Coming back

Hey all I have been away for some time and have not been able to blog. There is so much that has happened in the past year or so and its been truly exciting. The hustle and bustle of life and been getting the better of me lately and has distracted me for a brief moment. Lame excuse I know. Its a new year with lots of opportunity to catchup and even more opportunity to share life around me in which God is apart of and with me at every moment.

Lets reset the stage. This blog was created open a window for others to get a peek in my walk as a new Christian, especially the ones who are still checking the Christian thing out (kicking the tires so to speak). I would like this to be a safe place for people to comment, possibly ask questions, enjoy life with me and work towards growing and or continue growing a stronger relationship with our Lord and Savior. I by no means am an expert, nor do I claim to be although I think sharing my walk on this site is a way to share what I have witnessed and let others know (who are checking it out), its OK to love God and still be a cool dude.

Hands held high

After service my wife stayed to help with the baptisms and I got to take the kids to lunch and hang out with them. As we began to drive off I turned on the CD player which happened to have a worship CD we had been listening to. My daughter asked me to put on the song she really enjoys, so I did, and I asked her to sing for her brothers and I. I sang a few bars with her then came to a stop light and tilted the rear view mirror down to get a glimpse of her singing. Much to my surprise my daughter had her hands held high, head tilted upward and eyes closed as she was singing the song aloud....I was surprised and very proud. Interesting thing is my wife and I have never showed or taught her how to do that, she just did it on her own.

It was explained to me that hands raised during worship is a sign of surrender to our Lord. It was awesome to see my little 2 year old girl surrendering to the Lord in her car seat as we drove to get Lunch. She kept her hands up the entire song....

Church is NOT a routine!

Recently after a service at our church, my wife and I were discussing how GREAT and REFRESHING it was to be able to listen to the message, learn, and have an opportunity to stay engaged with God.

I remember not so long ago prior to being saved and attending my new church, I felt like my previous experience in church was a routine. My wife and I would come in, follow the protocol, kneel, stand, kneel, stand. We knew what to say and when to stay it without really listening to the message. We knew when the tithing basket came around, when communion was, which was the 45 mins mark (15 mins left!! woohoo) and shortly after was the closing prayer which meant we were almost done.

I don't feel like that anymore, but I think its important to note there was something missing in our life. Church was the same week in and week out, and we didn't have the vigor and energy we have now. We actually stopped going to church for a LONG period of time (6 years). In hindsight we were contributing to making it routine and putting up a front with everyone including ourselves in which case the sad part of it all is we were not allowing ourselves to be guided and healed through GOD.

Each church is different, so seek a good church with a good simple mission who are welcoming, caring, and involved with their members. The interesting thing is, we felt GOD led us to our church and we didn't have to look very far!

GOD in my business meeting?

For those that know me, I am a bit of an entrepreneur. So lately business has been looking quite good, and starting to progress upward (no pun intended). I believe a large part of that is GOD feels I am ready to take on the next steps in my business endeavors.

I was in a business meeting the other day and my client asked me a question which seems to be coming up quite often. "Are you a Christian?"

I am not offended, nor ashamed when people ask me that, but I find it interesting after all these years in business, I am being asked this question. (most recently within the last 2 years, which is when I turned to Christ). Even more interesting is the people who ask me that question are NOT Christians.

My responses are usually simple and direct, cause I am in a business meeting with my partners and associates and want to keep on task and professional. Then I am asked more questions about my faith, next thing I know I am inviting them to my church. My christian brothers who are my business associates, trip out on how this just happens.

What I have learned so far:
1.) The discussion topic of GOD can happen anywhere.
2.) GOD is leading the conversation.
3.) GOD will NOT just use you at church.
4.) GOD is a wonderful partner to have in leading your business
5.) Don't be afraid to openly discuss your relationship with Him when asked. Who knows what it might lead to.

Bible In a hurry?

Bible In A Minute - barats and bereta

As I watched this. It was funny, however I thought to myself how our world is all about "Getting it now", "Learn Fast", and "Summerize everything". Don't be in a hurry to understand GOD's word. I expect to read and re-read the Bible again and again, and I know I will never be an expert and know everything in the Bible. But what I will gain is a closer focused relationship with GOD as I continue to learn, study and ask questions. So dont be in a hurry.

Still on a High from worship night

My church had its first worship night in the new building. This was my first ever worship night so I was really excited and honored to serve on tech team for this event.

As the event neared, many of the people I spoke with who going to attend were anticipating the wonderful music they will get to sing, the opportunity to have a good time with friends, and have fun like anyone would in a concert. But it really is much more than that, here is where it hit me.

5 mins prior to the start of the event we prayed, our worship pastor said something that stuck in my head. "This is another opportunity for Christians to renew their relationship with GOD" Once I heard that, my perspective changed about the event and began to think of other reasons . The opportunity to build, to encourage, to strengthen your relationship with GOD.

When people were standing in the long line waiting for some good music, ready to have a good time with friends, and just have fun like anyone would in a concert........They walked out afterwards RENEWED, they felt ENCOURAGED, they were STRENGTHENED in their relationship with GOD.

How do I know? (I am sure you are thinking)......I walked out of the room I was serving in and stood for a minute or two to watch peoples faces and their expressions as they exited the building. I saw tears, happiness, joy, blessed thanks for the opportunity to praise and glorify our GOD Almighty that evening!

Season's Change, its God's Will

In just the past few weeks my pastor in my ministry (Tech Production) and good friend had decided to go back to the high tech life of corporate America. On top of that the co-pastor at my church (pictured with me) had a tug in his heart to migrate his family to Redman, WA and become the lead Pastor at Timberlake Church, another big surprise.

Some of my first initial thoughts were:

"God, what the heck is going on here?"
"I don't want them to go?"
"They cant leave now, I still need them"
"What am I going to do now?"

Its funny how quickly our thoughts immediately take a selfish turn when "change" you don't want to happen in your life occurs. Its human nature to get comfortable and we want it to stay the same. However if GOD allowed it to stay the same we would not grow in our faith nor grow as individuals. Their season at Eastlake church and their ministry has been fulfilled.

Each season in a year is beautiful (although in San Diego we have only 1 season ;)) when your in the middle of it, but when its time to change there is that ugly, messy, or awkward transition to get to the next season. The interesting note is, the environment eventually adapts to this change as we go into the next season and so on.

Our Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. Lets not pray to Him to ask Him to change things for our own selfish reasons, but rather seek his guidance, take the next step in our faith, and continue to build our relationship with Him.

Its clear to me, that GOD's will for these two gentlemen are to help others seek Him as I have, not to hurt our current church family. Jesus says to go and make disciples and they have.......and they are continuing to do so.

Temptation - Can you resist it?

I was in Las Vegas on a family vacation this past week. We had a lot of fun and adventure for the whole family even though the highs were 122, we were lovin it.

We had to stop by the mall to pick up a few items and beat the heat, then again everyone had the same thought. Parking was a pain. A parking space was nowhere to be found. We finally found a couple who just walked out of the mall so we started to follow them to their car. As they approached their car I turned on my turn signal so people would know my intentions. Another car (minivan) was motioning they were going to take the spot, and we motioned back indicating the same thing. I finally rolled my window down to tell them we had been following the couple, and they responded they were following them. It was starting to get ugly and I KNEW I had the rights to their spot. They kept talking and a women hopped out of the minivan and stood in the spot to ensure I didn't get it. I was pissed, we were all pissed. We slowly crept up pass them and decided to let it go. I looked at them and they gloated and stuff. I rolled my window down and said the only thing that came to my mind. "God Bless You". They all laughed and said something about my comment, and yelled out, "and we got your space too"

Boy did I want to get out and give them a little bit of "Thunder and Lighting". I didn't. in those few moments I calmed down, let it go, and forgave them. It was hard, but I did it.

15 secs after passing them, I drove around front of the mall (even though parking was scare I had to get around to look elsewhere) a parking spot was empty and waiting for us in the front of the door to the mall. 100 times better than the spot I was about to argue for. It made my day!

All roads will lead you back to HIM

I have a friend who I looked up to as a Christ follower. You can tell his relationship with our Lord is strong. In the recent past his focus with GOD has not been as strong as it once was, to a point where there was a bit of resentment towards GOD. It made me think, how can one resent GOD? Turn your back on GOD? Isn't that bad? Won't GOD be mad at you?

Our GOD is a loving GOD who forgives, and I have learned through this process of observing and engaging with my friend, it is OK to question Him. Its natural to have emotions which we as humans express, and when things start to go badly, it is normal/natural for us to express our feelings. We have to be careful cause some emotions can lead us to follow our own path which is set by ourselves and not GOD's will.

GOD has a path for you whether you know it or not. Sometimes you will try to drive your path in a direction you are not meant to go, but convinced your desire to go in that direction is correct, yet you are met with a brink wall or a room full of headaches and a backfull of rocks. It is only until you stop and listen to how GOD is guiding you, will you know your path set by our LORD, even then, you will NOT know your final destination.

You must continually have a loving relationship with GOD.
+ ENGAGE Him. PRAY and Worship! He is listening and he will answer you
+ LISTEN to Him- He is always speaking to you (in more ways than one)
+ SURRENDER - Only then can you engage and listen
+ OBEDIENT - Honor Him through your obedience. You will be Blessed.
+ SURROUND - Surround yourself with people who act on the first 4 bullets

My friend strayed but was able to brush the dust off and rebuild a relationship with GOD. I proud of my friend. I had not seen a smile from him in a long time. I am happy he opened his heart to receive HIM.

Tornado's In California?

When I heard there were tornado's in California which touched down and caused a train to derail so close to home, It certainly caught my attention, especially so close to my in-laws home (about 15-20 miles away) off the I-215 close to March AFB. Earthquakes in California are a dime a dozen, tornado's not so much. What could possibly be next on the horizon?