Jesse Lusko

Thoughts from a recovering hobo

2012-01-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

The bell erupts, 4th period is over, I am in 8th grade. I wander dazed out of my class and go microwave my bean & beef chimchanga. I see friends I know. I also see through friends I know to a bridge, my bridge, my lunch time domain. I scurry past them, crawl under it, sprawl out and fall fast asleep.

When I was 13 years old, I did not aspire to be a pro-skateboarder or a marine, I aspired to be a hobo. A nefarious transient who emerged in the 1930's. Men who abandoned their families freeloaded across the nation by train. Apparently, by nature I am inclined to be wanderer, a rambler and evidently a rather unsortly character and I am not only one. It reminds me of Sufjan Stevens – A Good Man Is Hard to Find they may not be hiding under bridges or train hopping, but a faithful man is just as hard to find.

When thinking briefly both of my own tendencies and the generation I am a part of words like "Flaky, Sketch, Non-committal, Fickle, Inconsistent, Unpredictable, and Squirrely" come quickly to mind.

Since I have been involved in ministry leadership Proverbs 20:6 has been more than verified before my eyes. "Most men will proclaim their own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?"

The nuclear family having long since detonated, people are conditioned to believe that when things cease to be pleasant, comfortable and gratifying you just peace out and move on.

We live in the "lates..." wasteland. Live like you don't give a rip! Serial divorce and the single parent norm is the bitter apex of this living.

Most of us have had a non-confrontational friend fizzle away in the pressure and we feel like crying out"The faithful man has perished from the earth."

Thankfully, The Lord is not sketch. He does not say "lates". Frankly, He is not like us. His faithfulness stretches to the sky.

God is not temperamental or wishy washy in His dealing with us, He is the same yesterday today and He is devoted to you and I. Even when we are faithless He is faithful, and deals with us according to that faithfulness.

David pondered this in contrast to man's double tongued ways and asked this question: "What shall I give to the LORD for all His benefits toward me I will take up the cup of salvation. And call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD. Now in the presence of all His people."

The only way to repay the Lord is to continue to enjoy the Lord! As you drink His marvelous character you will naturally reciprocate it.

The more we value the faithfulness of God we will begin to see "Lates" exchanged for "Legit, Loyal, Dedicated, Dependable, Trustworthy and Reliable."

The Lord has an accurate estimation of us, we need to agree with it stop proclaiming our own goodness, stop making empty commitments and begin to recognize that bailing out is a sin to be repented of.

As we acknowledge how unfaithful we are and drink in the salvation of our God it will begin to produce the glorious fruit of the Spirit ... faithfulness.

Finally, it is time go all in for something, to find a group of people, a venue, a ministry to cultivate fruit. A place and a vision you can fully get behind, then go all in and commit!

Imagine what the Lord could do if every believer committed to a ministry with the same amount devotion they do to their jobs, school, or hobbies.

Romans12:10

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."

As we quit escaping under bridges and hop off the train of our own emotion we will become those rare hard to come by people (The ones I know bring tremendous joy to my life).

People who prove the good, perfect and pleasing will of God.

Elephant Heart

2011-12-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Two nights ago a bright girl in her mid-20's paid me this compliment:
"That sounds so amazing! I am so happy that you found your way! It is clear you are passionate about this! But me... I am content with my religion."

I have received 'compliments' like this so often that I've come up with a name for them: 'The Soft-Serve Shuffle.' Suddenly, 'the mystery that was kept secret from before the world was' has been shuffled by & relegated into spiritual show & tell & Baskin Robbin's flavor of the month.

Worst still, we often set ourselves up for this. We present the gospel this way: "I used to eat Mint-Chip & I felt so empty inside...then it came to me...Taro-Cocunut w/ fruity pebbles…I received it into my heart & it gave me eternal satisfaction!!" People are like; "Uh... thanks...that is sweet bro, good for you, man but I am eating double double fudge & I don't give a rip."

In the last few years I have seen how foolish this is. The gospel is not your personal preference. It is not my opinion. It is 'the Elephants' revelation (see last post). Many of us know this but we don't talk this way; we desperately need to.

We need Elephant hearts.

The NT is so rationale, so accommodating of empiricism, that apostles constantly make it clear that they are not simply peddling their fancies. The notion of Pascal's Wager would be a mockery to them. (check out 2 Cor. 2:17, 1 Peter 1:16, 1 John 1:1, 1 Cor. 15:1-9)

1 Thes. 2:13 "when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God" The entire basis of salvation is upon the fact that someone hears what God has revealed in Christ’s death and resurrection and decides to trust God’s revelation instead of their own opinions.

We need to realize we have been “entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." (2:4)

It is time to authoritatively say “I am not coming to offer you one more flavor of ice cream, I am telling you we have all had too much ice cream! We have diabetes! We need insulin!”

The gospel is not your opinion. Our opinions are the problem. God’s revelation is the objective solution. We must make this distinction to our patronizing culture.   God has already distinguished His revelation in innumerable ways (how about rising from the dead...) the most apparent in our day being His track record with Israel.

Jeremiah 23:8  “As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' Then they will live in their own land." (He seems to keep doing that over and over like in 1948 when thousands of Jews came from the North in eastern-Europe and Russia and all over the world and took back their land after two millennia.)

Israel proves that God-is-real and that this message we have is not like the ‘prophets of the deceit of their own heart.' 23:26  We can instead have Elephant hearts like Jeremiah, Paul and his team and speak clearly since 'we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord.' 2 Cor. 4:5

This realization will be source of all authority, accuracy, humility and effectivity.   I can attest first hand when you realize it is not your message you truly witness that His word’s are 'like a fire and a hammer that breaks rocks to pieces.' 23:29 (That girl sure did...)

You will see that the gospel is His power to save.

(If this gets you stoked like it does me, check out this message I preached called Elephant Heart)

He came. Find out why. (Meet the Elephant)

2011-11-21T22:38:00.001-08:00

It’s Christmas time, & the moment you enter a grocery store you will hear familiar carols about the distant manger & that holy night. Was that night special? Was it a big deal?

Religious pluralism is everywhere we look. You can't sit in a college classroom or be stopped at a red light without noticing the “coexist” message. So what makes Christmas any different than the night Buddha was born? Was it different than Moses’ or Mohammad’s birth, or when Socrates was born?

A famous Hindu proverb portraits the ideal of our day:
“Four blind men are all touching the same elephant. One felt the tail & thought it was a rope, another the side of the creature & swore it was a wall, another a leg & claimed it was a tree, finally one touched the trunk & said it was a snake.”

People say Jesus was just another shaman, a prophet, a teacher who grabbed on to one more aspect of the same general truth we're all blindly looking for.

Left to ourselves this description is right on; our opinions are the illusions of the blind.
“We grope for the wall like the blind, & we grope as if we had no eyes.”
Isaiah 59:9

But God didn’t leave us to our blindness.
He has revealed Himself & has shown the elephant to be an elephant. God is not detached or weak. He doesn’t mumble. He doesn’t hint at truth & leave us guessing.
“I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.”
Isaiah 45:19

He spoke & declared history before it happened & brought His predictions
to pass time & time again. “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, & there is none like Me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass.” Isaiah 46:9-10

In Christ that revelation was pulled into focus, sharp crystal clear 20/20, High Definition.
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times & in various ways & now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son.” Hebrews 1:1

That's why Jesus came! Not to give us one more opinion but to give sight to the blind. Jesus did not come to point to truth, Jesus came & said He is the Truth.
He set the character of God on full display, because He was God with skin on. “No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.” John 1:18

That picture became clearest at Jesus’ death. “God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement… He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just & the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:25-26

Jesus showed both God’s love & justice. He was crucified paying for our wrongs & rose from the dead showing His payment was enough.

Now there are two types of people; ones who stubbornly keep their eyes shut, holding on to their own delusions & those who open their eyes to reality embracing His goodness. You can either keep living however you want or trust in Jesus, surrender to Him & begin a deep, satisfying relationship with God. “He was in the world, & the world was made through Him, & the world did not know Him. He came to His own, & His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:11-12

Finally, know this, when the elephant has had enough it will trample you to the ground no matter how sure you are that it is a snake or tree.

Jesus came once to save, He will come again to judge.

Recap

2010-03-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

Life basically got a little out of control for a few months and I was not really in the right state of mind to be blogging. I mean seriously it would be totally like unlawful for you to read the stuff coming out of my mind.

But now that things have regained homeo stasus I feel like would be alright for me recount some highlights of those wild times:

A. Classy Tuesday

For a brief yet glorious flare up of late Autumn the men of Student Ministries dawned some fine attire and made our presence known on campus. Never a bad time to look good.

B. Christmas

Flew by, but still stoked that Jesus came.

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5

C. Licensed

Out of the blue completely unexpected the Pastoral Staff decided to license me along with three other godly men. So blessed and privileged. I can bury you, and marry you!

D. Marriage

With some of the greatest people in my life gathered round, I took Rebekah Elizabeth to be my wife.

Can't even describe how thankful I am for her, truly stand in awe of what God did in bringing us together.

The wedding was at Albuquerque Bed and Breakfast and was absolutely magnificent.

"What God has joined together let no one separate."

E. Maui

Enough said.

F. The Peak
Wolf Creek so epic. Really neat series on walking with God, divided between Nate, Aj, and I. I taught walking with God in triumph on Contrasting Caleb and Hezekiah.

G. Pastor's Conference
All 4 Lusko Men were in Tuscon. The whole pastoral staff got to go. So encouraging.

Huge hitters in the Preaching Realm.
So inspiring to meet them, banter with them, and hear them teach.

Alistair Begg: blew my mind.
James Mcdonald: very solid preacher, very outrageous to eat mexican with, or just about anything else.
Pedro Garcia: such a humble and encouraging guy.
Levi Lusko: So stoked my brother is being used so tremendously by God.

H. The Weekend
In full gear.

http://www.theweekendabq.org/

I. Nate Heitzig
Oh yeah and Nate became a squirrel for a bit, then a man again, then broke his leg and got a new cyborg one put on.

http://iamthesquirrel.com/thesquirrel/Dont_tell_anyone.html

That pretty much brings us up to speed!

(Author's Note: Not every post will be this vain, but I thought these things were significant enough to notify the web universe.)

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

Sleeping, Saints, and Sinners

2009-10-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

Intro Video for the new series I started at Vertical on Spiritual Sleep in the Scripture.

I did the art, Isaac animated it.

Kelty Brandsford

2009-09-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Oh what a wonderful thing for another one of my brotherhood to see the day of matrimony. Kelly is one of the greatest friends I have had and now he has crossed the icy pathway, scaled the loftiest peaks, and crossed the threshold into marriage.

So stoked for him.

More Reasons

2009-09-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

This makes my job exciting.

Summit is going through a book called "Your God is too safe" Mark Buchanan.
C.S. Lewis wrote
Lucy: "Is He safe?"
Mr. Beaver: "Safe? Who said anything about safe? He's not safe but He is good, He's the king I tell you!"

We gave a disclaimer about our behavior after showing the video.

Bachelor....

2009-08-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Marriage is on the horizon, for myself, and many of my comrades, the nearest is Josh, my beloved and strange, longtime friend and step brother. I am so stoked for him, he is a wild and easy going guy, who loves the Lord and his fiancee. Last night we celebrated all that is the madness of being a single guy.

ROCKET CLIMBING
(we literally were launching off the walls and grabbing holds high above us)

HALO EXTRAVAGANZA
(....25 Red Bulls, 10 pizzas and 5 x boxes via ethernet)

PRAYER and PRESENTS
(industrial size pack of lucky charms)

DOWN HILL SLIP AND SLIDE
(100 by 20 ft black tarp, dish soap and 40 gallons of water)

Why I love my job

2009-07-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

BELIZE part 2

2009-07-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

The rest of the Belize trip went fantastic, only one more injury with my little sister, (that first photo was unrelated just caught her at a bad angle). Once I got to San Pedro, perhaps due to your prayers, the sun shone through the clouds and the thoughts and discouragement cleared up for me. The ministry at the island was incredible, though San Pedro is a huge tourist destination, but most of the locals live in an area called San Pedrita which is utterly poor.
We cleaned a Christian Preschool run by a believer named Javier and his wife. We then had a two day VBS, that went very well.The streets of the island are ripe for evangelism, and we did so in a park on the beach every evening.The Caribbean waters were glorious and warm, as David and I baptized 4 students. We helped out with Light House Radio (Clive's main ministry)
and also invested in the Belizean economy (9 parts ministry 1 part tourist)
and got to go snorkeling in a reef.

I felt like I was living how God intended, going barefoot and shirtless, climbing palm trees, chopping coconuts with my machete, that was the life.

Finally we had a massive carnival and outreach, where the students played with kids and presented the gospel in a drama. And we projected Fire Proof onto a screen we suspended on a near by billboard. The outreach had nearly 300 at it, not to mention scores of people who pass by the park all night and street vendors. Though we faced many a trial, the trip was incredible and I can not imagine doing anything else with my life!

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. " Matthew 24:14

So stoked to be a small part of that reality!

BELIZE IN MY HEART

2009-07-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Belize has been a marvelous experience so different then way I came here as a 7th grader with a high voice and shaggy hair.

God is doing radical things.

Huge VBS with very poor childeren.

Vertical Students are doing an incredible job.

Having Heidi here and being a leader together with my fiancee is incredible.

However, I have been facing some rather frustrating spiritual warfare, and could use our prayers, or edifying words very much.

I pretty much relate exactly to these words:

"My peculiar temptation has been that of unbelief. I know that God's promise is true, that if He says it He will do it, yet does this temptation incessently assail me, "Doubt Him, distrust Him, He will leave you." I can assure you this temptation is aided by anxiety and is hard to stand day by day. "

C. H. Spurgeon

It even tempts me to doubt God's existence, and the truth of His word.

It is clearly the ememy, but each moment the thoughts seem like my own and it is terrifying.

We had a killer impromptu worship session on the bus, and time of confession that really helped but still some mental anguish today.

Please pray for me, that the trials would be used to conform me to the likeness of Jesus!

Love you all!

2009-07-04T14:25:00.001-07:00

Very bad ipod

2009-07-04T14:24:00.001-07:00

Bad ipod

A Special day

2009-07-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

Nate paid me $10 to wear a helmet all day, while we ran errands, smiths, party city, 7 11. My fiancee was with us and was ashamed to be called babe. Jackie Garret was particularly amused and raised me $5 to go wander around Solomon's porch and the admin offices. The world will not forget the day Jesse Lusko was a bit less than ordinary.

Navigator and S. kid

2009-06-26T19:51:00.001-07:00

A little Domeries a little six flags. A lot of fun!

Goliath

2009-06-26T15:57:00.001-07:00

at six flags

2009-06-25T18:52:00.001-07:00

This picture wins

Harvest OC

2009-06-25T18:45:00.001-07:00

Harvest infiltrating the Orange County! Elevate O'nine joining the craze..

Roomate profile 4: elevate edition

2009-06-23T21:19:00.001-07:00

Glen Loepke: loves swords and in and out, crazy about star wars , can eat a 4x4 in 4 bites, owns a deep fryer, and loves Jesus. Glen also wants to be a professional chef and is going to Belize with me for the second time.

Bonus fact: Glen is a certified eagle scout and still an active member of boy scouts of america.

2009-06-23T11:02:00.001-07:00

Learning!

2009-06-23T10:51:00.001-07:00

With the happy kids at the beach!

Day off!

2009-06-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

I Watched Jaxon for a few hours, he is more hilarious each and every day. He makes really convincing animal noises now. He also developed a strange affinity for oven mits...

I also discovered a you tube channel that has entire seasons of my favorite cartoon shows from when I was Jaxon's age and up.

I watched half of season 1 of X-Men airing fall 1992!

Now this is what made Saturdays worth waking up for.

Not that wierd japanese garbage that is all over TV now days.

Batman, Spiderman, X-Men... Classic cartoons

Spend your day off here too and relish with me in child hood nostalgia!

http://www.youtube.com/user/novfiftn?blend=1&ob=4

Ship, Shape, Shepherd

2009-06-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

Paste this link!

http://renovateabq.org/webcast.asp?ServiceID=75

I had an incredible privilege of teaching the college ministry the week after my Dad spoke there.

I can't even believe this.

They are going through a rad series on the 7 I Am's of John.

I did "I Am the good shepherd".

The Lord is so gracious to glorify Himself through you if you offer yourself to Him, and you then get to just experience the grace that does great things in spite of you.

Check out my teaching and when they put up my Dad's listen to his. He taught "I Am the Door."

My mom and sister came and were a great support and so did Bekah's Parents.

She was such a great support well I was pacing and panting and studying.

This was a really cool blessing to teach to such a cool group of students who love the Lord so much.

Tell me what you think, and forgive my lack of eloquence...

(The drawing is compliments of Gina, she drew on the back of her notes it based on a few of my illustrations)

Belize team training!

2009-06-05T10:12:00.001-07:00

In the mountains of Jemez...

2009-05-29T11:29:00.001-07:00

Task completed!

Not my own doing

2009-05-26T23:00:00.001-07:00

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. He delights in his way."
Psalm 37:23

Can't even believe I'm back! Lord willing never to leave again. Following the Lord is quite the ride! Never would I have imagined I'd be engaged to a girl beyond my dreams and expectations and helping pastor the youth group that shaped my pursuit of God so greatly. It literally never entered my mind. I pray the Lord instills in me a heart of a slave of righteousness, as I serve my lovely Fiancee, Nate my superior and friend, and the scores of kids who are just like I was. As I am being made righteous in His Son I see He is ordering my steps. I am full of gratitude...

Spacious Ford Focus

2009-05-21T07:56:00.001-07:00

Two guitars, three suit cases, three comforters, books, one bike, and a Jesse. You've got to love the hatch back.

COMPLETE IN HIM

2009-05-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

People have a lot of problems in life. People wonder what the purpose of life is. They seek to be satisfied in a million different things. The christian and non Christian alike. Bad things like drugs, sex and rock and roll or good things like having a successful marriage or ministry. We either attain and or not satisfied or we are not able to attain.

But the Word says why we exist:

"You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created."

We exist for the pleasure of God. Many people know this but they don't know how to exactly how to please God.

HOW DO WE PLEASE GOD?

Jesus told us: 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." and " love our neighbor as ourself"

We usually arbitrarily accept that idea.

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden [His] face from you, So that He will not hear.
How do you love Someone who needs absolutely nothing, who is the I AM, the all existent One. The all sufficient God who is so good to us?

David pondered this.

"What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?""
Then he answered his own question.
"I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD."

RECEIVE
Literally the only way to glorify God, the only way to truly love God, the only way to please God is receive from Him in a thankful heart.

Stop looking to yourself and other finite things to satisfy your hunger for the infinite.

Receive His blessings and His word, believing that He knows what is best for you unto obedience.

THE GLORY OF THE NEEDLESS IS TO GIVE THE GLORY OF THE NEEDY IS TO RECEIVE

There is one thing that stops us from receiving from God and that is sin, I.E. not receiving His word and will, not believing He is good, or wise and that you know better.

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear"

Our goal is to glorify God by receiving from Him and knowing Him, but sin stops us from receiving.

So the first need we need met is that we are cut off by sin from so He met our need greatest need.

Jesus met our need becoming our Mediator to God. How did He do this? He was be cut off, but not for Himself. "Him who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." As we all know He was then raised from the dead.

We received Jesus by

BELIEF AND CONFESSION

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
not of works, lest anyone should boast"

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

As Christians we still feel cold and find ourselves sinning at times.
Being selfish, not praying enough, losing our temper, falling into past sins, not wanting to receive God at all.

Then we either cover it up or try to muster up some strength to try to fix it. We try to force ourselves to pray more or read more and love more and sinless.

This is all supposed to be fruit.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

No straining no stress no force, because in ourselves we can do nothing. We simply receive from Jesus our source. Jesus the great I AM who we are a part of.

JESUS IS THE ONLY SOURCE

How do keep abiding when we don't even feel like we can pray, or worship, or read the bible if we are not supposed to force it, if it is to come natural?

Paul wrote this

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
SO WALK IN HIM
We do it the exact same way received Him.

We confess we sin, we are messed up, we confess that we don't love, we confess we need Him, we confess we can do absolutely nothing of ourselves.

Believe that the blood of Jesus, the cross of Jesus is enough, we trust in the blood of Jesus.
GRACE ONLY COMES AT THE CROSS

Many people come to the cross after failing really bad, they wait till they feel forgiveness, then they get up go there way and try to do things themselves again.

We need to stay there and never leave, utterly broken, utterly satisfied in His sacrifice.

It is a walk, we repeatedly over and over in abundant thanksgiving, confess our inability and our miserable condition, confess our lack of desire, confess that it is wrong, confess that we are not what we should be.

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Stop walking in darkness, stop being a pharisee, you are a sinner all the time, admit and agree it is wrong and let His blood constantly cleanse you.

CONFESSION IS AGREEING YOU ARE WRONG

Then we believe, we believe that He is sufficient, we believe that His sacrifice is enough, that His cross is enough, we believe that He is able to do all things. We believe that in His Divine Dna shed upon us in His blood will impart life to us, and we are found in Christ, not having our own righteousness which is by the flesh, but the righteousness in Him.

Is this possible? That we don't have to fix anything? That we just keep receiving that is all?

Yes, That Holy Great I AM said His grace is sufficient for us and made perfect in our weakness.

His grace will never, ever, ever, ever, come to us anywhere but in the Crucified Lord Himself. We will never be close to God anywhere but in honestly abiding in the scars of Jesus.

Here in this, in this glorious truth His life fills us and gives us rest, we stop being stressed, we rid ourselves us guilt and the obligation to do rightly, so that it is "God who works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure!"

He gives the thankful wonderful desire to come close and to love He imparts the desire to pray and to rejoice, to hate evil and do good. Then He gives us the power to do it.

As we continually rhythmically walk confessing our utter inability and believe the ability that is in Christ!

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

Stop being tricked according to the lies of the devil and the principles of the world, you dont need to fix yourself. Stop trying and stop hiding that fact that you are not perfect!

As you rest forever at the cross you will find yourself

COMPLETE IN HIM

A Tribute Roy Hession and the Providence of God

2009-05-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

When I saw that I had to read this for my James class the graphic design immediately repelled me. I thought it was going be some weird hyper experiential book. I was incredibly wrong in every way. It was one of the most influential book. God's providence is so keen! Yes I said it is sharp and spot on! This book literally summed up, expounded and reemphasized everything the Lord has taught me in the past 8 months!

For the report we had to write a summary and application here is mine.

Seeing God the Purpose of Life

Many people are searching for the purpose of their lives. Life all seems like a series of empty pursuits. This is because we are ever pursuing our own pleasure, we are pursuing finite to satisfy our hunger for the infinite. The Bible explains that the purpose for which we were created is to bring God pleasure. Now the way to bring God pleasure is expressed also in the scripture: Duet. 10:12, Micah 6:8, Mark 12:30 essentially show the purpose of life is to know and to love and walk with God. To see God. The west minster confession rendered it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. People lost the passion to see God in many respects. In times past people went to all lengths though sometimes destructive lengths to see God. People desire to serve God, perhaps more than they desire to know God. We were created to be the delight of God in the beginning, receiving everything from God and reciprocating an obedient love, thanksgiving and ecstatic adora

tion. Satan tempted us and we put self in the place of God. We began to seek our own interests and depend on our own wisdom and resources. The Eternal God was not taken off guard by this rebellion but had a plan for redemption prepared from the foundations of the earth. To create God had to speak, to redeem God had to bleed. The Lord is prepared to humble us and bring us back into dependency on Him. He does this by effecting our lives and proving to us that we can do nothing with out Him. Making activity and service our priority will jeopardize the goal of knowing God for ourselves. We feel it is going to mean more because it is sacrificial, but this predicates itself on the pagan notion that God needs something. Even our service of God must flow from a desire to experience Him! Service does not deal with our s

elf centeredness, it often encourages it. Seeking one experience of joy or power or wonder will also leave us wanting. If the experiencing and manifestation of the glories of God becomes our chief end no matter the situation we can be at peace and at rest, He wants to manifest Himself!

Application:

Stop thinking that God need’s something or that my service is of great advantage to Him, or that He is lucky to have me. Stop putting my expectations in things that are going to disappoint me. Ask the Lord to help me to live life receiving all that He is

Seeing God in the face of Jesus

Seeing God can be difficult, because no one has ever seen God, John tells us. Creation, could not fully show us God, people developed wrong notions of God though creation worshiping it in fear and confusion. God did not leave us like this, He revealed Himself fully in Jesus the Christ. Christ, is the Word, the Seal, the Brightness, the Eternal Son of God. No where but in Jesus the Christ can we see God. The glory of God was shown in the beaten, disfigured, bloodied face of His beloved Son. Glory of a man would be shown in His pride. God is not like us. The glory of God was shown in His humility. Grace is the glory of God. The hour of glory for the Savior was His suffering. In seeing Jesus in simple faith every need of our heart is met. Not in a mystical way, or in visions. To see Jesus is to see Him as the supply of our every need! He is the solution that God supplied for our greatest need as sinners and through that He is thus able to meet every one of our needs, though often not in a way would expect.

Application:

Stop trying to experience God in bizarre phenomena and through human religious endeavors. Recognize that I have a great need, recognize that Jesus is all I need and stop trying to attain things for myself.

Seeing Jesus as all we need

In John 8 Jesus makes a very definitive and profound statement making it clear He is the Great I AM. This is how God addressed Himself to Moses. It means All-Existent one.

French Bibles render Jehovah as L’eternal. Jesus, the Eternal God, is in another realm all together. “I AM what my people need” apart from peoples needs God is “I AM THAT I AM” making Him incomprehensible, but in His meeting our needs He becomes personal. Where there is need God is there, He searches for those who will admit their inability and admit His ability. We have no claim on this, we never have, all we can do is receive with gladness and thanksgiving. The fact He meets the needs of sinners is incredible, but this is the God of all grace. This is why academics is not enough, you must experience how He meets needs. Over and over again The LORD is called Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah-Tisidkinu and Jehovah-Sus. I AM thy Banner, I AM thy peace, I AM thy righteousness, and finally, I AM thy Savior: JESUS! We need to be saved, we are languishing in sin and under just condemnation. He saw our need and met Him through Jesus death, burial and resurrection. He met our greatest need.

Application:

We are still sinners we still need Jesus. We must see ourselves as sinners, this is what the Holy Spirit does. He convinces us that we need Jesus, and that He is able to meet our need. We will forever need Him, because His righteousness will always be a result of grace.

Seeing Jesus as the Truth

Both the gospel and all of the epistles of John have a vary key theme, that is truth. As we see Jesus as the one who meets all our needs, the first need we have is truth. If we don’t know the reality of our condition we won’t know what needs He wants to meet. The truth of ourselves is brought to us through Jesus because He doesn’t merely tell us the Truth He is the Truth. Thus just as Jesus as grace was articulated most profoundly at golgotha so is the truth about us, for Jesus died in our place. We are so deceived thinking were are good, or have some appeal to God, we think ourselves at least to be better than the next guy. But every mouth is stopped at the cross of Christ. The old testament is rich in pictures of Christ that explain the full weight of what was transpiring that divine day outside Jerusalem. Hebrews 13: 11-13 calls one of these to our attention: “For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Three things existed outside the orderly camp of the Hebrews in the wilderness. Foreigners, lepers, and animal carcasses. Hession points out that Jesus reveals that each of these describes us. Fellowship and communion with God was transpired at the Tabernacle and to be in the camp meant to have fellowship with God. Gentiles who were excluded in this period. We too were once in the excluded aliens from the common-wealth of Israel without hope having not mercy. Jesus carrying His cross outside the gate too became estranged from God in our place as He uttered out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” He became a stranger proving we were strangers. It was a place of Lepers. Leprosy was often a type of sin in the bible in the way it started small and then began to deteriorate the person, cutting them off from society and then life. A person had to be cleansed of leprosy not healed. People would be smitten with leprosy, so “we esteemed Him smitten by God and afflicted”. He took our place as a leprous reject outside the gate. Finally, the refuse of animal sacrifice was burned outside gate. We were like filthy sin ridden rotting animals, but He took our place, like an animal offered to God. The very one for whom the Tabernacle was for, the very one whose glory dwelt in the camp. “Him who knew no sin became sin, that we might be the righteousness of God”

Application:

These are doubtlessly profound truths but what weight does this bare to me as I have received Him? Much in every way! For the truth of sin and condemnation speaks volumes. Receiving Him grants me no intrinsic self merit (it would be ludicrous not to receive such unfathomable love) what it gives me is grace. I am clothed in the glorious righteousness of Christ, and it is His grace will empower me to live now righteously. Yet the moment I rely on myself and my own strength I am once again trusting that which was depicted so graphically outside the camp. My flesh is still that leprous, hideous, foreign, rotten thing with which the everlasting God has nothing to do. Though my redemption is sure and salvation is secure, I still must realize the truth of sin spoken from the cross. So I must see my strength as nothing I must see my self as desperate. I need His grace, I need His righteousness. ( I must remember now this is not sad or morbid, this should not lead to self pity, I was made to be dependent, creatures made to receive from the all sufficient God so I too then receive righteousness and value from Him.)

Seeing Jesus as the Door

In John 10:9 Jesus calls Himself the door. This is what Hession now points out. Understanding the truth of ourselves a vile refuse produces a feeling of exclusion. Now we must see that Jesus is the door to inclusion! He is the way we enter into salvation. The idea of a door carries with it the idea of a wall. Now this wall is what separates a wonderful holy God from evil selfish creatures such as you and I. But Jesus wants to meet our need, so He become a door. Everyone who has come to God has entered through Jesus by confessing the truth of what we are and by believing Him. Yet still even in Christ we can still become estranged from God in our hearts. How is this? What is it that keeps us out from Him? We do feel cold at times, do we not? We feel lazy sterile far from God, though this can be a form of trial, but more often we are separated from God in some way and His revivals and glorious work. How then do we enter? Is it through sacrifice and intense emotional pursuits? Is through all night prayer vigils? Is it by undertaking more service? Is it by the study and rehearsal of theologies? No all of these with out His already present infusion are but empty attempts of men to break down a door that is already open. I John 2:1 tells us that if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. If we would simply confess our sin and our constant need of grace He would draw us in and give it freely. Two things hinder here one we either do not confess because we view our Master a harsh one who will abuse us for our failure. This is folly, for He will never abuse us He is gentle full of mercy and has already borne the abuse we deserved. Secondly, when we do come we try to enter the low and humble door that is Jesus with pride. We say we slipped up and acted out of character or we compare ourselves with another who is guilty. But He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble and deals with each alone. Our deeds were completely in character, we need not be surprised by our sin, it is perfectly in the nature of that vile flesh in which we so often justify. As we confess the truth that the cross taught us, confess that we are evil sinners with no excuses or justification, and that we need Jesus constantly He will be to us a door into all the benefits and all the strength we need to stand. Furthermore, He is that strength we need!

Application:

I need to stop trying to be holy. I need to stop trying to promise God I’ll do better next time. I need to stop making myself feel like crap. I need to confess I am unholy, confess I am dust, confess I need His mercy, confess I have sinned, confess I need Him to hold on to me, confess I need Him to help my unbelief. Confess that He is able and eager and glad to receive me and sustain me and make me holy!

Sinai or Calvary

Once we have come to the place of conviction and come to the realization that we are sinners. That we have transgressed the next step as was already pointed out by Hession is that we should confess and thus enter through the Door. This is what the Spirit of God urges us to do to turn to Christ at Mt. Calvary. Satan on the other hand urges us other wise. He takes us to Sinai and tells us again over and over we are sinners and that we deserve death. The thing that is worst still is he imitates the voice of the Spirit to persuade that we must listen to him. Paul says the commandment is the strength of sin. (I Cor. 15:56) Because apart from the Spirit’s conviction the good and righteous commandment of God shows us how hopelessly detached from God we are and then gives us no means by which to come to Him. We do one of two things, we make excuses for ourselves and try to prove that it is not true and that we are innocent. Second we try to reform ourselves through the efforts of the flesh. We through regulations and bondage try to promise God we will do better next time and improve ourselves, we then fail feel guilty and condemned and the cycle begins anew. Satan is the accuser of the brethren he instigates all this so we will ignore the Door of Jesus Christ that was opened at Calvary. The Spirit gives us instead a fresh and glorious look at Jesus and His blood and how He has passed over all our sins in forgiveness and mercy. This also has two effects: The believer acknowledges his sin, judging himself to be guilty, but knowing he will not be condemned, this produces great brokenness, humility, and thanksgiving. Second it produces rest from the efforts of self-improvement, putting an end to the empty resolutions and self-loathing. We stop looking to things that can not fix us. “In returning and in rest we are saved.” We drown out Satan in the blood of Jesus, knowing that our righteousness is secure in the blood that cleanses us. He renews our life and begins to fix us with discipline at times, but to infinite good as he brings forth our righteousness as we simply praise Him. We cease to try to reform ourselves and trust that He will pour love into our hearts at Calvary. He will work in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Rather than repenting a while at the cross we should ever continue their letting His love wash over us to equip us to live to the praise and glory of God. God will only work to will and to do in sinners through His grace, grace only comes through the blood of His cross. We only approach the cross through humble confession of our sin and belief He will receive us.

Application:

Cease from making excuses for my sin, cease from attempting to reform myself. Confess my sin knowing that Jesus’ blood brings peace and reconciliation, so God can work in me to will and to do. Ask God to teach my heart to truly believe that it is by the grace the comes at Calvary that I am able to stand, not only stand but walk in glorious love. So as I return I find rest.

Seeing Jesus as the Way

Now having seen come to Calvary and having seen Jesus as the Door Hession concludes, that what is on the other side of the Door, for the purpose of the analogy is a path or a road. This shows us that after we have had some kind of a crisis and repentance from our coldness as Christians or a conversion we are not to have felt as though we arrived but are to continue walking. Walking is a continuous fellowship with Christ. It can often grow mundane and we face obstacles, their is sin that can again hinder us. But we have a straight and holy path on which we can pass. A Highway of Holiness as Isaiah 35:8 puts it. Jesus is the Way. We walk on Him and with Him day by day, continually. Many people enter by the door and try to continue on a way of Prayer, or Bible study, Evangelism, or Church, but these will lead to barrenness. They can not deal with our sin the way Christ can. Everything else is based on our action. Then we fail to do and we are cursed, but Jesus put away the curse. These things neither are a way to the Way. He is near to each one of us. Closeness with Jesus will lead us to prayer in the Word, not the other way around. When we are failing to do them it is not time to resolve to be more diligent but time to repent. The sinner needs a door, a saint needs a way. Jesus is both and He is so by His cross. It is redemption that gave us entrance and redemption all the Way along. When we fall short we need not feel nagged or convicted or guilty long, we need only confess or sin and that we need our Redeemer. Our worst discoveries about ourselves are no surprise to God. The blood is the way we enter, our Crucified Lord is the Way. We have a new and living way which is the blood of Jesus, Hebrews tells us. All we must do is confess our need. If we walk in the light as He is in the light... the blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin. (1 John 1:7) There are not to means by which the life of faith persists. As we received the Lord Jesus so we also will walk in Him. We received Him as Lord, through confession and faith, so we ever repeat that and we find ourselves complete in Him. (Col. 2:6-9) Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So we are ever confronted by the Truth of our sin. This is what John speaks of as walking in the Light, simply everyday agreeing with what He shows us to be sin, hating it judging it, confessing it, then being endowed with His life, as He renews us. This is not a one time necessity but an everyday dependency. Constantly, depending on the Lord Jesus and His blood to make us clean.

Application:

Christ is the Way on which I walk. He is my path, the Way I remain in Him is the same I was joined into Him. Repentance and faith. The chief and most glorious way Christ has manifested Himself to us is in His death and resurrection. People often admit that we sin everyday and will as long as we are on the earth but seldom say anything of confessing and waiting at the cross daily. I need to stop worrying about daily self-effort to maintain myself and not systematically but whole heartedly abide at the cross admitting my need of Him.

Seeing Jesus as the End

If Jesus is the Door and Jesus is the Way where does this all lead. Hession perfectly describes the failures of human logic and explains the truth of the matter. Revival is one humanities desired ends, success in ministry, peace and happiness is another, we think repentance may lead to relief of tension in a home life. This is all foolishness to God. Jesus is the desired end, and the moment anything else becomes our objective He slips into the peripheral and we fall into the swamps of sin once more. Because these are our ends God in His wisdom does not allow us to attain them. So we sit frustrated in our own striving. In John 14 Jesus said that no one comes to the Father but through Him. Thus we see the end is the Father! A few verses later Jesus replies to Philip and says “If You have seen Me you have seen the Father.” Thus we see that Jesus Himself ought to be our objective. Heaven, is gloriously wonderful simply because we are with Jesus, this is our goal in the whole end of things, this should be our goal every day. To simply know and experience Jesus everyday. Sin has come between us knowing Him, things have clouded His glorious face. The end of all our repentant faith is to simply know Jesus, how ever He wants to be known. But other objectives come in the way, and these are all idols! To the 9 lepers Jesus was a means to an end, to the 1 leper Jesus was the means to Himself. In the appeal to sinners Jesus is perceived to be a means to escape the wrath to come, but they must all soon realize He is the means to know the greatest Joy in the universe, that Joy is Himself. None of these other ends would ever satisfy us. He has formed us for Himself, our hearts are restless until we rest in Him! If we allow Him to be our only aim, then we will repent of our sins, and find Him, we will be radiant witnesses, peaceful and happy, and have good relationships too, but that is not the end gain, He is the end gain! Like Solomon, if we ask for hearing heart, He will give us everything else as well. He is both the Way to blessing, but the blessing itself. He is not the way to sanctification, He is our sanctification, not the way to peace, but is the peace, He is not the way to healing, He is our healing He is our revival! We see all these things as additional to the Lord Jesus, but He Himself is our objective, if we just come in repentance ready to just receive Him everyday our life will be over-flowing with good, because He is the essence and origin of good. It is the same problem it has always been, but now as believers are idols are no longer sexual desires or food or fortune (which were all things once good things originating from Him) but now are religious blessings. In seeking Him we will find all these things as He desires to give them to us. Seek Jesus and you will find He is everything you ever needed. Seek everything you ever needed and you will find that you needed Jesus. The best part is He is not far from any of us we need only ask for Him to cleanse us and was us of our idolatry and He will come flooding in. He is the End.

Application:

I need wake up everyday, humbly ready to repent of my easily distracted nature, and double minded heart. I must turn my heart from good things and to turn to the origin of good. I need to wake up excited to experience Jesus, to see Him fill all and all. To just have an open ear to receive Him as He wants to show Himself, not by my wrestling but by His grace.

Seeing Jesus for Others

Finally, Jesus is so magnificent, so sufficient, so infinite, that He is not only able to be everything we need but everything everyone around us needs. As we are satisfied in Him not by striving but by admitting we need Him and belief, we will soon desire to know Him by making Him known. To experience His suffciency by seeing Him prove suffcient for everyone around us.

Application:

Admit my own selfishness, seek to experience Jesus, by trusting Him to show Himself, when He tells me to go to others trust I am going to get to see Jesus prove His wonders for and in another!

Moral of the story: Don't judge a book by its cover...

2009-05-17T00:45:00.001-07:00

Notre Dame Hunchback status...

Recreation

2009-05-16T14:16:00.001-07:00

For the first time in a long time I got out of the library, the AV office and the class room and did something that involves a heart beat.. I went rock climbing! Some guys from the school go in riverside! I scaled a few walls and met Phu Pham a world class climber who makes mortal combat noises while he does VIO's and gets harnessed in through his belly button gage. Did I mention he has an indie mullet, a tatoo that says hello my name is phu pham, and is philipino? He also does wedding photography check him out at Phupham.com (I read the url on his stomach)

2009-05-12T17:14:00.001-07:00

Finished the Old Testament!

Jon Foreman

2009-05-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

Broken From The Start - Jon Foreman.mp3 - Jon Foreman

A flat out great song.

College kids!

2009-05-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Getting jazzed up about cereal!

Revelation II

2009-05-05T09:10:00.001-07:00

Tuesdays: Men at Mark's house...

Becca bird

2009-05-01T22:11:00.001-07:00

Becca came out to san diego for a business meeting with a few funny girls who work at other Mac stores. She is so professional! I cruised down the coast to see her. We got some pink berry and wandered around the hard rock hotel! Having so many siblings keeps things interesting. Never gets old. So proud of her!

A Spiritual papa

2009-04-27T17:38:00.001-07:00

Nick Crespo came to town and fed us. He is one of many good men who've had an effect on us.

Epic

2009-04-24T16:29:00.001-07:00

The Lord gives... the Lord takes away...

The Proposal

2009-04-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

On April 6th, I flew into Albuquerque, through the help of allies on the other side Rebekah was coerced to come to her house, which I had prepared with candles and music. While still disappointed thinking I had returned to Bible College for spring break, she came inside to find me awaiting her in the house. That night I asked Rebekah Elizabeth Vallejos to be my wife. She said yes! We have been together for 15 months now, the ring I bought her is from 1910 and will be a century old when we get married! I told her how my desire is to pour myself out in service towards her as Christ has for His church, I read to her from John 13:14 and did accordingly. She changed into an outfit I bought and picked out for her and we went to a nice private dinner at the Hotel Albuquerque. I am immeasurably thankful for this marvelous woman that God has brought to me. I pray that as we are mended together that our relationship will more and more be are an offering of service to Christ and His church. And though we are young, as we depend on Christ I believe we can be just that.

2009-04-05T16:46:00.001-07:00

My best friend is getting married. So radical.

2009-04-05T16:41:00.001-07:00

Good to be the best

2009-04-04T15:13:00.001-07:00

Last day of the season at Big Mountain...

Montana hosts

2009-04-04T10:34:00.001-07:00

A great day to get together..

2009-04-04T08:49:00.001-07:00

Wreckage from the bachelor party...

2009-04-03T09:32:00.001-07:00

In Montana with New York style

B -day cards

2009-04-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

Living far away and getting birthday cards makes the celebration just keep going! Jennie and Levi and the girls never fail! And Mom always goes above beyond!

Sunday love feast

2009-03-29T12:08:00.001-07:00

Dave Shirley's place

Undeviginti

2009-03-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Nineteen in latin. Because today I am Nineteen. Yesterday I was not. This is my last year as a teenager. So today I went out and did teenager things with my Albuquerque crew. Batting Cages, Sugar, non-sense.

Over all I think 18 was one of the best years of my life. The Lord is taking a lot of my pitiful fig leaves and filthy rags and replacing it with the richness of His righteousness. Not in some bizarre outward piety but the simplicity of just enjoying Him.To inwardly partake richly of what He has done, receive the things He wants for me, and get to be a part of His work in others. Whether in the times of hardship and lack to be confident in His provision, and seek to help others over yourself, or times of abundance sharing with others and thanking Him. I love Him and I love waking up everyday to see how He might prove His majesty. I hope my 19th year is full of Him and His glory and that your days are too.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11

"Command those who are rich in this present age to trust not in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy, let them do good , that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

2 Timothy 6: 17-19

"... from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."

Romans 11:36

2009-03-23T18:33:00.001-07:00

Mail time!

Divine Detergent?

2009-03-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

This bottle is making some blasphemous claims... I know a thing or two about graphic design the font size seems to be sending a mixed message. What is a bible college student to make of it? Can you stone a container?

Candy Cross

2009-03-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Grace is infinitely more than a spiring time treat. But it is as sweet as chocolate...

2009-03-21T13:36:00.001-07:00

Fit for a king

The Lone Wolf

2009-03-20T19:38:00.001-07:00

(On Cell)
Jesse: DAD! Are you still in India?
Chip:No.
Jesse: Are you Austria?
Chip: Nope.
Jesse: Are you in England?
Chip: Not any more.
Jesse: Are you back in the States?
Chip:Yeah.
Jesse: What state?
Chip: Just got off the plane where are you?
Jesse:At School. What state are you in?
Chip: Plane got changed. What are you doing?
Jesse:I'm standing by the volleyball courts. What state are you in?

(in person several seconds later)

Jesse: WHAT! Are you kidding me! What are you doing here!

Chip: Decided to drive down form LAX Where is Josh? Lets go get some Coffee.

Late night fellowship with the lone wolf on his 7 hour layover. So elusive, so great: Chip Lusko.

The Mauche Myster

2009-03-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

Tom Mauche, I want to be just like him! He is such a champ! He was an all star tennis coach at the prestigious Panohou school in Hawaii that President Obama attended, now he faithfully teaches the word of God. He used to surf with Chuck in New Port, he is 90 some years old and is the most lively person I know. His wife is 5 ft tall and she makes him lunch every day. (Maybe me and Bekah can be as cute as them one day) He survived the first depression and has nothing but cool confidence with current economic climate. When I first met him he was going to a doctor appointment and with a big grin told me, ' I'm going to do some witnessing!' He now teaches my Jeremiah class and is a glorious saint of the previous, previous generation. What an example! Thanks Tom!

Caesar and Friends

2009-03-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

Chris and I, drive by photo shoot. Pizza pizza

Fish taco friends!

2009-03-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

2009-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

What mat does during Romans class.

Eclectic

2009-03-01T16:23:00.001-08:00

Don't mind the misspelling of that word, please notice the bizarre assortment of things my dad lovingly sends me. Most of it was actually very useful, however some were purely peculiar. I love you dad dog!

The Fog

2009-02-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

Fog? What is this california magic?

Valentines

2009-02-17T22:31:00.001-08:00

A good mother is hard to come by, glad I found one. Thanks Mom!

New wheels

2009-02-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

Last semester I bought a bike at good will to meet my transportation needs. I have found a new way to get around. It just makes life that much more delicious.

Church History

2009-02-11T20:52:00.000-08:00

I had the bible part here comes the college part.

Selling selling

2009-02-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

All day long. Selling books and dvd's is where we belong.

Ministering at Harvest

2009-02-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

Skip and I at harvest. Serving in slightly different ways.

2009-02-07T14:57:00.001-08:00

We have a lot of fun...

365

2009-02-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

In a week it will have been one year since Bekah and I went on our first official date. (You can look in archives to read about that). We have seen a lot and grown together in that time. Facing the some of the difficulties we have has given our time together a lot of depth and substance. Being apart for an entire semester was very trying but in retrospect the Lord instilled a lot of character in both of us through it and caused to trust Him. It is good to remember that as we embark on one more semester apart. Since I am going to be out here in California on the 15th (our anniversary) I took her out beforehand to celebrate. We both got decked our in our most elegant attire and I showed up at her Mom's with a bouquet in hand. We had reservations at six and went to Starbucks and to a nice park beforehand. Then went to the Standard Diner a pretty up scale place Downtown. We had Calamari, Fish and Chips, and a variety Dessert platter. Bekah gave me the new Chocolate phone from LG and some framed photos she took, I got her and burgundy NKJV Cambridge that is compact enough to fit in her purse. I was pretty blown away with how tricky she was getting me the phone and was stoked because my phones have been pretty mangy over the years. We then went back to my house where I had Singin in the rain set up projecting onto a sheet on my garage for a drive in experience. We had some technical difficulties with the player getting cold and ended up projecting it on a wall inside. She was pretty blown away regardless and we both enjoyed Fred Astaire's flamboyant tap dancing and classic songs. After a year together I still feel a tremendous amount of thankfulness for her. I've learned so much about meekness and gentleness as I seek to put her needs first and lead her in the Lord. She lights up life and brightens up my days and gives me some incentive to not be such an idiot. As I hope to make her my wife I can agree with the Proverb "that He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." I am excited to see how the Lord will use us together and appreciate your prayer and advice for us.

All the grooms horses

2009-01-27T13:52:00.000-08:00

and all the groomsmen couldn't put Chip the Pastor together again.

2009-01-22T12:47:00.001-08:00

Bachelor party!

Epiphony

2009-01-21T12:28:00.000-08:00

There I sat on the couch, waiting and waiting. Josh was upstairs getting ready for his day, though it was already one, (it had been a late night) he was to give me a ride to the church. I pondered how a young man, a small energetic young man, could shower for so long. Suddenly a light shone down around me, this light was so bright so so bright bright like a glimmering hub cap on a hot La afternoon. And it dawned on me a thought so clear and so significant. And yet familiar like it had been with me all along:

Dance.

Just get up like you were Kevin Bacon and the 80's were yours again, and dance. Just dance.

Wolf Creek

2009-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

My baby had her first day out on a board. She did really well and got that heel edge down no problem. It was a great trip being all together, the cabin, the snow, the springs, just wonderful. Sad not having those who were missing, but still a happy time.

Lounge singer

2009-01-05T16:45:00.001-08:00

That is the Lobo lounge for Renovate. Bekah is such a talented singer and has a lovely, lovely voice. I had heard as a preacher it is good to have a woman who can sing. I would say I am doing more than well for myself.

Snowy Sunday

2009-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

Railrunner

2008-12-31T09:52:00.001-08:00

We got one of the final free rides to santa fe. Denver Shawna, Michelle, Kelly, Bekah, and myself strolled the frozen streets ate gourmet pizza, drank hot chocolate and enjoyed some fine art. Bekah feet almost froze and we all crashed on the way back. But it was a fine saturday on the whole. Locomotion!

Justice

2008-12-29T23:03:00.000-08:00

Everyone gets it soon enough.

So much Christmas

2008-12-27T01:19:00.001-08:00

4 Christmas and a birtday. Bekah's Grandparents and parents, then my Dad's then my Mom's and a Brothers birtday in the mix. It didn't help that the night of the 23rd I threw up 14 times. Jesse down with the flu is a pitiful sight, but I had a cheer in spite of all that and had quite a chirstmas.

This is christmas

2008-12-21T20:45:00.001-08:00

Like true family but not exactly a family.

A Supreme Nativity

2008-12-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

Calvary has for as long as I can remember had nativity that seems not quite right, a little racy if I say so myself. I don't know if it is trying to make some sort of a statement. I also recently saw an adobe nativity complete with zia rug beneath the manger. I guess baby Jesus is ready to meet your ethnic needs. Really these Nativity's were down right comical to me. Jesus isn't going to conform to anyone's perceptions or expectations. He is our God and Savior. HE IS.

It reminds me of what Jesus says is in Matthew 12. He told John the Baptist that " [The] blind see and [the] lame walk; [the] lepers are cleansed and [the] deaf hear; [the] dead are raised up and [the] poor have the gospel preached to them and blessed is he who is not offended because Me." We so often resist the solution that God has given us because it doesn't exactly meet our expectation. The means by which God chooses to fix us rubs us the wrong way and becomes a stumbling block. So we try to conform the Christ to our preferences. But God demands quite the opposite that we crucify our prerequisites for Him and simply come to the end of ourselves even if He is a rough Hebrew carpenter. We must receive from Him on His terms. So you don't like to sing but would prefer to praise God in journaling, or maybe you don't like to read the Bible, or think preaching isn't an effective way to communicate the gospel , or would prefer a department meeting instead of a prayer meeting,or maybe we think trials aren't the best way to be matured, honestly God doesn't care, we simply wont receive if we can't get past our preferences. Love gives what is needed not always what is wanted. In Matthew 14 the people in Nazareth saw Jesus' background and were "offended at Him" and " He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." We must take His prescribed remedies even if we don't like the packaging. We must believe Him as He is or else we can expect to remain broken and sick and naked. But Him going outside our expectations isn't really a bad thing, He likes to do beyond what we can ask or think.

No escaping

2008-12-17T19:07:00.001-08:00

I'm back and I'm feeling twice as dangerous.

Happy to be home

2008-12-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Snow

2008-12-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

It's not just Montana

Happy freaking birthday

2008-12-12T11:29:00.000-08:00

Becca 29.. What? Yes it is true. I got to spend sometime with her and the monkey. Happy birthday sister!

Cornerstone

2008-12-07T11:02:00.001-08:00

We are here. We are pumped. Bring on the word. Bring on the chan.

One time only

2008-12-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

My two favorite people on earth.. Together for one time only..

More Zombies!

2008-12-06T15:42:00.000-08:00

More Zombie mayhem. This is Devan's work. I helped a little with the directing and editing. It is a masterpiece in my opinion. It should be known that each video is independent from the other story-lines. Josh's was first and you can notice the progression of energy invested since then. anyway hope you Enjoy!

5 Zombies: 3-5

2008-12-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

We are in the process of making a series of short films about zombies. Here are the 3 of the installments.
5 Zombies: Bunker
Josh directed this one first.

5 Zombies: Fight or Flight
Chris directed this one.

5 Zombies: We are Dead!
This was my contribution.
Keep a dead watch for more.

LET'S GET EDIFIED!

2008-12-03T20:09:00.001-08:00

Josh and chris are performed at the edification display ( talent show that is for you unsaved folk). I was so warmed by their perfomance and intimate fireside mood they set. I filmed this and could not be more proud.

Lifelong friends

2008-12-01T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is my life long friend and his life long enemy (he is dead now).

Cut short

2008-11-25T08:55:00.001-08:00

No shave november

2008-11-25T08:54:00.001-08:00

Alabertos: One Brutal Burrito

2008-11-21T17:23:00.000-08:00

This burrito is unreal. Josh (the depicted arm model) and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I hope to one day share this with my beloved girlfriend, lady and the tramp style... *arm and burrito are fully to scale.

Preaching and Preachers

2008-11-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

Three gentlemen who have been very influential in my life came from Montana to The Golden State to be sharpened in the thing for which they were born. Preaching the Word that is. They had a very valuable time hearing from men whom God has used for the past century. (You can read more about that on their blogs). The last night of the conference the 5/505 came down and heard John Macarthur preach on how Christ is and must be the Master of the church. Though He is gracious calling us friends and sons we must set things in proportion, He is our Lord our God and Master and we are His slaves (greek- doulas). This is a message that is not popular in the church today but is the core of the gospel. Yes He saved us and purchased us but He purchased us to live to please Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) Therefore as ambassadors of the gospel we must communicate the Word of the Master to His slaves. While Jesus purchased us He also demonstrated servitude to us taking the form of a slave. He spoke often of those who are great and in authority doing likewise.

And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'But not so [among] you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Luke 22:25-27

All of this is to say I have had the privilege of having these three preachers over me. I want to say thank you to them for so often serving me and attest that though they have pitfalls and run around in bathrobes, they have been good slaves as overseers and have brought me up in the word. I love them dearly and am grateful for their example.

Nog nog in my num num

2008-11-21T09:33:00.001-08:00

First starbucks in a month or so. And it couldn't be more delightful. What a jolly time of year.

Better with a bath robe

2008-11-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

Its good to be with a brother.. So glorious having the guys out here for the conference. We drove down and crashed their hotel..

Tremendous

2008-11-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

Kevin, Josh and I enjoyed an outstanding time of worship with Phil and a teaching with Greg Opean. We also had a refreshing time of waiting on the Holy Spirit.. And prayed for the church the worship leaders were from i.e. Fresh life. So needless to say, it was a fantastic time.

Go Guido!

2008-11-11T16:40:00.001-08:00

The Bible college here in California is an ideal place to be. Your friends come to you. Kevin is here for the worship conference, his jubilant spirit and beyond vivid story telling makes him more than good company. Plus, he knew me back when I was aspiring to be a hobo and still calls me friend so I know his colors are true...

Last visit

2008-11-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

Chuck taught a killer message from Matthew 16. The guy is so spot on, unleashing God's word for 40 some years. He exhorted; dying to self and living for God's will is never in vain. He then of course jumped into a golf cart and zoomed across campus. He's living proof that a life following Christ is the most exciting life one can live.

2008-11-06T14:46:00.000-08:00

Doesn't that book makes you feel so studious? No other reader could handle this...

President Barack Obama

2008-11-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

I have to confess I have harbored a tremendous amount of skepticism towards our new leader. This was my first election and I did in fact vote for McCain. Some rational for not trusting President Barack Hussein Obama has been grounded other parts are perhaps less benign on my part. For that I ask forgiveness. Regardless, of how we feel about him we are not the first to live under a leader that has a heart that is not inclined to the will of God and opposed to sin. Christians lived under Nero, Trajan, Pope Innocent, King George, and Hitler. Believers today look to the One on whose shoulders the government will be, under Ahamanajad, Kim Jan Yal and Vladdimir Putin. They obey the Word of God spoken by the Apostle Peter and submit. (1 Peter 2:13)

We do not know fully what Barack Obama has planned or what wicked things the Congress could pass. But we know that the Lord brings the counsels of nations to nothing, having formed their hearts and looking on all of their works. (psalm 33:10-17)

So putting all of our trust upon the LORD and His counsels that stand forever what are we to do, how do we respond?

We love our enemies and bless those that curse us and submit to governors that our witness not be hindered (1 Peter 2:12-17) . But Paul takes it a step further:

"I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Quite frankly, I am very much in a sin of omission on this and if you are anything like me than so are you. We desperately need to pray, not show ourselves spiritual, but because we are not spiritual and neither is the world we live in. We need Jesus.

I am much quicker to mock Obama and complain about his socialist democracy than I am to give thanks for him, yet Christ shed His blood for Obama inasmuch as He did for Paul of Tarsus, Billy Grahm, you and me. He wants Obama to come salvation along with every Cabinet member , Congress person, Soccer Mom, Prostitute, and Terrorist.

So I urge you be joyful in front of liberal friends, quiet your bitter words in front disgruntled republicans, don't talk of things you don't know about, submit to President Obama as God's anointed, hasten the kingdom and government of the Lord Of Lords and King of Kings and pray genuinely for the salvation of all that they might live in that kingdom and taste the grace that you have received.

Finally, take heart in this

"He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them."
Job 12:23

2008-11-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

Seeing Nate get married was such a blessing. I've known that guy since I was 2. It was a beautiful wedding with a killer reception!

Fall Festival

2008-11-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

The fruit of all Bekah's hard work. She organized an massive carnival get those kids off the streets and to the church. Let them rot their teeth rather than their souls else where... Really though the whole thing went really well!