

I got to meet so many people that were volunteers. I met a guy that his power had not even been turned on and he decided to come out and help.

I met 2 Hispanic guys that were there volunteering and went to Lakewood Church (Spanish service, of course).

To see so many cultures and races... so many types of people with different backgrounds really sets your perception on another level concerning "your community."

I think I will do it again this Saturday coming up.
Wanna join me?

Let's see if they have the PODs up this weekend... then we'll go.

Where is the Church?

2008-09-19T17:30:00.003-05:00

The weekend is finally here and the Centerpoint electricity trucks have finally made it to my area of my zip code. For the last 6 days, because of the challenge of Hurricane Ike, there are still more than 2 million people without electricity (the last report I heard).

But the people of Houston, overall, have been patient and helpful... not all of them though.
I got flicked off at a streetlight because I didn't go when it was my turn to go. It's kind of confusing to treat those traffic lights that don't work as 4 way stops, because there are soooo many cars. Ahhh!

Anyway, I got an announcement and an invitation to make.
Although, we all have suffered in varying degrees this past week from the devastation of Hurricane Ike, we still have a mission.
While some may think that their mission is to sit in a pew all their life, I believe that we were created for a bigger purpose.
We see the behavior of the Church in the book of Acts and there is a strong need to restore that picture of Church.
Sometimes, the church looks to help with an intent to get something back. I am glad that tomorrow, the only thing that you will get back is the satisfaction that you are helping your community.

FEMA has stationed PODs all over the city of Houston and surrounding areas. PODs are Points Of Distribution where people that need ice, water, and a meal can come and get what they need.

I am asking all of my friends and family members to get together and volunteer at a POD tomorrow. Maybe some of you have already done so and you have made a difference in people's lives.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept, 20 at 12:oo (Noon), I will be at the Church Without Walls parking lot. The address is 5314 Bingle Rd. Houston, Tx. 77092. (Click on the address to get a map).

Mapquest it and try to make it out there.
We will be there for a couple of hours... so wear comfortable shoes and bring that bright smile of yours.
Let's impact this city and be the Church that God called us to be.

If you need more info, you can call me or text me at 832-309-0312.
God bless you guys.

Hurrican IKE Update 2!

2008-09-16T20:26:00.003-05:00

Well.. I am tucked away in a small couch with my lovely lady by my side at a Panera that is open for business. After a hard day of work, I decided to take my girlfriend out to eat. We decided to hit the Fuddruckers that was open in 1960, right next to the Willowbrook Mall. I had a Chipotle BBQ Specialty burger which tasted D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

But after getting in the car to come to Panera to relax and get online, it did not feel so good. Apparently, eating a hearty meal after eating "hurricane food" since Friday, is not a good idea. Hehe.

I love my girlfriend. She is amazing and I am grateful that she has been there for me at my lowest points in life. I believe that marriage will be fun (when the time comes) with our 6 kids. Ha. I'm not joking. Maybe the Lord will change my mind after the first one.

I still don't have power at my house, but thank Jesus that I can open all my windows and let the cold breeze in...
I cannot complain. There are people that stand in long lines for hours at the gas station to get gas and at FEMA's PODs (Points of Distribution) just to get a bag of ice and 2 water bottles.
I hope things get back to normal soon.

Galveston will not be the same. They will have to rebuild that city.
We will have clear blue beach water after this is over. I guarantee it. Hehe.

This too shall pass.

Hurricane IKE Update!

2008-09-15T15:58:00.004-05:00

Ok... I finally could get to a computer at work. My job warehouse office complex has electriciry and thats why I HAD to come to work. Sucks! At least its better than staying home without electricity and food.

It has been a crazy 4 days. Here we go:

Crazy winds on Friday night.
Electericity goes out on Saturday around 2 AM.
My cell phone does not have service, so I cant get ahold of no one. Sorry guys, if you called me. I'll get back with you as soon as I am able to.
Saturday, during the daytime, it was HOT!!!
No. You do not understand how hot it was.. I literally slept outside my balcony.
I reread Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll... Hey, no TV, no Internet, no ANYTHING!
Can you sense my frustration?
It rained Sunday night... so I started to feel the cool breeze coming in.
Thanks Jesus for the cold front.
I went out a couple of times to McDonald's, gas stations... and its amazing to see how people act when they are in need.
It was pitch black on Sunday night. Not even one streetlight on!
Monday? We had some good weather. I felt like I was in San Diego... but no electricity or gas or comida (food).
Apparently, we did not stock up on canned goods.
Oh, I also smelled B-B-Q, and for once, thought I was going crazy... just to find out that my neighbor accross the hall was cooking B.B.Q on his grill. AAAAHHH!
I really miss my lovely lady. I have not seen her in 5 days. I love you babe.
Why am I at work?
About to go hunting for food and maybe end up standing in line for 1 hour at a Panera somewhere... maybe in between a lady that has not showered and a smelly old man.. Way to be community minded, Tony. Hehe.

Through all this, I am thankful that God would not allow my situation to get worse. I think of the people that had homes in Galveston and other parts of this great city of Houston that got more damage. I ask that Jesus helps them and gives them peace.

God, I am thankful in everything. Thank you.
I smell... Pizza?

One of the first emotions of humankind... Fear.

2008-09-09T20:06:00.004-05:00

"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. 'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'

That was Matthew 25:14-30 from The Message.

As I talked with my pastor last Friday and poured my dreams and visions of ministry, I realted to him that when I think about planting a church, I sometimes have fear of failure.
Can I tell you Im not perfect?

He reminded me of this story and told me that this guy hid his talents becasue he had fear. When the master came back, it did not go real well for him.
He then told me that I would fail. That was encouraging (Smile). It really was. Everyone in ministry has failed before one way or the other. You just have to get rid of this "play-it-safe" plan and go out on a limb with a plan.

We must understand that we must be like the first 2 servants. They went to work. Read it again.
My ESV translation says thatthey "went at once and traded with them"

So, in my churchplanting journey... I must go to work.
Instead of digging a hole and worrying about small irrelevant issues, I must go to work.
Instead of fleeing God's calling like Jonah and paying my own way, I must go to work.
Instead of not answering God's voice and hiding in the garden because of my fear like Adam, I must go to work.

Kaleo, A wedding and Small Groups.

2008-09-08T21:11:00.007-05:00

A lot of things happened on Sunday.

-I visited a church that I had missed out on since February.
-A friend of mine, Danel Hernandez, decided to take the plunge and say, "I Do." Hehe. That was cool.
-I got to spend some time with a friend (pastor's kid) that is passionate about helping his father (pastor) with small groups at his church. I was impressed with the knowledge that this guy posessed on ministry.

But, let me focus on my visit to Kaleo Church.
At the beginning of this year (2008), I met with a pastor of a somewhat new church (3years old at the time). They will be celebrating their 4th anniversary this coming Sunday. I had breakfast with Bill at la Madeleine that February... and he asked me about my story and we talked about ministry. I made it a point to go to his church, but never ended up visiting until this past Sunday.

What a message! Bill started a new series based on teh first book of John and for a couple of weeks will be teaching from that book with the series title: Walking in the Light. It was a simple teaching but insightful. It was an awesome experience.

They currently meet in a YMCA gym and had a very organized service order. I think that they did everything with excellence. The people were friendly. I was so moved when a total stranger that I had never met before but is a brother in Christ nudged me and ask me if he could serve communion at the end of the service.

I am looking forward to talking with Bill some more. I believe that I can learn a lot from him in my churchplanting endeavors.

I'll visit again this Sunday and I believe that a good friend of mine will accompany me... so Im excited.

And may I add that the WHOLE service only lasted about 1 hour and 15 mins!
Short but effective. Hehe.

Random weather/prayer post

2008-09-04T09:48:00.002-05:00

It was a beautiful morning today. There was a breeze in the air and the sun was not that strong. That was around 7 AM in the Northwest side of Houston. Fall is coming and although we (Houston) just get summer all year long, sometmes we feel hints of spring, fall and winter.

I found myself walking and thanking God for this day.
Have you ever done that?
Have you ever talked out loud to God when no one is around?

I am a quiet guy, my girfriend will differ.
But, really... If I'm alone, I just think hard and say things in my head.

But, I have found that it is liberating when you talk to God out loud.

Anyway, this post was random.
I am just greatful that I get to communicate with my Creator anytime, anywhere and anyway I want to.

Thanks Jesus.

Theology and Practical Evangelism.

2008-08-28T12:28:00.002-05:00

I was at Ed Stetzer's blog catching up on some posts that he was writing and I came across an article that he wrote for Outreach Magazine...

Can I be transparent?
This is where I'm at.
I need to find a balance between these 2 forces...

Theology and Practical Evangelism.

Here is part of Ed's article:
"Theologically Preoccupied" vs. "Evangelistically Fixated"
Blogs seem to magnify an existing problem in the body of Christ: We don't do a very good job listening to and learning from one another.
It seems large numbers of the Theologically Preoccupied scowl across the pages of their study Bibles at the Evangelistically Fixated and accuse them of being culturally adrift--in some cases rightfully so. Many of the Evangelistically Fixated chuckle when they see books on evangelism written by many of the Theologically Preoccupied who sometimes consider the smallness of their churches a sign of their faithfulness.
Let me propose a different way: Learn from one another and take the best from one another's approaches. Theologically deep believers with a passion for those far from Christ--I want both."

Wow... I too, want both.

Panera Bread.

2008-08-27T20:41:00.002-05:00

Yep, that's where I spend a lot of time. I spend 4 hours in the evening at least 3 times a week in this place.

This is where I research Churchplants...
This is where I conect with churchplanters through emails and blogs.
This is where I write goals and expectations.

I am currently researching on Membership Courses for churches.
What goes into these classes?
What are some examples of doing membership at other churches?
When to do them?
How to do them?

Also, Ministry Job Descriptions, Launch Team curriculum, etc.

Preparation... preparation... preparation!

My lovely lady has urged me to go home and study there, but I just can't.
I think better here.
I read my books at home... mainly reading.

It might change though, because these sandwiches and soups are starting to hit me hard on the wallet... or maybe just the temptation. Hehe.

God wants His will done more than we do.

2008-08-23T15:35:00.003-05:00

I have started to get momentum on what Jesus has called me to do... Since July 2007, I have seen the dream of a 16 year old in High School start to unfold. Thanks to my mother and father that taught me the ways of God when I was a kid. Since childhood, I have always thought I would be a pastor of a church. Disappointment filled my life after seeing ministries crumble... I still wanted to pursue the dream and vision that only Jesus could put in my heart.

This past year has been a wonderful time of learning and researching the world of Churchplanting. It is scary, though (and I only speak of what I feel). Sometimes, I think I have read so many books, prayed enough, researched enough data, interviewed countless churchplanters that I think I'm ready... But at times, I think to myself, What if I fail? A frightening thought.

A friend told me this week that God wants it more than we do. Thats true. I believe that God wants His will done more than we do.
All I know is that God's plan will succeed.

In these last 4 months of this year, I have committed myself to a period of what people may call "consecration." It will be a time of fasting, more praying, and since God speaks through His word, more Bible reading.

I don't want to start another church just to call it home.
I don't want to start another church just to have recycled christians come.
I don't want to start another church just to add another church to this city.
I do not want anther church just so it can be a burden and an eysore to the community.

I want a church that can teach the bible.
I want a church that can preach Jesus.
I want a church that embraces the community... even on the weekdays.
I want a church that produces life-change.

Elders And Leaders.

2008-08-19T16:14:00.006-05:00

I was reding Ed Stetzers blog and he wrote a something that I wanted to share with you.

He was writing about Todd Bentley, the guy directing the LakeLand revival. "Now it appears Bentley is stepping down after filing for separation from his wife and admitting to an inappropiate relationship with another woman," Ed Stetzer writes.

Ed also says, "A prominent Pentecostal evangelist called me this week after Bentley's news hit the fan. He said to me: "I'm now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the anti-Christ when he shows up because they have no discernment."

He continued saying that no one in ministry today should be out on their own, living in isolation without checks, balances and wise counsel.

Those are some pretty strong words.

I can honestly say that going into ministry is one of the most frightening things that a person can do... and lately it has been real easy to just say, "I am called of God, give me a mic and a pulpit." I am convinced that if we look in the bible we see qualifications for pastors (Elders) and most of the people inpultpits nowadays, are so disqualified.

The apostle Paul writes the quealifications for a pastor... the conduct of a leader, and I tell you I had to check myself.
If we will impact this generation, we have to have biblical leadership.

My friend, Daniel Rodriguez, recommended a book to me that I had hears another pastor talk about. So, I made a little field trip to Lifeway Christian Store and got me a book by Gene Getz, "Elders and Leaders- God's plan for Leading The Church"

I have read the first 10 chapters and it has been amazing!
I know that this book will have to be reread again and again.

It is a "Biblical, Historical, and Cultural Perspective on ChurchLeadership."

Go and get it.

Gessner Rd.

2008-08-15T15:48:00.003-05:00

I love driving through Gessner Rd in the Spring Branch area of Houston, Tx. It's hectic going through that street. But I tell you, you can smell the need for Christ in that community.

Let me take you on a cruise.
As soon as you get off the I-10 and see Memorial City Mall, you just take Gessner all the way. You encounter Long Point Rd. If you turn to the right and follow Long Point for a couple of miles you will see that there are a lot of hispanics that need Jesus here.

I'll bring you back to Gessner. You keep driving on Gessner and pass neighborhood after neighborhood until you reach Hammerly Blvd.
On your left hand side you will see Spring Woods High School. The High School that I graduated from. Go Tigers!

If you keep driving on Gessner you will get to Kempwood. Here is where the demographics change. There are neighborhoods on these streets if you turn left or right. On Kempwood... On Clay all the way until you reach 290. That is where you stop and go back down on Gessner and pray that God will start a work in this area until you get to I-10 once again. Redo that all over again.

I'll take you into the neighborhoods of Spring Shadows, the ones on Blalock St., and on Bingle another day.
I noticed that there are a lot of churches on Gessner Rd not counting the ones that are all over Spring Branch. There are about 5 churches that have their own building and seat around 250-350 people each Sunday just on Gessner Rd.

There are many churchplanters that will not start a church here bcause of the overpopulation of churches, and I understand.

Here is the problem.
On any given day of the week, there is no BUZZ... there are no COMMUNITY EVENTS... there are no SIGNS that there is a church that cares for the people that live around them.

What is the purpose of the church?
To seat lots of people in a service for 2 hours on a Sunday?!
No way, man!!
We need a church that is more concerned of the SENDING capacity than the SEATING capacity.
That's where new vision comes in and let's Jesus transform that situation.

Whats the point of this post?
One of these days there will be a church in the Spring Branch area of Houston that exists: To be biblical and relevant to the culture, bringing the people to JesusChrist and sending them out to bring others.

Still gotta work on that Purpose Statement. Hehe.
Pray for me.

Special Petition.

2008-08-11T17:42:00.003-05:00

Back in the day.. back, back in the day.. when I was a kid.. I'm not that old either, Hehe.
I remember going with my mother to laldies prayer meetings.
You remember those? No, ok.

It consisted of a bunch of ladies standing in a circle and letting their needs be known to the group so they could enter into intercessory prayer and sabotage the enemy with loud voices... You know those. Hehe.
I remember some ladies saying, "Pray for my husband because he is __fill in the blank__" Others would say, "Pray for my kids because they are..."

But there were those that when it was their turn to lay their need before the Lord, they would just say, "I have a special petition."
Huh?
What just hapenned?

What is a special petition?
I never got the meaning of that, until I had a special petition of my own.
A special petition was a need or a problem or a situation that you wanted someone to pray for but did not want to tell them what it was. It was too personal. More known as a special prayer request.

Ahh, good times.
Well, Let me tell you... I got a special petition.
Anyone that reads this, when you kneel for prayer tonight or tomorrow morning, I ask that you think and pray for me.
Im not going through depression or anything like that. Hehe.
So, rejoice with me while you pray.

God will do awesome things.

And this is my meditaion of today:
"1I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." - Psalms 40

Has God ever drawn you out?
Maybe you did not want to come out, but... He.. DREW you out! I feel a praise comin. Hehe.
He has drawn me, taken me from destruction.
He is an amazing God.

Pray for me and rejoice with me.

It has been awhile...

2008-08-05T19:06:00.002-05:00

I have taken a break from blogging...
Dont get me wrong, I have been reading a few of the blogs that I like since March... but have not written any myself.

I guess I'll start again. Hehe.
Maybe.

OF FIRST IMPORTANCE...

2008-03-26T14:46:00.003-05:00

Guys like Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler... John Piper are rocking my world right now..
These guys can teach the Word...

I'll give you some of Matt Chandler...
Here we go..

We find ourselves within the confines of the Bible Belt, and there’s all these kind of oddities and kind of weirdness to a life in suburbia, Bible Belt, (Houston) area. And as a pastor within that cultural context, I find myself in the same conversations over and over and over again when it
comes to spirituality.

Like, people want to talk traditional vs. what we would call ourselves, more missional and focuses. They want to talk music.

They want to talk about dress, whether it’s right or wrong for me to be wearing blue jeans right now,
-whether this angers the Lord or not if we should wear hats or not wear hats,
-how loud should the music be.

You know, you have to deal with weird statements like, “Well, I want my kids to know the hymns, and they don’t know the hymns.” In the end, I want my kids to know Jesus. I don’t care what song they’re singing.

-I end up getting into these questions about whether beer or wine is sinful whether it’s not. I always try to be really honest: light beer is sinful, regular beer is fine…according to the Scriptures.
-We get into whether we’re allowed to see certain movies or not.
-I always end up once a week, no matter how hard I try to find it, over a cup of hot tea, talking about the end times. And I try to be honest: I don’t know. I know He’s coming back. I know I want to live today like I actually believe that, but if you get too deep outside of that, you’re
going to get into a lot of conjecture. And so, we end up talking about that often.
-I end up talking a lot about philosophy of ministry in terms of small groups and Sunday school
and why we do them. And on and on and on it goes.
-Eldership vs. deaconship vs. staff led. We’re in the Bible Belt, this is what we do.

I’ll even find, “Hey, what do you think about this church? What do you think about that church?” Like, everybody’s been wounded by some church around here. If you stay here long enough, we’ll light you up too, but that’s a part of…everybody’s sinful.

You’re not going to find a non sinful place. It’s going to happen. Wherever you gather sinners, redeemed or unredeemed, sin happens. They’ll try to bait you, “Did you hear what such and such is doing? Hmm?”
-This is what I find myself in. And then, if the seminary guys get through the filter that we’ve built to try to avoid them, I end up having to talk Calvinism vs. Arminianism and I end up talking gifts, whether the gifts are dead or whether the gifts are alive and well. And this is what we do, because if you’re a churchman in the Bible Belt, these are kind of consuming ideas.

I mean this is what we talk about, “How do we…My church doesn’t do Sunday school…Well, beer is evil, it’ll kill you…”

And we love to get together and talk about what in the end, although important, are peripheral things.

They’re not the main thing.
In fact, in some of those instances, they’re so far down the line, they’re not even
numbered. So, what’s the main thing? What is, as the apostle Paul will soon tell us, what
is of first importance? Because I think that if you get the main thing down, then there’s
all this grace all over the place. If you get the main thing down, then all of a sudden,
there’s a lot of grace and there’s a lot of freedom and there’s a lot of friendships vs. nonfriendships and a lack of grace and a whole lot of judgment. Yeah, if we could just get
the main thing down, then all of a sudden, maybe all the other things aren’t as important.
Maybe I’m wrong, but maybe I’m right.

Let’s get into 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance...” Everything else gets melted away here because Paul, who wrote 75% of the New Testament, the guy that wrote this book that we’re in, is going,
“Of everything I wrote, of everything I talked about, of everything I unpacked for you, let me give you what’s of first importance. Let me give you what you can’t mess up. If you mess this up, everything else is off. Even if it’s right, you’re off in how you operate in it. You’ve got to get this right.”

Okay, so here we go. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.”

And then, God in the flesh, Jesus shows up on the scene and has His blood
drained and carries away the sins of the world. So, what's of first importance? The
sacrificial, ransoming, expiating, propitiating cross of Jesus Christ.

But he doesn't stop there; he keeps going. “For I delivered to you as of first importance
what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Now, here's something very intriguing.
Mainly, when you hear the cross of Jesus taught, it just kind of stops there. But it doesn't stop there when New Testament writers address it. They don't address the cross of Jesus Christ and the resurrection as two separate instances but rather one in the same event.

Over and over again, you'll hear about the cross and the resurrection, the death and the resurrection. These ideas are inseparably linked to one another. Christ died on the cross, absorbed the wrath of God, carried away the shame of mankind, was buried...this is the idea that He actually died. There's a lot of National Geographic and Discovery Channel speculation about whether He was dead or not.

I still contend that when you get beat nearly to death and hung on a cross for at least eight hours, lungs filling up with blood, and then get stabbed in the heart underneath your ribcage by a spear, you don't pop up two days later.

I'm just contending that you don't just show up two days later going, “Touch My side. Go ahead, feel My hands, Thomas.”
I'm just contending.

MY NOTE:

Let's focus on the thing of first importance... not the peripheral things.. not the opinions based on speculations... not man-made traditions that we are so full of.
The thing of first importance is that God loved you so much that he came down and clothed himself in flesh and dwelt among us... and he Died and Rose again.

done.

More Matt Chandler...

2008-03-20T22:54:00.002-05:00

I love the way Matt Chandler demonstrates the points that we sometimes miss when reading the bible...
This guy preaches sermons an puts them on the church's website so you can download the sermon notes. Unbelievable!

Matt Chandler got it going on...
Take a listen.

Let's look at one more, and then we'll go ice down our drinks. Let's go to Matthew 19. We'll pick it up in verse 16. “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which ones?"”
I love this dude. He is all of us. “You want eternal life? Keep the commands.”
“All of them?” I love this guy.
He's like, “Surely there are certain ones that are more varsity and then other ones that I don't really have to follow.”
I love this guy because he is us.

So Jesus plays the game and He says to him, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Now, let me talk with you because I want to give you a type of person in here, I want to give you some insight. If you tend to fall into the category of those who struggle with religion, and what I mean by that is if I could type cast it, it's a person who's grown up in church their whole life and for whatever reason, everything in you makes you want to be the “good kid” and you do everything you can to follow all the rules and you do everything you can to appear like you're perfect, if you struggle with that, then you need to pay attention to what happens next, because listen to what the rich young ruler says. “The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"”

Did you see what just happened here? All the rules, everything he's supposed to follow, everything externally that he's supposed to look like, he looks like. He's obeyed the commands, he's done what he's supposed to do and he's following Jesus around now going, “Something's still missing. Something's still wrong.”

Could it be that observing religious rituals just might not bring you anywhere close to salvation? It seems so. Let's finish this story out because Jesus is going to do what Jesus does.
Verse 21, “Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."”
He just did it again. Jesus never asked that of anyone else.
He goes to the fishermen and goes. “Hey, follow Me and I'll make you fishers of men.” He never tells the Pharisees, “Quit being Pharisees.”
But this guy? This guy says, “How do I follow you? How do I have eternal life?”
“Alright, sell all you have, give it to the poor and come on.” Now his response is going to be wildly different from everyone else's response that we've read so far. So let's watch him. “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Now, the similarity is the sorrow. Zechariah had sorrow, David had sorrow, Paul has some sorrow in him and the woman at the well definitely had sorrow. So the sorrow isn't the difference. The difference is this man's sorrow led him away from the Lord rather than towards Him.

So in every other moment, this catastrophic thing and men and women humble themselves before God as God presses on that raw nerve, they press into Him and they find Joy, depth and salvation.
This man gets that nerve pressed, and instead of submitting to it, he immediately goes, “I'll find another way,” and he leaves the Messiah and we never hear from him again.

The difference between this man and everyone else we read is that in everyone else we read, there is a rejoicing, a transformation of life, a fullness of life and a conversion that takes place. And in this man's life, we never hear from him again. The last we hear from him is he's
filled with sorrow as he walks away.

So here's the spiritual truth. Maybe when we get busted in our sin, when He disciplines us when we're defiant, when He confronts us in our ignorance or He wounds us in our strength, when business starts to fail, when marriage gets difficult and we don't understand calamity, when disease infects the body and isn't going anywhere, when sorrow enters the life, what if these things aren't happening to us because God's angry with us?
What if they're happening because God loves us too much to save us from them?
What if in them God is displaying His deepest mercy?

Who are you to counsel God?

2008-02-29T13:15:00.003-06:00

More from Matt Chandler... Im enjoying this

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" (Romans 11)

Now, to some degree, we do have revelation from God, so we do know some of the mind of the Lord. He gave us the Scriptures, He speaks to us in dreams and in visions and in words of knowledge, never that go contrary to the Scripture, but He speaks to us in all these varying ways.
The Bible says He speaks to us through creation. So, God has, in some sense, revealed Himself at some level to you and me, but not so much that we would ever be able to counsel Him.

So, He might have revealed some of His character, some of His attributes, some of His will to mankind, but He has not given us enough information to ever go, “Um, I've got to ask You something here. I'm watching what You're doing here, and I just think... just hear me out, have You thought about this?” and have God go, “Well, holy Me. I have never thought of that. Thank you. What would have happened right there? I would have messed the whole universe up. Praise Me, you are awesome.”

Nobody gets to counsel God. Nobody gets to give God advice. Nobody gets to straighten God's path, no one.

It's this next part of the text that I think is absolutely terrifying. Let's look at it.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
Alright, if everything is His, you have nothing to give Him that He doesn't already own. Which means, if you cannot give gifts to God, you cannot put Him into your debt. Which means, in the end, God owes no man anything. He owes us nothing. Your very existence has been gifted to you by His grace.

Every bit of laughter, every great morsel of food, every smile is His mercy and grace, and He owes you nothing.

Now let me tell you why this is so terrifying. Because now if this is true, we have nothing to negotiate with Him on and nothing to bargain with Him on.
But most Evangelicals believe that we have a position of bargaining.
And so, we come to the throne and we say, “I'll do this, and You'll do this. And if I do this, then You'll do this for me.”
And in the end, God says, “You keep trying to pay Me off with stuff that's already Mine.”

“I'll give You my life.” (us)
“Please, I'll take that life if I want it. I'm God.” (God)

“Well, I'll serve You.” (us)
“I'm not served by human hands as though I needed anything. What are you going to do, give Me something to eat? What are you going to do, fix My house? What are you going to give to Me, as if I'm lacking? I'm not lacking.” (God)

And so, here's where it starts to reveal idolatry and pride in us. We want to say, “I'll do this and then God will bless me with this.”
Wrong, who says? Well, bad preachers do.
Besides them, who says? Ministers with no respect for the Scriptures say, who preach out of emotion instead of texts, who tickle ears with no fear of God.

He owes you nothing, nothing. Not health, not long life, not love, not a husband or wife, not healthy children. He owes you nothing. And you have nothing to give to Him that He doesn't already outright own or possess. And so, most people want to go, “Well, what about serving Him and following Him?” Well, in reality all God has to do is reveal Himself to you fully and you'll gladly with full joy serve Him. He won't force the issue, He just has to reveal Himself as He is.

No man goes back to saltine crackers when he's had fillet. For you college kids, no one goes back to Ramen noodles when they've had other stuff. I mean, nobody eats a piece of fillet and all of a sudden never wants it anymore. God never forces anyone to love Him, but as He reveals Himself, men follow. They can't help it.

Out.

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

2008-02-28T11:57:00.003-06:00

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen."
-Romans 11:33-36

I took a breadk from blogging for a very long time... a long time. So, here is what you have missed in my life. I have been listening to Matt Chandler, another one of my favorite preachers. He was preaching and he said something that was very interesting. I will be posting some of his preachings in text. You can find this on his church's website. Take a listen or a read. Whatever.

"We took our kids with us, and while we're driving down there, my four year old says, “Do you know where you're going?” And I made a blood covenant never to say this, but I almost said, “If I have to pull this car over...”
So, my wife just gets to chuckling. She was just laughing, and then she was like, “Well, do
you?” And I was like, “Woman, I'm on I-35. You just take it straight down.”
Then Audrey, “I think you're lost.”
“I think you're about to get a spanking.” Naw, I'm just kidding.
But it's kind of comical isn't it? Like, this is my four year old. She gets lost in the house. She really does...and we don't have a big house.
This is my four year old who freaks out if she ends up outside all by herself all of a sudden. This is a girl who has no sense of direction, who has no idea of which way to head to get anywhere, and she's in the back seat asking me, “Do you know where you're going? I think you're lost.”
I was like, “Well um, you can't spell your name. So, there's that.” Just kidding. I'll stop before someone turns me in.

He's like, “Are you serious? You're going to scrutinize how God governs?
Do you know how small you are?
Do you know how tiny your little brain is?
Do you know how inadequate you are to even grasp your own life?"

"You don't even understand what events brought you here today. You're going to scrutinize God?
You can't comprehend and figure out your own shortcomings, you own failures, why you're drawn to sin, why there are things that master you.
And yet, you'll scrutinize God?”

I mean he's like, “I mean, you can do it, but surely you're like the four year old girl in the car seat asking dad if he knows where he's going. Surely that's you're role then.” And listen, these next two verses, it's where God becomes very terrifying. And I know nobody wants God to be terrifying, we want Him to have wings and like a little star shiny thing and we want Him to just go, “Love for you and for everyone.”
And we kind of want to make Him like a fairy, like Tinker Bell from “Peter Pan.” We want Him
fluttering about, and we want to be able to give Him stuff and put Him in our debt. And we want to be able to control Him and say how He should govern, but let me tell you something. The God of the Bible isn't so much the one most of us learned about in Sunday school."

Wow. I just love it when he says that sometimes we, as God's creation, try to govern Him and tell Him that He does not know where He is going.
We don't even understand why we get caught up in our own mess.
We dont even understand why we feel the way we feel sometimes.
My God!

Let me finish like Paul finished the eleventh chapter of Romans
"To him be glory forever. Amen."

Real Deliverance!

2008-02-09T01:57:00.001-06:00

Deliverance!
I used to hear that a lot when I was a child.
"Liberacion!" the hispanic preacher would shout at the top of his lungs.

It was crazy! Just imagine this... 500 people at church... As soon as the preacher would shout, they would jump like Jordan, and run all over the church. You remember that? I know you do. I remember it being a huge temple.

OH WOW! I got a flashback!
Allow me to share it with you. I am not poking fun... these are just good memories. Hehe.

I remember once when I was a kid, all of my friends used to huddle around the altar (in front of the stage at Church). It would be like 20 of us.
As soon as the music started going, and the ladies would start dancing (in the spirit), my friends would shoot out like rockets and run all over the church...
I was kind of emabarrased (or maybe I was backsliding. Hehe), so I only did it once or twice. I guess I was always scared that I would trip and all my friends would trample me!
Abraham, my brother, did it many times. (He was more spiritual than me. Hehe). You can ask him. He will laugh when he remembers. I'm laughing now. Too funny.

Now that I think about it, I remember one time.
Reminisce with me... 20 kids (ages 9-12), in a huddle jumping to the music. Instead of lifting up thier hands in worship to Jesus, they would get so agitated that they would elbow each other and soon start a fight. Picture all that adrenaline flowing. I know some of those guys came out with black eyes and bruises before the preacher would even start his message. I know this, because many of those were my friends. Hehe.
Ahh! Goodtimes. Goodtimes.

Deliverance has taken a new meaning for me. The excitement of being delivered is just an emotion. You cry... or shout... or maybe you meditate, because you have had the understanding that you can be delivered... You now understand that Jesus can and will deliver you. That is an awesome emotion!
You may show it and express it in different ways.

I believe deliverance does not happen when you get emotional.
Deliverance happens when the flow of blood stops for the lady that had a discharge of blood for 12 years. (Mark 5)
Delieverace happens when the guy at the gate called Beautiful starts to walk (Acts 3)
Deliverance happens when Bartimaeus can now see, knowing that before Jesus came... he was blind. (Mark 10)

Deliverance happens when Jesus has done the work in you.

I leave you with this.
Emotions are OK. It's part of the human being.
But don't get so wrapped up in your mentality as to think that you can force God to deliver you.

You might be very dead, Lazarus, that you do not have emotions to show the people around you. But, I tell you this, Jesus will do a work in you. You will come out hopping out of your grave just because Jesus has to get all the glory.
No emotions. But real deliverace.
That's what I want.
I sometimes get emotional. I sometimes don't.

But I pray that you don't judge me when I don't.
Let Jesus stop the blood from flowing.
Let Jesus heal the lame.
Let Jesus give sight to the blind.
Let Jesus raise from the dead.

Real deliverance.

»Hope for a Religious city.

2008-02-04T18:29:00.000-06:00

Today I met a lawyer.

I was at Starbucks today reading Ed Stetzer's "Planting Missional Churches." It is such a good read on church planting. While reading the book, I saw this well dressed guy, maybe in his late 30s early 40s, sit in the table in front of me. He took out a bible and a book.

I glanced every so often and saw him highlighting and writing in his bible. So, I decided to get to know him a bit. What? I'm kind of friendly... I said "kind of." Hehe.

It turns out that he was not a pastor or a "minister" at a church. He was a lawyer and was on his break... reading the bible. It totally gave me hope. Seriously, this guy has a carreer and is reading the bible... not only reading, but studying the Bible!
Who does that in their lunch hour?

I felt like the prophet Elijah when he cried out, almost giving up, thinking that he was the only one that was left of the prophets. Hehe. God told Elijah not to worry, He had 700 other prophets that had not bowed to the false god Baal. Wow!
It was a good conversation. He helps kids in foster homes. He takes them in and cares for them with his wife. He has 4 children right now. He shared his heart with me for children in foster homes. Awesome. I love to meet people that are doing and attempting to do something for the community.
We talked about church planting...
-How we need to have a church that transforms the community and not only meets on Sundays.
-How we need a church that transform people's lives and not only puts a good show on Sundays.

The conversation gave me hope!
In a city where Religiosity rules over people's lives... there is an army of people that want to step outside of the box and let Jesus have His way.

I know there are many people like that in this city (Houston), I wish I could get to know you.
Whether you be a lawyer or a kid that wants to plant a church.
Comment me, email me, call me.
Let's get some hot white chocolate mochas.

»Women on Pants. Hehe.

2008-01-31T20:14:00.000-06:00

I got a question from one of my myspace friends. Hehe. If you receive this, I guess you are my friend too.
Anyway, the question went a little like this:
"What is your view on wome wearing pants?"
With no disrespect to my friend that asked this question, but who cares what I think?! No one.
So let's rephrase it.

"What is the BIBLE's view on women wearing pants?"

Good enough?
Here we go.
What is the Bible's view? None!

I'm serious... I searched and searched the Bible but Jesus never told women not to wear pants!
By the way, I really want to meet the guy that started telling ladies not to wear pants. I want to ask him, "Where did you get that opinion from?" Because he certainly did not get it from the Bible.

The Bible does not declare that it is a sin.
I have to clarify this because there are a lot of people that have been taught that women that wear pants are in sin. Wow.
Now... for those that want to debate this (religious people), I know what scripture you have for me.

If you can turn your bibles to Deuteronomy 22:5
"A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God."

Without spiritualizing this verse (like we have alaways done), read it like a normal person. Hehe. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Think about it.

I believe that God was drawing a distinction between male and female. This verse is for thsoe that God has to ask:
-"Hey, what are you? Are you a man or a woman? I made you a man, but dude, you got blush on your face and purple eyeshadow? What the?"
-"Hey, didn't I make you a woman, why do you come out with a shaved head and baggy jeans looking like a dude?"

Leviticus 20:13
"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination;"

What do these verses have in common? They have the same word in them: ABOMINATION.
If a guy looks like a woman (Deuteronomy 22:5) and another guy sleeps with him (Leviticus 20:13), the BIBLE says that it is an abomination.
Simple. Get it?

I have two wishes for you, my dear reader:
1). Do not be so hurried to change everything right now.
2). Do not be judgemental of others that share or don't understand yet. PLEASE!!!

NOTE:
Since there are a lot of people that have grown up with a very legalistic view on this issue, my prayer is for you to be humble, not rebellious.
Picture this: A teenager that is bitter at his parents... he can't wait until his 18th birthday, because he says that then he will do things that he has never done. He will drive, he will move out, he will smoke, he will drink, he will have sex. He will do everything that he cannot do at the age of 16. And the moment he turs 18, he blows it and he ruins his life.

That is my fear for some people that have grown up in legalistic homes. You have been tied to so many man-made traditions, and now you have found a bible and started to read it. You have found out that many of these things that were taught were just man-made doctrines.

My wish is that you won't be so hurried to change everything... but with patience and humility, change.
This is not only for the "women on pants" issue... this is for all the unbiblical issues that we have been taught.

Like that 16 year old kid, when he turns 18, he will go to the extreme and will mess up his life. Do not mess up yours.
Be wise, be biblical, and change.
Repent as you go and seek Jesus' forgiveness.

Stop acting like you got it altogether.
Your righteous actions are like a polluted garment. (Isaiah 64:6)
Goodnight.

»I hate Religion. (Part 2)

2008-01-30T17:31:00.000-06:00

Here is part 2 pf the series of posts on "I Hate Religion". I am enjoying this.

Religion will like at first. Then the religious people will turn against you. I can speak about that personally, but that is not the point of this post. Watch.
The apostle Paul goes to a city (Antioch) and starts to teach. People like him so they beg for him to stay for next week. Many people followed Jesus.

Acts 13:42-43
As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 13:44 says that the next Sabbath, the whole city came to hear the Bible being preached. I desire for that day to come when the whole city of Houston gets the Bible to be preached to them in a relevant way.
I can break it down to say that I long for the day where the whole city/town of Spring Branch gets to hear the Bible. One day... in Jesus' name.

Acts 13:45
But when the jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
SIDE NOTE: The gospel will grow a church if you preach it... the religious will get envious and jealous when your church grows. Hehe.

Acts 13:50
But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

The religious people seeing the growth of people that wanted to hear Jesus' words... ran the preachers out of the city.

Did you get that?
The religious people will like you... hang out with you... chilax with you... even dress you! But when you show up with the gospel and they see the crowds, they get envious. All they are there for is the number of people that will show up to their synagogue (church). They cannot celebrate other people's successes. They are so... AHHH!

OK I will finish up with this one. Dang! I'll probably write a book.
Read Acts 14:19
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

Paul was driven out of town... He went to preach somewhere else... tell me:
WHO FOLLOWED PAUL?
THE JEWS CAME FROM ANTIOCH... The guys that drove Paul out of the city. The religious people.

The religious people will follow you from anywhere to continue criticizing you.They will continue to talk about you. They will try to kill you.

Freaking religious people.
How I love you all.
What group are you in?

I HATE RELIGION.
I LOVE JESUS.
I love the gospel... I love the good news.
Oxymoron? No, they are 2 different things.

»I hate religion. (Part 1)

2008-01-28T21:48:00.000-06:00

O.K... I'm not that hateful... Just hear me out.

See, I am the type of guy that will sit at Starbucks forever and read. Not a nerd. I just like to read. Wha? Occasionally, I will look up and grab my hot white chocolate mocha and sip. That's how I roll!

I was at the busiest Starbucks ever. At the Galleria. It's open for 24 hours, so you can imagine at what time I was there. Late.

I finished reading the Book of Acts. It's a book in the Bible. The Apostle Paul is crazy! He was so biblical. I mean, he wrote the majority of the New Testament so we call all say that he was pretty biblical. Hehe.
NOTE: If you find the Bible to be boring, read the Book of Acts. It is a STORY. Don't overspiritualize it. Just read the freaking book!

One of the many things that I learned from this book was that the major debates that the first Christians had were not about baptism or how many spoke in tongues. That came naturally. That was the gospel. It came with it. The arguments and fights were caused by a group of people that I like to call "The Religious." Stephen called them "Stiff-necked." (Acts 7:51)

Let me define "religious people" to you.
No. Never mind... Let the bible define "religious people"
Read Acts 15:10
"Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?"

The religious people will put a yoke on the neck...
-a burden on the shoulders...
-a guilt in your conscious...
-a to-do list in your mind...
-and... a deep voice saying "Hallelujah" at the altar making yourself going to sleep.

Religion is a mentality that people have. They appear with furry eyebrows, so serious they look like they are mad, stiff-necked, tight-lipped, thinking they are better (holier than you) than everyone else.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post. I will hate some more.
Please forgive me. Hehe.
Goodnight.

»3 Personal Physical Goals

2008-01-25T17:17:00.000-06:00

The post that I have dreaded to write... but I have to. I must be disciplined. Hehe. I heard a "chubby guy" say once that fit people will have to exercise every day of their life. He, on the other hand, will fluctuate between 10 to 15 pounds for the rest of his life! That was funny! Laugh.

Anyways, the reason I have not written my physical personal goals is because when I think about jogging and exercising... and I think about my warm house. Hmmm.
Let me explain... Houston is cold and rainy right now. I know that it is not that cold.. but it's cold! Brr!

Like I've said before, my 2 sisters and my bro have been exercising at a gym. They always catch me with a kit-kat in my mouth. My little sister tries so hard to get me to go to the gym. Ehh. Hehe.

But these are my Personal Physical goals.

1). Get taller.
I seem to be looking up at people all the time. That's my thorn in the flesh, I guess.

"I wish I was a baller... I wish I was a lil' bit taller."

You don't know about that!

2). Run/jog 5 times a week.
I like running. I really do... but not now. Have I mentioned how cold it is. This weather sucks for running. I like running in hot days, where you can feel drops of sweat coming down your forehead. Yes! I can't wait for summer.

3). Eat healthier
I didn't say "eat healthy". I said, "Eat healthier". Dude, I have to have my Honey Chipotle chicken crispers at Chilis. I can't stop eating that. I'll try though.

You see why I didn't want to write this post?
These are some lame goals... but they are a challenge to me. Haha.
I don't know when I'll start.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can lose some pounds?
Can anyone share your diet with me?

»2 of the Many Reasons the Bible is True.

2008-01-23T16:34:00.000-06:00

If you or I would have written the Bible... Hehe. What a statement. I think that we would have written it differently. I mean , come on!
-I would not have Jesus hiding from the Pharisees when they go to the synagogue to go get him!
-I would have Jesus pull out a sword from nowhere and fight off and kill all the soldiers that went to arrest him in the garden of Gethsemane.
-I would not have Jesus perform a freaking miracle, by picking up the ear of the soldier and putting it back into its place when Peter cut it off. Let that soldier bleed!
-I would have Jesus go into the city of Jerusalem on a white horse not on a stupid donkey!
-I would have Jesus jump off the cross, while he was being crucified (as one of the Roman soldiers suggested).

I would have Jesus do so many things and make him a hero that never suffers, never bleeds, never hides, never goes through embarassment and never dies!

But I cannot repaint Jesus!

If the Bible was inspired by man, we would have written a script for a Spiderman or a Fantastic 4 movie.

The Bible is a true example of unselfish writers that lived in DIFFERENT TIMES of history, NEVER KNOWING EACH OTHER. And even then, everything that is written coincides with everything else. The contradictions that you might think that are there, doing some research, you will find that they don't exist. It is so funny. My 4th. grade teacher called this concept "Context Clues."

One good friend of mine told me that you can use all the Concordances and Commentaries that you want, but the best cross-reference book that you can use for the Bible is the Bible itself. So true. I mean, you can jump from the book of Matthew and go to the book of Ruth and you will find some things that will attach together. You gotta do your research.

2 of the many reasons to believe that the Bible is true are these:
1). If the Bible had not been inspired by God, (and it had been inspired by man), Jesus would be a guy that would beat up everyone, without suffering and pain. We would have made him like that. That would be our hero!
But God wanted to come into this world and feel your pain and suffering and die for you. Amazing!

2). The writers/authors of the Bible that did not know each other were able to write truths not only based on historical facts but also truths that were TOLD by God (Moses and the 10 commandments), and inspired of God. 2 timothy 3:16 says: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness".

I believe the Bible to be the Word of God.

»My First Steak.

2008-01-21T23:49:00.000-06:00

Today was greeeaat!
I started the day at Starbucks around 9 AM and reconnected with a guy that I consider a friend. I was so inspired by our talk... it gave me enough strength to last the whole day.
The only thing that is going to get me out of bed early on an off day has to be something to deal with Jesus.
If you want me to go play basketball... go to a movie... or just do nothing, don't wake me up. Hehe.

Let's talk about Jesus!
Exciting!

Well, today was so good... After meeting with my friend, I went up to my girlfriend's house. I am so proud of her. I congratulate her for reading a whole book of the Bible today. She is hot! Hehe. Can you blame me? I am so blessed. Although the book of Ruth only has 4 chapters, we enjoyed that time together.
Try pronouncing Naomi's sons... Mahlon and Chilion.
Wrong.
Try again.
Not even close.
Anyways, we had fun.
I love you babe.

In the evening, we went with Ruthie's dad (my future father in law. Hehe.) to Pappa's Steakhouse. I am proud got say that I had my first NEW YORK STEAK with him and Ruthie.
Oh, so good! So delicious! What an honor for me to eat a juicy steak with mashed potatoes and green beans... with a glass of wine. We finished it off with a New York style Cheesecake. Like I said... so good, so delicious!

For those who are shocked... close your mouth. I had coke.

I encourage everyone that has not had steak to: Get a girlfriend that has an awesome dad.
Hehe.

Im blessed. I wish I could have taken pictures of that thing.
That steak was so good!

»My Bible!

2008-01-17T15:53:00.000-06:00

Umm... I promised to write a post about my Personal Physical goals... but I will relax on that one for a little while. Hehe. My siblings are going to the gym and getting on elipticals and orbitreks and lifting weights... running on treadmills. I feel kind of left out... but I'll catch up to them. I'm giving them a headstart. Haha... I love my family.

Anyways, what I want to share with you is the joy that I am having with my new Bible (ESV). This year I want to soak up God's word like never before. Now, I don't plan on reading the whole bible in a year... I just want to benefit from the Scripture as much as I can.

I love to write my thoughts... Ask anyone. You will alaways find me with a pen and maybe my Franklin Covey Agenda. Yup, I'm one of those. I'm not uptight. I just like to write.
Can I?
Dang. Let me!

So, I was at Barnes and Noble the other day... looking for Christmas presents and I stumbled upon a unique bible. I bought it for my sister Rebecca. It was so unique that I decided to buy one for myself like 2 weeks ago. Um, I have to confess something to you... I am so excited about this bible that I went out and bought one for my girlfriend last night!
Man! Im in a giving mood. Anyone want a bible?

Check out my new bible.

It is called The Journaling Bible.

This is a sample of the page...

While doing my daily reading, I can make notes of things that I am learning... things that I never came upon... and just God's voice talking to me. It is exciting...

I know many people have tons of bibles in their homes. Shoot, my family alone, we have about 15 bible! No joke. But most of the time, we do not read them. They are boring. They make me go to sleep. Excuses.

Not this year! I got my bible and I'm ready to listen and do God's will. Hehe. Im on mssion!

I hope you fall in love with Jesus' words.
You want one?

O.K... Uh, go get your own at Lifeway or Barnes and Noble yourself, fool!

Hehe.

»3 Spiritual Life Resolutions.

2008-01-12T01:01:00.000-06:00

I want to take advantage today to let you know about 3 things that I want to accomplish this year... I call them my New Year Resolutions. Hehe. Well, these are not all my resolutions, but they are my resolutions in my "Spiritual Life."

I have written down 3 goals and also along with them I have written the action steps that I need to take to accomplish those goals. I'll just share with you my goals and a little info on them. Come and be part of my life. Keep me accountable. Hehe.

1. I want to read my Bible more everyday.
For Christmas, I got my sister, Beckers, an English Standard Version Bible. It is a very unique bible. It's prfect for daily reading, since you got 2 inch margins in both sides of each page full of lines to write your notes. It is called The Journaling Bible. It is so cool! I think so.
Anyway, I liked it so much that I went and got me one. Merry Christmas to me!
I will read my Bible everyday. Keep me accountable.

2. Listen to 3 sermons weekly.
This one is easy. Since my beautiful lady got me an ipod as one of the many presents that I got this season, hehe... I went all out. I hooked that thing up to itunes and downloaded a whole bunch of sermons. I tell you, I have more Andy Stanley, Mark Driscoll and Rick Warren than Sin Bandera and Alicia Keys put together.
I got this resolution! I constantly plug those headphones in my ears and listen to "Why Jesus' mom had to be a virgin" and "How to better my teaching skills." On my way to work, on my way home, on my way to anywhere, I am constatly listening to teachings and preachings. Oh, it is so fun to listen to positive biblical preaching. Well, maybe no so positive, that's when Jesus speaks to my heart and convicts me of a sin in my life. But it's all good! Hehe.

3. Pray more.
Now, I gre up with the mentality that if I pray 3 hours more than I did the day before, I am closer to Jesus and way more spiritual than "you." Oh boy, that's some tradition right there. I would feel so guilty, not convicted, mind you, but guilty when I prayed less. Guilty. What a feeling!
Let me tell you something, there is no formula to pray and get what you want and when you want it. A lot of people believe that (more on that later). Look, I just find this in Scripture: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16. Just pray and constantly repent of your sin. I have to get in the habit of talking to Jesus everywhere I go.
There are people that only pray to him in a secluded place, alone with a "prayer shawl," kneeling. Oh, and it has to be at a certain time. And if they don't do it like that, they will not be praying, according to them. Come on... pray everywhere. Just talk to Jesus.
Ok, I'll stop. Dang!
You see, I need to pray more.

So, guys, here are my resolutions for my "Spiritual Life."
Stay tune for my resolutions in my "Physical Life."
Oh... that'll be hilarious!

»Judging Spiritually? Right.

2008-01-09T23:29:00.000-06:00

Ok... I just have to do this... Can I? Come on! Ah... it's my blog. Hear me out.

With a menacing look, you stare them down, maybe you smile hipocritically...
"Why is she here?"
"What happened to him?"
"I wonder what's going on with her?"
"Dude, I haven't seen him in a long time."

Let's admit it. There are churches that are full of people that ask these questions when they see a person that they know go through their church doors.

Let me ask you something: Have you asked those questions at one time?
Come on, don't lie. Admit it and then repent.

Unfortunately, there are many churches with a sub-culture that has been created withouth it ever intending to show up... but it's there. A sub-culture that dictates people's mentality.

The bible calls it "Judging."
You call it "Judging spiritually."
Hmmph!! (for a lack of a better word).

"Why is she sitting in the back?"
"Why is he not wearing a tie?"
"What's wrong with her?"

I detest it when I step inside of a church to "Fellowship with the Saints." (Umm, worship Jesus and hang out with friends) and people judge. I dislike it when I feel the stares of self-rigteous people on the back of my head. Analyzing. Testing. Examining. Judging spiritually? Haha.
I just want to worship. Can I?
Everything is ok... No need to worry. Jesus is in control.

"Are you backsliding?"
"Did she cry in worship?"

Here is your answer: Change! Repent! Love!

"She didn't go to the altar?"
"I didn't see him praying."

You know what?
You pray!
Hehe.

I just had to post this.

»So glad!

2008-01-08T23:23:00.000-06:00

Well, it has been a long time since I have written a post on my blog and I apologize for that inconvenience... Hehe.
Anyway, I hope that everyone who reads this had a Merry Chrsitmas and a Happy New Year. I tell you, It was awesome for me... Got to hang out with my family, my beautiful Ruthie, and my extended family.. Haha. Good times.

So what do we talk about today... Hmm!

Everyone made your new year resolutions, yet?
Get to work then...

As always, I'm excited for what Jesus has in his mind for me this year...
Uh yeah.. He thinks... God is smart (just a note).
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

I really am glad. Things are falling into place... I have a wonderful life and I'm expecting great results this year...

Ok. that's enough inspirational talk... I love you guys... to the two of you who read my blog (and that includes my girlfriend). Hehe.

I feel like Joel Osteen. I'm smiling so big. Im just excited! Good thing, good thing... Hehe.

Happy 2008 in this 8th day of the first month...
Man, I'm feeling good!

Goodnight.

»Bull!

2007-12-20T12:21:00.001-06:00

A pastor of a well known church in a huge organizaton once told me, "It is OK that you hang out and speak with people that are not from our organization... just remember that our organization is the one that will help you with your ministry, not them."

I rose an eyebrow and wanted to yell, "You are wrong!"

I mean, why do people believe that?

Let me tell you something, whenever you think that you are the last Coca-Cola in the desert... when you think that you have the last solution to every problem... when you think that there is no one better than you... you are in a very serious dilenma.

I am all for sound doctrine. I am all for good bible teaching. I am all for preaching Jesus. But when, you disassociate yourself from others just because you disagree on gray issues, that's not very Christ-like.

I was listening to a favorite preacher of mine, and he said... that christians tend to expect more out of non-christians than christians.
When a non-christian is in sin, we tell them, "You need to repent, or you will end up in hell."
But when a christian sins, we tell them, "Dont worry about it, brother. No one is perfect. Praise God!"
What the? Are you serious?!
Non christians deserve patient love. Unrepentant christians need tough love.

The statement that the pastor of this well known hurch in this huge organization told me is just so... ugh, never mind.
That kind of thinking tends to seep into churches and now people form clicks and groups of people that think alike and cannot even relate to the woman at the well, to Zacheus the sinner, to the prostitute that Jesus forgave.
These people begin to act like the pharisees in Jesus' day. They are full of rules.
"You cant do this. you cant do that. Let me check on that."

And Jesus? He is sitting at the smoking section. Jesus is feeding the people. Jesus is loving the kids. If we could be more like him.

There are thousands of people that are full of rituals and traditions and I stand against that.
Can you be honest and tell someone that you got drunk last Saturday, so that they can help you?
Can you be sincere and tell someone that you messed up last weekend, so that they can help you?

Unfortunately, there are people that say that they will only take care of their people. They say, "We cannot help others. They do not believe what we believe. They do not act like we act. They do not dress like we dress. Sorry."

To that, I say, "Bull!"
I meant to say, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Epicenter.

2007-12-11T19:52:00.000-06:00

For a couple of weeks, I have been following this guy on myspace. (No, not stalking). After requesting his friendship and doing the whole myspace procedures to become his friend, we started to communicate.

I found out that he is a churchplanter and is launching a church in the State of Arizona. Wow! I have hope. Hehe. I found someone who is doing things in a radical way.

I had the pleasure of talking with him over the weekend and it went great. We clicked and hit it off to an awesome converstaion (My girlfriend says that I need friends. Hehe).

Anyways, they will be launching their first services in a theater. Their name of the church is Epicenter. If you don't know the meaning of that word, look it up in the dictionary. I found out a couple of definitions for the word. I liked this one.
Epicenter:

"A point, directly above the true center of disturbance, from which the shock waves of an earthquake apparently radiate."

There will be a church (Epicenter) that will be the center of disturbance!
There will be a church (Epicenter) that will send shock waves to the people of Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler (Am I missing a city?) and let them know that Jesus still saves!
There will be a church (Epicenter) that will be the beginning point of an eartquake of love, grace and salvation!

You go Josh!
Can you tell I'm kind of excited? Hehe.

Epicenter will have their lauch services in the theatre starting on Janury 6th. They will be bringing sexy back! (Free publicity, Josh. Hehe).
For more info: Go here.

Be there.
I'm out.

SUNDAY THOUGHTS.

2007-12-09T23:26:00.000-06:00

Today was a good day!

Church of Champions did not need me to go to Starting Point to preach their Sunday service... so I slept in. Wow! It felt good!
But I missed Starting Point... Really I did. After preaching there for 2 months, I get attached to the people, and I kind of missed them today.

I woke up fresh though and headed over to Iglesia de Campeones to preach for their spanish service. It was awesome! I totally felt confident... and I feel good about what was preached. Thanks to Jesus.
I really love the leadership of Pastor Rios Sr. He has been my pastor for the most part pf my life since I was a kid. I have learned so much from him. After the service, we all went out to Olive Garden and ate and talked. He talked about his early trials in ministry back in the 1980s. Awesome stories. And to think, that people are been blessed by the gifts that God has put in him is unbelievable.

He once told me something that has never left my mind when I think about ministry.
I take this to heart everytime that there is an oppportunity in ministry. Here it goes:
A Lawyer put his mistakes in Jail.
A Doctor puts his mistakes in the Grave.
A preacher puts his mistakes in Hell.

What a responsibility we have!

It takes 4 years to get a bachelor's.
It takes 6+ years to become an engineer.
It just takes someone to raise their hand and say, "Here I am. I will go." to take Jesus' message to people that are in need.
(OK. let me clarify something here. I am all for education, ok? That was not the point of the phrase. All I'm saying is that it's easier to become a preacher than... Never mind, think what you want. Hehe).

I loved it today, but there is some things brewing in my heart. Anyone who reads this... please stop reading for a moment and pray that Jesus will guide me towards His will.

Don't pray with a hidden message.
"Jesus, please make Tony realize that he is wrong."
Haha. No, do't pray like that.
Pray like this,
"Jesus, let your Will be done in Tony's life."

Thanks for your prayers.

The Right Church?

2007-12-05T21:41:00.000-06:00

I believe that I am in a transition mode in my life right now. Actually, I've been in transition for the most part of this year. It's been crazy. I've experienced:
-The loss of friends.
-Sitting down for months in church not doing anything at all (the most frustrating ever).
-The lack of a father (mentor) figure in my life.
-Leaving a church that I called a home. ("Leaving" is putting it lightly).
-Finding out who I really am.
-Trying my hardest to accomplish things in my personal life.

All that to say this... it has been a challenging year. It has (Can I reflect?).
What I am battling right now is this...
I need to find a place of worship. I need to find a church.
There. I said it.
I've been battling with this for a very long time. A very long time. More than 6 months.
I have been going to church every Sunday. At first, I sat and relaxed at Church of Champions for a while. I helped out at Starting Point for almost 3 months. I also helped out Iglesia de Campeones as well.

Church of Champions has been good to me. They have helped my ministry in ways they are unaware of. I thank God for them.
Iglesia de Campeones has also helped me as well. Listening to a guy who pastored me since I was born... and still feeling the intensity of his preaching is so awesome. Full of revelation and understanding. I am blessed.

It comes down to this, I told my mentor...
-I need to plant a church
or...
-I need to be involved in planting a church.
or...
-I need to be in a church that is practicing a church-planting metality.

I have been almost agonizing in pain to find a place that is theologically conservative and culturally liberal.
Yes, I said liberal. Is that a sin?

There are not many churches in Houton, Tx. that preach Jesus and also are reaching people in this culture.
This city needs a revolution, I tell you. This city is full of wacked out churches. Let me explain.

We got the legalist churches:
-Ladies... you better wear long stockings when you sing on the stage. (Hehe. That's funny.)
-Men... you must wear a suit and tie to church or else you are not saved... Make that a white shirt. Tucked in. Ironed.

Then, we got the liberal churches:
-There is no sense of commitment. The building is so huge that you can literally walk in and out whenever you want to. No one is accountable. That happens in small and big churches.
-Instead of preaching Jesus, they teach on eating organic foods. It's cool, but at least mention Jesus. Call people to repentance.
Get the picture?

I'm just desperate.
Does anyone know of a church?
A church that is preaching Jesus.
A church that is reaching people.

3 Things I would do differently in Youth Ministry

2007-12-01T00:27:00.000-06:00

I worked full time as a youth pastor at a church that I used to attend. After that, I volunteered for the most part as the youth pastor.

We had a great team... a great staff. I remember sitting down for hours coming up with a name for the youth ministry. We believed "identity" was neccessary for this ministry.

We came up with names like... H2O, Elevate, The Dot.
We decided to name our youth ministry Zero Image.

We had failures. Many of them. But I can boast (brag) on the accomplishments that we had as well.
Paul brags. Let me brag.
We had weekly Wednesday services. We had 2 awesome summer camps.
We began in May 2004 with 25 people. In 2 months, we had around 50 young people.
At that time, that was explosive for me. I was 18. Hehe (Revival).

A couple of days ago, I started thinking about things that I would differently in Zero Image.
Here are 3 things I would have done differently.

1). We would have more excellent Follow Up.
We had a follow up system set up. We sent a letter and a phone call every week after a young person visited our Wednesday service. We would follow up with that person just for that week only. It was pretty good. But I would do it a bit differently now. This is what we would do: After following up with them the first week, and not seeing them again for 1 month, we would send another letter ("Missing You") and another phone call.

2). We would create Strategic, Organized, Consistent small groups.
I believe in the positive results of small groups. I just had to state that. Hehe.
Believe it or not, young people will go where there is a vision. I remember seeing this in Zero Image all the time. The most rebellious teen would listen to Jesus' word and be driven by it. What we would do different would be this. We would make a good move towards small froups. Sarting at the church location, we would meet in small groups. After a while of success, we would move some groups to the homes (the producing and faithful ones). The result would be to see the young people in different locations throughout the city in small groups. Little by little does it... cougar. Key words are: Strategic. Organized. Consistent. You will never get anywhere without a strategy (a plan of action). That plan has to be well organized. When that strategy is organized, you have to be consistent and you will experiece success.

3. We would establish a better Discipleship process.
Young people have the power and potential to commit. Let's not undermine them. When they decide to follw Jesus, there must be a process to disciple them. What we would do different is this: We would work alongside the small groups (not so much though). This is what we would mostly do: We would teach the Bible everytime. We would teach Jesus all the time. If you hang around Jesus daily (like the disciples), you are bound to learn something a nd be a true follower of Jesus.

There are more things that I would do differently.
These are only 3.

Since the church that I worked at had a certain culture, these are the detailed approaches I would take.
But I believe that I would do these things in any youth ministry.
The approaches might be different though.

What do you say?
Got any more suggestions to this list?
What would you do in youth ministry?

»Just wondering...

2007-11-26T18:18:00.000-06:00

I just wonder.
Right now I am in a wondering mood.
I mean, sitting at Panera Bread, after some of the best soup around... and some piano playing in the background...
Who would not be relaxed?
I just wonder.

What if someone gets a radical idea of starting a church in Houston, Tx?
A church that serves the community... A church that the city asks for help when its people are in need.
You get that?
The church doesn't ask for help... the city asks for the church's help.

A church that lets anyone come to its services... gatherings... celebrations.
Teenagers, college students, young married couples... old people.
Hey, come on... everybody!

What if someone could launch a church that would get away from the traditional and the routine?
A church that would do things so different that religious people would criticize and the unsaved would meet Jesus.

What if this church would not be personality driven... but a team of teaching pastors would care for it?

What if this church would be able to launch with 150- 200 people in its frist service?
Am I thinking too small?

A church that would not get comfortable and stop growing when it reaches the maximum number of 350 members... Haha!
Seriously, not to poke fun at anyone, but most churches in the Houston area... as soon as they hit 400, they feel that they are the church model. Hehe.
400 people? That should be your volunteers!
Let me remind you, I am not mocking anyone. I am just asking... what if?

What if this church would open different campuses in Houston... maybe some satellite campuses? in schools, theaters... and you're going to like this... in the clubs?
Uy no! Haha. (Narrow minded people. Get out of your box).

What if some young kid in his 20s with no pastoral experience, no Ph D., no nothing, would be able to gather other young men... other families and launch a revolution of church planting in this city of Houston?

I believe it. One day.

You might say, "Well then, stop dreaming and start doing!"
To that I tell you, "Slow down cougar, slow down."

If you want to be a part of this revolution... please be praying for it.
If you want to be part of a team that will DOMINATE this city for Jesus' glory, pease be praying for it.
I believe that people will come out of nowhere to stir one of the greatest times of our generation in Houston, Tx.
I don't just feel it. I know it.
It is just a matter of time... of putting certain order in our lives... of organizing a couple of things... of gathering candidates that need Jesus do something big in their lives.

For the others, I pray for you.

I was just wondering.
Can you help me woder too?

What if...? Hehe.
What do you think?

»STARTING POINT UPDATE

2007-11-25T23:27:00.000-06:00

As you all know... it has been a pleasure to be at Starting Point Church every Sunday to help out in the pulpit, preaching.

These last 2 1/2 months have served me as an awesome experience.
Today, we went into our 3rd teaching with the title, "A Disciple Of Jesus Breaks Bread."
Hopefully, next week will be the econclusion of our series, "The Simple Journey Of A Disciple."
It has been great.

We will be talking about evangelizing... going out and telling others about Jesus.
It will be awesome.

I am so glad that I have helped Starting Point as a preacher. I'm looking forward to continue helping. I believe that there are people at the church that have a huge potential and can do something in their community.

I am excited.
Please pray for me.
I will be meeting with the leadership of Church of Champions. They have taken an interest in the gift that God has given me and I hope that I can use it for his glory.
I don't know in what way I will be helping them out, but I look forward to hearing them out and making a good decision.
Please pray for me.

Either it be helping Starting Point's pulpit for a couple of more weeks or just using me to help somewhere else, I am willing to listen to them and looking for what is ahead in 2008.
Then, I will amke a wise decision.
I ask for you prayers.

I am glad that Jesus still does miracles.
I am glad that Jesus is still showing up at Starting Point.

»What a LAZY DAY!

2007-11-22T12:00:00.001-06:00

This is the day that the Lord has made!!! Woo-hoo!

-Made some final touch ups on this Sunday's message.
-Thanksgiving leftovers... Mmm!
-Some college football, I rarely watch it, but when I do, I'm hooked. Right now UT is getting whooped by A&M...
-A date with the best girlfriend later...

I'm telling you, it could not get any better, and it's only Friday! Oh man, this is awesome! Hehe.

I don't have a lot to blog about. Actually, I do... but I'm just going to relax today.

OH SHOOT! UT just made a 91 yard run for a TOUCHDOWN!
Ok... there is hope!

»I am Thankful for Ruthie...

2007-11-22T12:00:00.000-06:00

Well, It is Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I know that I should not be bloggong today... Everyone is at my house. I mean my sisters and brother... and a couple of friends that will stop by.
But before we start grubbing, I would like to say thank you to Ruthie, my girlfriend.

She is my world. We have so much fun when we do things together. She is amazing!
I thank her for standing by my side when everything seems to go downhill. In transitions of my life, she has always stood by me. I thank her.

A couple of days ago, we were talking about the time we met... in 2001. Hehe. I was jsut 15 years of age. Who knew that I would meet the love of my life at... a youth campmeeting? Of all places. Just Kidding. Reminiscing on that, I just get so happy because she is the one that has helped me look at things differently sometimes. I love her.

Who knew that we would get back together 3 years later... and now it is forever. Hehe. We have been together for 3 years this month, and I still love her the same. Maybe more. Hehe. I need to get married, no?

Although we are not certain of the details of our future, we know this... I will love her and she will love me.
We will accomplish Jesus's purpose in our lives. I promise her that. We will do God's Will. I promise her that. We will love each other. I promise her that.
O.K that sounds like my vows... better relax. Haha.

I love you, babe.
I am thankful for you.

»I am thankful for my family...

2007-11-20T18:37:00.001-06:00

Another thing that I am thankful for is... my family.

Family is what Jesus created so that we can have unity and learn together on how to deal with the things that life brings.

Unfortunately, there are not many examples of what a true fatehr, a true mother, a true sonor a true daughter are to be.
I have failed many times in "son" department. Who does not?
I have also failed in the "brother" part...
Although, my sisters did not point it out in my birthday card that they gave me, I know. Hehe.

But I am thankful for my family.
I love my sisters and my brother.
I believe that they will be an inspiration to many in this generation. Struglle after struggle, we always pull together.
More than anytime in my life, I feel very drawn to be with them and see them.

My sisters went to Mexico for the weekend and, to tell you the truth, I really missed the. The house was so quiet.
They are loud girls. Just kidding.

I know my brother has a purpose... and he knows it.
I love it when Jesus proves himself in people's lives. When I thinmk about my bro... I'm telling you, he will be somebody in the next couple of years.
You better believe it.

I love my father and mother.
Although my father is not with me, I always remember bits and pieces of his advice. It would make us smile.
I love my mother. She has been there for us all the time... and I mean all the time. You know how moms are... always making sure that no one speaks ill of her kids.
Although, we all have disagreed on something at one point, I realize that I must be thankful for my family.

Aber, Beakers, Techita, mom, dad... I am thankful for you.
That was Abraham, Rebecca, Esther, mom and dad...

Notice how they all have biblical names, except fo me.
Thank you, mom and dad.

»I am thankful for Jesus...

2007-11-20T00:07:00.000-06:00

It's Thanksgiving week!
Food, food, food!!!
For a couple of days, I just want to write about a couple of things that I am thankful for.

Tonight, I am thankful for Jesus.
Without Jesus, there would be no salvation.
Without Jesus' sacrifice there would be no remission of my sins... I would not experience His mercy and His forgiveness.
Without Jesus, I would not have hope.
I thank Jesus for saving me.
I thank Jesus for helping me through the rough times.
I love Jesus.
Jesus healed me when I was a small boy.
Jesus walks with me in this Journey.

I don't know if you noticed, but for me... it is all about Jesus.
And I am thankful for His sacrifice.

Someone once said:

"Jesus lived the life that I could not live,

and died the death that I should die."

Amazing.

Thank you Jesus.

What are you thankful for?

»Prayer is the Key!

2007-11-17T00:33:00.000-06:00

I still believe prayer works.
I believe it still does.

In preparation of the message for this Sunday, I felt like I could not get it on paper... I always use notes to guide me when I teach or preach (I'm not that skilled as just to teach without notes. Hehe).
Anyway, I was having a hard time... I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not write it down. Ugh! That is so frustrating!

So, I prayed simple, short prayer and started to write. I'm stumbling around. Point 1... then Point 3... Conclusion... Read it over again. And again. Write Point 2. Oh, the Introduction.

Yea... it has not been this hard for a long time. And if you are not a preacher, you might undermine this job... but to tell you the truth, it is hard work.
Some people may say about preaching, "Oh, that's easy... just write what you want to say... get on the stage... say what you wrote down on paper and waste 40 minutes of people's time."
O.K. It's not that easy, smart one!

I was feeling a little mad... I got up and went outside to catch some air... I breathed in and out... You know. I did everything I could.
Then it hit me.

And that's why I know that this message will impact people this coming Sunday.
I started praying. Again. But differently.
Not this prayer: "Dear God, I will be preaching your word this coming Sunday. I thank you for the opportunity. You are so kind and merciful to let me have this assignment. Lord, I need you to help me in the preparation of this message."
No. Not that prayer.

I prayed a prayer of faith.
O.K. don't spiritualize it. I just prayed a simple prayer of faith, believeing that He would be the one guiding me.
I told him... that it was His word that I would be teaching this Sunday and not mine.
I told Him... that He was going to do miracles and convict people to start walking a simple journey and not me.

After that short session of prayer, I'm not going to tell you that it was smooth.... but I have got tranquility and peace, knowing that His word will be taught and preached and not mine.

Let's get back to prayer.
Let's get back to relevant Bible teaching.

"Jesus, thank you... and please don't wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me something. If you have something to tell me... tell me now. Goodnight."

People, I was just kidding about that last part.
Geez! Are you serious?
Can you take a joke?

Go pray.

»"The Simple Journey"

2007-11-15T20:04:00.001-06:00

This Sunday will be off the hook! I can't wait. Really.
As you already know, the series that we are teaching from is: "The Simple Journey of A Disciple."
I will be teaching with the title: "The Simple Journey."

-How do you start walking this Journey of a disciple?
-How do you make it through when things get rough?
-What do you do when disciples that are with you go through hard times?

Oh, it will be amazing! I can already see it!

If you don't have a church home or just looking for some relevant Bible teaching, stop by Starting Point this Sunday at 10 AM.

I believe Jesus will be there this Sunday.

»Birthday Month!

2007-11-15T20:04:00.000-06:00

Well... It's all over! All the excitement! All the Suspense! IT'S OVER!!!
Another year has overtaken us (Ruthie and I)... and I am excited for what Jesus is going to do in my 22nd year of life in this Earth.

I turned 22 on Saturday!
Ruthie turned 21 on Wednesday!

To read about hat Ruthie did for my birthday, go to her blog. I'll do a post on my birthday later... Let me give honor to my lady for being with me for all this time.

Thoughts on Ruthie and her 21st Birthday:

She is the best girlfriend! (I need to marry her!)
Had lunch with her at Panera... some good soup!
After work, I rushed over to Party City and got her some balloons... You know, the big silver "2" and the big silver "1". Wow... those were cool!
Yeah, but... while I was talking to her friends outside of Tokyohana (the restaurant)... one of them told me to look up, and to my dismay... the big silver "1" was flying away!!!
Thank God Party City was in the same shopping plaza of the restaurant... so I bought another big silver "1".
Stupid number.
Her friends enjoyed the party, I hope so.
Tokyohana has good food and the cooks cook your food in front of you... It was so cool when they start playing around with the knives and making fire...
Ruthie got a lot of presents.
Ruthie loved it.

And that's all that matters.

November has brought me a good month... Well, Jesus has.. you know what I mean.
I thank Jesus for my life and for the life that I treasure.

Ruthie, I love you.

»Sunday Highlights!

2007-11-11T22:43:00.000-06:00

I am so pumped up! It is scary! I am going crazy... Jesus is doing some stuff at Starting Point and I am thankful. Here are some highlights:

Ruthie came to service with me. I just enjoy having her with me in service. She really is an inspiration to me. I love her so very much. (Hint: Her birthday is on Wednesday!)
The band set up differently this Sunday... and it was a good setup. They rocked like always! Those guys are amazing.
I really enjoyed the worship...
We started "The Simple Journey of a Disciple" this Sunday... and it felt so good to teach.
It felt that I preached for a short time... On the other hand, I'm used to services lasting 4 hours, and I'm serious.
Thank you Jesus that service did not last 4 hours, just kidding. Hehe.
I hung the posters in the hallways of Starting Point and they look awesome. A huge shout-out and thanks to my girlfriend/designer.
Oh... My mother and sister showed up as well... with Joel, a good friend of mine!
I connected with Dave, a first time guest, and he told me that he had not been to church in 12 years, and today he felt so good to come back. Praise Jesus!
I am so tired... I actually came home and took a nap! I'm not a good nap-guy. I wake up grumpy.
I just woke up to write this blog. Hehe. Just kidding.
I met another guy at Starting Point today. Kevin is his name. I loved his energy during worship.
People are starting to CELEBRATE!

I am really excited for Starting Point. Pray for its future. Pray that Jesus grows His Church. Tnak you Jesus.

I'm going back to sleep. Big day tomorrow.

»Houston and Churches

2007-11-08T01:35:00.000-06:00

Houston, Tx. needs a revolution in their chuches and in the hearts of men that are called of God to plant churhes.

Remember... this is my opininon and in my opinion it really is a good opinion. Huh?

Ok. Here we go:

Houston needs more churches!

You may say, "Are you serious, Tony?" and I'm asking you, "Do you see me laughing?" In reality, Houston has so many churches... It has some megachurches and it also has dying churches. We have Ed Young's Second Baptist. We have Hillard's churches... Oh, and am I forgetting Joel Osteen and the largest church in the U.S. "Lakewood Church"?
We also have dying churches ... every 2 blocks theres is a storefront church in a small broken-down plaza. So why do we need more churches?

We need more churches with purpose, strategy and organization.

I believe strongly that if you don't believe in the purpose of the local church, you dont believe in the words of Jesus when He said that He will build His church! There is a purpose to every church that meets and it is to offer and give their community Jesus Christ. Point them to Jesus.

Many churches do not have a strategy. We need a strategy. You can ask all these churches
"Who are you trying to reach?"
They will tell you, "We are trying to reach everyone..."
You get what I mean?

No target... no focus.. and that leads me to this point: Without a strategy, their organization in the church is horrible. Sorry, for being mean, I mean "insightful"), but it's the truth!

Houston needs more church planters.

There are a whole bunch of churches that are established... and they are dead.
Their worship is dead, their preaching is irrelevant. Their leadership is dead. We need more church planters. We need men to get their families ready to do God's work. I tell you, I'm getting ready!

Houston needs men that are willing to step out of their comfort zone and stop blaming their dead leadership for not letting them go.

And whenever you do step out to plant a church, have awesome worship, be relevant in your teaching, and train amazing leaders. Don't imitate dead churhces. Do something amazing! But stay biblical. Get out of the tradition. Break your old habits. Just stay scriptural.

What do you think?

»Finding your way.

2007-11-06T23:20:00.000-06:00

I was sitting near the window at Starbucks yesterday and I was reading and writing some stuff that I was thinking for the future. I love that place... you got nice people, nice atmosphere and good frapuccinos...

Anyways, I had been there for a while... and I love siting by the window... because they are from the floor to the seiling, so you could just look outside and see what's going on outside.
Next thing I know, this old man in his 60s walked by, pressing the button on his key chain trying to locate his car. I did not think anything of it...
About 30 seconds later, he passed by my window again, still pressing the button on his keychain, looking for his car.
To tell you the truth, and not exaggerate, I saw him again, a minute later, still... no car.
I watched him for a while, until he brought his hand to his head and his face shone like a lightbulb that had been turned on, meaning that he had found the car.
I saw him find his car and drive off.

I laughed to myself (silently, of course. I don't want anyone thinking I'm crazy. Or maybe I do...) and thought about our next series at Starting Point, "THE SIMPLE JOURNEY OF A DISCIPLE"

Many people that have been in church for the longest time, find themselves like that old man... trying to find their way to their car... to their destiny and purpose. They go this way, they turn this corner... They stop in their steps to think. They cannot find their way.

One of the purposes of this series is to let people know the value of being a disciple of Jesus.

Forget your title or what you do. God will bless everything that you do, but before all the pressure of ministry or before your career or even before your family, YOU ARE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS.

It is going to be awesome.
See you at 10 A.M. at Starting Point Church.

»Here it is!

2007-11-03T07:33:00.001-05:00

»"The Simple Journey of a Disciple"

2007-11-02T20:45:00.000-05:00

It is not the finished product... but here it is!
The new series for Starting Point that will start next week.
Ruthie designed it and I tell you, she is amazing.

Why do Christians make life so difficult? I was asking myself that question last night... and I am in process of studying that topic.

I plan on teaching for 4 weeks on "The Simple Journey of A Disciple"

It is shocking when you think of a person that loves Jesus and becomes involved in the church so much that sometimes they clutter themselves with so many things and they lose focus of what is really important.
Then they say that it's the devil that is attacking them.

Are we christinas more than disciples? (just a thought)
What is a true disciple?

We were called to walk woth him.

How do we walk in this journey?

We make it so difficult.

Can we make it simple?

Let's go back to the simple basics. My goal for this series is to get people to let go of all the junk and extra lugagge they carry so that their journey can be more simple. To let them know that they are Jesus' disciples and that they were called by Him and for Him, and no body else.

I feel Starting Point will be blessed.

It is a new season!

"The Simple Journey of a Disciple" will beging November 11!

Pray for me.

Ruthie (my girlfriend) is helping me with the graphics and she is amazing!

»Gift Season!

2007-11-02T08:59:00.000-05:00

It is November!
Just a quick reminder... the gift season has started for me, at least.
My mother's birthday was last Saturday. (Oct. 27)
My father's birthday is this Saturday. (Nov. 3)
My birthday is next Saturday! (Nov. 10)
WOW!
Gifts are welcome...

...and it does not end there... Ruthie's (my beautiful girlfriend) birthday falls on the Wednesday following my birthday (Nov. 14) and we are just getting older. Hehe.

The weather is cooler and it's getting nicer in Houston...

I really know something new coming... in my life and in the lives of those who love me.
It's weird... and I have been getting away from stuff that I feel.
I want to know... not just feel. I want to be driven out of what I know and not make decisions out of what I feel.
We have a whole bunch of people in ministry saying that they feel stuff and they misguide people and then the ministers that know stuff have to restore those precious people.

Anyways, something new is coming.

That's all I got for today... maybe I'll post something interesting later.

It's gift season.

»Worship Leaders! LEAD US!

2007-10-30T00:50:00.000-05:00

There is a whole bunch of musical talent out there in churches today... really there is!
I mean, I sometimes hear guys play and sing and I am amazed... blown away! Some of these guys should record a CD, I tell myself.

But can I tell you something?

Sometimes, the best musicians are NOT worship leaders!

For real! I could buy your CD and enjoy your ability to tear it up... that's one thing... but to lead worship, that is totally different.
...and I think, that is the tragedy that has creeped into churches nowadays.
Yes, I said creeped!

We got a whole bunch of guys with guitars and a whole bunch of people that can only play and sing, but cannot take people into God's presence!

That's why we call you worship leaders, for crying out loud!
Lead us!!!
Maybe there are some people that can lead themselves into His presence... and if everyone could go into Jesus' presence by themselves, you know what?!

We would not need you!

(That's enough exclamation marks... let me calm down)

Really guys... it's cool that you can sing... it's cool that you can keep your tone. Save that for your CDs, but when you come to church to "lead us" into worship. Please do that!

I thank Jesus for you and the gift that He has given you. I really do... because I don't have it. I still sing like when I was 8 and back in the kid's choir.
But lead us... please?!

Please, when you sing... act like you wanna be there.
Act like you want to take wounded and tired people to the heart of worship where Jesus can touch their lives.

Lead us.

»Woo-Hoo! Celebrate!

2007-10-28T22:48:00.000-05:00

Successful! Sucessful!

I have gotten this habit that I cannot sleep on Saturdays! I just get so excited of what is going to happen on Sunday that I just lay awake thinking of the possible outcomes of the service.

Starting Point is one of the best things that has ever hapenned to me. It is an experience of a lifetime... and I am taking advantage of it! We concluded our series: "STOP INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH!"

WOW... is all I can say!
Starting Point had its fall festival on Friday and this today we saw the results.

We had about 10-15 more people in service today and it was ecstatic!
Whenever you come into a church and see 35 people that are still trying to have church and not giving up hope, I tell you... It excites me! We had about 50-60 people at church today and I believe that Jesus will grow His Church.

I got to meet some of the first time guests after the service and had the opportunity to visit with some of the families at the church. Wow! I get excited when I see the families that go to Starting Point... There is so much potential in that place is not even funny! Hehe.

The message was relevant... Everybody got excited to celebrate Jesus one more time and we hope that next week will be a better service with positve turn outs. Thank Jesus!

On the other hand, Iglesia de Campeones had awesome worship... and I believe that they believed the Word of God that was preached today.
It is awesome to be filling in for Pastor Rios while he is away.
Thank you for your prayers.

I am so tired and need some sleep... badly.
So, I have an amazing week waiting for me starting tomorrow.

I am teaching at Iglesia de Campeones on Tuesday and Preaching at Starting Point on Sunday!

I can't wait for next Sunday! God has been giving me a message that I think will set a new mentality in Starting Point...

Dont worry!
It's just God.

Remember... He was the one that said, "...and I will do a new thing."

»Open Doors like crazy!

2007-10-26T23:21:00.000-05:00

Well... it's raining... pouring actually! (and Im loving it!)
A couple of weeks ago... I posted this entry on my blog talking about God opening doors... and how God was the One that shut doors and opened doors.

And God is opening the doors... and like I said before, I'm loving it!

This week has been one of the weirdest weeks in a very long time... but like Job said,

"...Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"

I have been accepted to work at a new job at Chase Bank with a better schedule. But also, this week brought me, unfortunately, some transportation issues. In other words, the car that I was driving broke down.

It's one of the worst feelings that you can ever have. When you don't have anywhere to go and you feel so down and hopeless... Ugh! One of the most messed up feelings!

...and to think that the message that I will preach this Sunday has to do with Celebration!
I really felt at my lowest point and still God chose me to preach on Celebration! Ha! God is good! Hehe...

Ok, let's get back to the open door topic...

For the last couple of weeks, God opened the door for me to go to Starting Point and preach on the weekends... and it has and will keep on being amazing!

This week Pastor Rios at Iglesia de Campeones asked me if I could fill in for him this week. Oh wow! That was amazing!
So, while Pastor Rios is away, I taught for him this past Tuesday.
I have to teach next Tuesday at Iglesia De Campeones as well.
Don't I have some praying and some writing to do?

But this is the thing... to all you bloggers and people that just like to read this... and act like you don't... hehe.

I want to ask you to pray for me for this Sunday.

I will preach at Starting Point at 10 AM in english and...

I will preach at Iglesia de Campeones at 2 PM in spanish.

Celebration is the word!

Thank God for Open Doors.

»Stop Inviting People to Church!

2007-10-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

Join me this Sunday at Starting Point!
We will be teaching the third and last lesson of this Evangelism Series:
"Celebrate When You Bring Them!"

Time: 10 AM

Place: Starting Point Church
Aldine Mail Route Rd. and Airline Rd.

We will be jamming out with worship songs to God and having an awesome time with the people that make up Starting Point.

Message me or just Email me for more information at: tony.villatoro@hotmail.com

Let's Celebrate!

»STARTING POINT HIGHLIGHTS!

2007-10-23T00:19:00.000-05:00

We had an awesome service Sunday morning. We are still on the series: "STOP INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH... START BRINGING THEM!"
The message title was: "BE THE CHURCH!"

It really is an awesome experience to preach at Starting Point. Things are looking way better and I believe that Jesus will bring growth to this Church...

More than the message... we had a good time. Here are some highlights!

The music was awesome. Carlo led the band! Wow. It sounded like a concert in there. The last songs really drew people into worship.
I really like Carlo's energy.
The children quizzed the audience on Bible Characters. (I could not think of Rahab's name. I tought it was Reba).
...so much for being the preacher.
I saw a couple of guests. Things will move. There will be more in the upcoming weeks.
I tried the lapel mic... it did not work, but we palyed it off real good. Nobody noticed... I think. We will get that down next time.
There ws a young lady that needed prayer. The doctors found a cyst on the left side of her brain. We prayed for her. Please keep her in your prayers.
Everybody ate the doughnuts in the Connection Room.
...I think it was the band. I know it was the band.
Wow! Russell is really a great help in the Sound Department. What a guy! I appreciate him.
The fall festival is this Friday. It will be a success.
Russell put some signs around the area of the church already.

»Starting Point Update!

2007-10-19T23:16:00.000-05:00

I am so excited for this Sunday coming up!
Last week was the start of a ne series called: "STOP INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH... START BRINGING THEM!"
It was wild!
I loved it! I believe that people learn more when they can digest a certain topic for a number of weeks. I mean, I like preaching "Single" preachings... but, I love preaching in "Series!"

Anyways, The Series got off to a good start... So good that someone came up to me after the service and aked me about making props for the series... Huge Stop Signs... That was awesome!

Although I am just helping out in the pulpit at Starting Point, I love hearing people's responses after the service. There are about 35 people there, and I am believing that God will bless the Church with growth.

If we do our part, God will do His.

We need to get ready. We need to get organized. We need to get in place.

When we get ready, Jesus will bless.

If you don't have a system set in place, you will not be able to manage the growth that He will bring to you.

The band is awesome. Church of Champions (the Home Church), got this band from Canzion to come and play every Sunday. There are about 5 guys and they can jam out!!!

I am dead serious! They are something else...

I am Super Excited!
Did I just say Super?!
I think I did... I simply cannot wait for this Sunday to continue this Series!

Pray for Starting Point.
Pray for me.
Pray for an Awakening and Revival.

»CHURCH OF CHAMPIONS PROJECT!!!

2007-10-15T23:29:00.001-05:00

Church of Champions will be doing some major things in the future. I just cannot wait for the next step.
This Church has a leadership team that are always thinking about what to do next to impact people and make a difference in their lives so they can go out and live a victorious life.

Check out this poster that they came up with.

It is about to blow up!
In a good way, of course...

»Dorcas?

2007-10-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

About time someone voted for Dorcas on the "Who is your favorite Bible Hero?" Poll. It took a couple of days for someone to vote for her... There are still some weirdos in this world. Mission accomplished. Hehe. Just Kidding.

Poor Dorcas.

»Starting Point again!

2007-10-11T23:46:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I love Jesus! Once again, Jesus has opened the doors for me to go preach at Starting Point Church. I went there 3 weeks in arow, and absolutely loved it. I know that it is a church that is about to experience one of the greatest moves of God... I just know it. I have been thinking about the people there... and I pray for them.

I appreciate the opportunity that Pastor Hutchins and Pastor Grigsby over at Church Of Champions have given me to go over and preach... It shows trust and I am thankful for that.

I believe Jesus will be there. I believe people will learn and apply His word. I am believing the community surrounding that little church on Aldine Mail Rd. will start experiencing God moments like never before.

Pray for me.
I am thankful.

»Leap for Joy! (Dancing in Church-Part 2)

2007-10-08T00:31:00.000-05:00

Ok... after the post on dancing... I was meditating on some other things concerning the topic. I am careful enough not to make it a huge deal. You simply cannot make a doctrine out of the topic. It is a mistake to say that you MUST dance in worship services... but just know that if you go to a church service and the music is moving... well... MOVE!

If you go to a football game, and your team is winning, you will NOT take your laptop to watch a movie, you will cheer!
If you go to a concert, and you know the songs, you will NOT lie down and go to sleep... you will sing the songs!
If you go to church, and they are jamming with church songs, you will NOT just sit there... you will clap, dance, MOVE!
Geez.

One last thing... I always try to look at what the Scripture says about anything. I mean, the Bible is our "map."

There is a story that you are very familiar with... It is found in Acts 3:1-10. Read it. Come on you know you need to read the Bible.

"1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!"
5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!"
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

Enough said. Just recognize this.

There is a lot of people that sit in church... it is "Beautiful,"The songs, the message, the peopel... "Beautiful," but they are still sick, depressed, and cannot walk. And when Jesus comes into your life and you receive healing... I promise you... you will be filled with joy... enough to go into the church and leap (dance) with praise in your lips.

Speaking for myself, I dance a liitle bit. Not as much as I used to when I was 15 years old and worship services lasted more than 4 hours... I'm not kidding about that.
I don't dance as much, but I tell you that I still worship. Just because I dance less does not mean that I do not worship... Don't be like the Pharisees. Be real with yourself and with God.

Let me check you out when you are at the restaurant and Marc Anthony comes out of the jukebox singing, "Valio la Pena.."
Whoops. Some are already saying I'm worldly.

Go pray.
For me.
Hehe.

»DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!!! (Dancing in Church-Part 1)

2007-10-06T23:09:00.000-05:00

Ok... here we go... breaking man-made traditions and installing what Jesus wants for His church. It's all in the bible... It's not about your ideas, what feels good or what your grandma taught you. It's what the Holy Spirit led men of God to write down, so that today we can have a biblical model of how to do things. I love this!

So... I got a comment asking me this question:

"You see, here where I work there are 2 chicks and they dont believe in dancing (like in church) because it's not in the spirit and because David didn't dance in the church, he danced on the way to church... That dancing isn't from God because it's your flesh moving to a beat.... Can you help me?"

Ok... good question, Of course I can help. Let me help.
First of all, I am not a liberal to tell you not to worship, I will encourage you to worship Jesus, but also I am not so legalistic as to tell you there is only ONE WAY to worship. Meaning this, the Bible lets us know of a lot of ways on how to worship. Some worship sitting down, meditating on His goodnes. Some worship standing up. Some worship with arms raised and some worship with their voice. Some even worship laying on the floor. All these ways of worship are biblical and have a Bible scripture for them. BUT, DO NOT CRITICIZE SOMEONE THAT IS NOT WORSHIPPING YOUR PREFERRED WAY. Respect their style. It was hard for me, because I come from a very charismatic background where if I don't see you flying around the sanctuary on a rope... you are not of God and you are backslidden. What a mistake! I repented and Jesus has forgiven me! Hehe.

Furthermore, I believe that you have to worship Jesus. We were created by Him and FOR Him... It is a MUST that we worship Jesus. The Bible says:

John 4:24

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Now, some people mistake this and say that you cannot dance or clap or MOVE in a service because you are doing it with your flesh.

If anybody tells you that, ask them to do this for me:

Ask them to tell their pastor that they will go to Sunday Service in their Spirit and they will tell their flesh to stay home. So they can be more "spiritual," take it a little bit farther, ask them to not go to their services in their flesh and not show up to the church for the rest of the year. Let's see what the pastor has to say...

Just Kidding.

Don't be mean.

Anyways, back to the "Teaching."

Lets get some bible in here please.

Psalm 149:1-3

"(1)Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
(2)Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
(3)Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp..."

Whoa, homie... You can read that again!

It clearly states that that they would be in the congregation of the saints (that sounds like church to me) and they would praise His name in dance. WOW. Shocking, right?

Ok. Read the whole chapter (Psalm 149) and start praising Jesus. Maybe dance a bit. I love His Word!

Let's read more Bible... Now, this is not me making this up... Open your bible and read with me the famous Psalm 150. And it goes a little like this.

Psalm 150:1-4

"(1)Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
(2)Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
(3)Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
(4)Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs."

Ok... It cannot any clearer than this.

Verse 1 lets me know that they will praise him... WHERE?!

IN THE SANCTUARY...

They will paise Him... HOW?!

Many ways... but to understand the reason for this post... check out verse 4.

"(4)Praise him with the timbrel and dance."

Forget about the trimbel right now. Do a word study on that later... just notice that it says that you will praise God in His sanctuary with... dance!

That's it! It's over! I dare you to stand up and DANCE! Hehe! I'm feeling that old song that says:

"Has cambiado mi lamento en baile!

Me ceñiste de alegria

Por eso a ti cantare gloria mia

Y nunca estare callado."

Oh, come on you don't know about that! That was some old time religion that got the people started back in the day... and they danced, shouted, cried, jumped... oh, how I rememmber!

Those were the days were all the songs that were sung came out of reading Scripture... and YES that is a verse.

Salmos 30:11

"Has cambiado mi lamento en baile; Desataste mi cilicio, y me ceñiste de alegría."

For you english speakers...
Psalm 30:11

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,"

If you don't dance, its ok. I understand. You say you are not a person that demostrates feelings... Let me see you with a lottery ticket worth 1 Million dollars in your hand that you barely won.

I bet you will dance.

No? Come on... don't lie to yourself. You know you will.

So, Jesus gave you eternal life. Dance.

If you still don't want to, its ok. I said I understand. I'll respect you. Just worship Jesus. Hehe.

Lemme dance a bit.

I'm out..

»I FEAR(ED) LONELINESS.

2007-10-05T00:51:00.000-05:00

One of the fears that I had all my life was to be "lonely". It is ironic because sometimes, I love being alone. But it gets to a point where I want to have somebody that I can trust and talk to... I had always feared staying by myself. Even though I had some friends, I knew that one day they would go on with their own lives. I always feared being stuck in life, feeling lonely.

The way that I received help in this area was to confide in God's love. If I could feel God's love and I could love others, I would be allright. Even though the people that I once loved and spent time with... left me, I would keep making new relationships and love again.

1 John 4:18

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..."

I give thanks to God for a very special person that God put on my life. Ruthie, my girlfriend. What an awesome girl she is. She is my world. She helps me in this area... I love her deeply.

There are other people that I love... and I thank God for them too.

What I encourage you not to forget though, is that "perfect love".

The only love that can help you abolish all fear is the "perfect love". That is what the Scripture says. And that perfect love can only come by having a relationship with Jesus. If you have a relatioship with Jesus, every fear that you have ever had will be wiped out. Fear of the dark? Fear of loneliness? Fear of making mistakes? Fear of anything? Just receive that "perfect love" from Jssus, because where there is love, there is no fear.

I leave you with the words that Jesus told his disciples.

Matthew 10:31
"So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

It does not matter who you are... you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Do not fear.

»SIMPLE CHURCH (What I'm Reading)

2007-10-02T06:31:00.001-05:00

I just had to write again... I bought this book and am devouring it page by page. Oh wow! This is an amazing book. I love the style that both authors use to write it. I am learning so much on how to have a Simple Church and not a Difficult Church, concerning staff, that dang calendar, announcements, numbers, meetings and mission statements.

It is a Church Administration book and I love it. Thank God for people that write such books and help us (aspiring ministers) from running into a brick wall... Well, we will all have our brick walls. But these books do help.

I encourage each person that is doing and will be doing ministry to read this book.

I cannot wait for Chapter 3. Imagine a church without the clutter and all the mission statements. Imagine the church like the Google homepage. Simple. Wow! Where the process of making disciples is Simple, easy and not complex. I gotta stop. This is awesome.

Read the book. It's wort the $15.

»I FEAR NOT KNOWING EVERYTHING!

2007-10-01T23:24:00.000-05:00

Pastor Rios is going through an 8 week series dealing with Fear and how to be free from it. I can't wait to learn some things. But for the next few days, maybe this whole week, I want to be transparent and write about some fears that I have. Can I be honest with you? No. Really?

I will write about what I fear and the strategy that I use to defeat that fear. I hope you can benefit from this.

I FEAR NOT KNOWING EVERYTHING.

People have expectations from you. Your family expects things, your friends. Even your church expects you to know things. Sometimes, I expect to know a couple of things for myself... and I learn. I read like crazy. I study people. I watch and observe. I want to know. It is an instinct. Sometimes, people come and ask me questions concerning the Bible. I give them an honest answer. BUT... Sometimes I just don't know! Hehe.
Really. Sometimes, when people have asked me things that I expect myself to know how to explain, and I cannot answer them, I fear that everything else that I have said before will be doubted. When I see a person in pain and cannot answer them when they ask, "Why?" I fear that I am not living up to myself. I fear when a person comes up and asks me a question that I have to know, because I have been in church all my life, and according to everybody, "I need to know."

So how do I cope...? Not really cope, but overcome this fear? Well the scripture says in John 24:17

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as

the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled,

nor let it be fearful. "

I overcome when I stay calm and don't let the pressure get to me.

When someone challenges me with a question that expects a very good answer, I rely on God's peace to come into my heart and I keep calm... and let them know I will get back with the with an answer.

When someone faces a crisis in their life an questions God and comes to me just asking , "Why this...?" and, "Why that..?"I can only rely on God's peace to say the "right" things and be confident that God has everything under control.

There is a saying that someone said. I don't remember who. He said:

"This world is lost. It needs a Pastor."

It does not need more educated doctors and good technologies. It does not need more money and luxuries. It needs a Pastor. A pastor that is just as human as the people he serves , but is hearing God's voice at all times. A pastor that whenever faced with fears he can rely on God to answer even the toughest question. A Pastor that stands with God's people in times of Need, Recovery and Victory. A pastor that fears, but fears (relies) God more.

I pray to be like that.

Even if I do not know everything. I want to have the peace in my life and be conficent that God really is Omniscient and that He knows ALL things.

I realize this: I will always fear not knowing everything. I will NEVER know everything, but I also know this... that if Jesus gives me the peace and confidence that He only can give, I will be able to withstand any expectation.

Come back tomorrow to hear about my next fear.

»What I Desire to see in Ministry.

2007-09-30T06:37:00.000-05:00

Oh man... oh man! What a week!
I dislike working for the man... and the"man" may be myself... hehe. I wish to see someones life change. I desire to see someone commit to serve Jesus. I long for the days that I can be a witness of life change in people. Not the beginning of life change. Not the result of life change... but the PROCESS of Life Change. You know? It is not an event... or a program... or a single testimony that I want to see. It is the dayS, the eventS, the testimonieS that I want to see in people. Many can lie about it. Many can give up after they testify. Many will fall away after they come to Him. I want to see the development of a person before their conversion and after the conversion. That's what I pray for in Ministry. The hard work, the effort, the times of quietness (meditation), will be paid off with an army of people that are experiencing Life change. From bad to good. From good to better. From better to best. What a joy it is to see a person that has nothing... to see them smile big, knowing that all they have is Jesus. Wow. That is why I live... To see that.

You don't have to motivate me to want to see the joy of a new Christian. You don't have to push me to see the positive life change of people. No. You don't. I was created to serve Jesus in that way. I wish to tell you everything that I feel in my heart, but I'll save it for later. One day.

I am excited. Once again, I will be helping out in the pulpit of Starting Point this Sunday. God has been really showing up, in my life, at least. It is a fight! It is a battle! But I guess you already know who the Champion is.

All I know is that I love the responsibility of preparing a message and move myself around to be able to put my ear to God's heart and feel what He wants me to say to His people.

"Life change. Jesus, that's all I ask for... that there would be Life change this Sunday. Let it be so."

»CONFESSIONS of a Reformission Rev.

2007-09-25T07:24:00.000-05:00

WOW! I barely finished this book... I only have a couple of minutes to blog about.. brag about it. This is awesome... I dedicated the whole night to reading it... and I finished it.

This is the story of Mark Driscoll planting Mars Hill, a church of 6,000 people in Seattle, one of the least churched cities in America... He says that there are more dogs than Christians in Seattle. That's funny. It was insightful. I love reading stuff from people that went through it, you know? Not just people that call themselves experts and just know statistics and do not know the "work" that was done to get the statistics.

This guy started with nothing and now he has Elders (Pastors) that are helping him grow Mars Hill. I enjoyed it...

He also gave good instruction... good advice, and good counsel. I learned a lot from him.

I will read his next book... "Radical Reformission."

If you are ayoung leader and are called to be a Pastor or a Minister, you need to read this book. It will help you. Wow.

I'm going home. I'm at work.

I will post more about CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED REV tomorrow.

Goodnight.

»Charles Spurgeon!

2007-09-24T00:59:00.000-05:00

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

2 Timothy 2:15

This picture is of Charles Spurgeon... The prince of preachers. Pastor of Pastors. He is amazing!

We need a love for God's Word. That's how He talks to us...

Spend some time reading it...