Friday, April 29, 2011

SACRED CELEBRATION

I'm thinking that when you hear the word, "Celebrate", this song might pop into your mind:


If that's the case, AWESOME!!! This is probably one of the main songs that I hear at every wedding reception, because of the fact that it's a celebration.  So we celebrate there.  We celebrate at sporting events, graduations and special events.  We celebrate over new births, first steps and the first time that your kid goes pee pee in the potty (can you tell I'm a dad?).  But when we get to the church building, what happens? We get more serious because it's a sacred time.  But what makes it sacred? Is it sacred because of our attitude or because of the God who is present? So, if it is the presence of God that makes something sacred, maybe we are missing out on the sacredness of celebration.

And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you. — Deuteronomy 12:7, ESV


And you shall rejoice BEFORE the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you. — Deuteronomy 12:12, ESV


The response, in the book of Ezra, to the foundation of the house of the LORD being finished (just the foundation mind you), was this:

And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.  But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away. — Ezra 3:11b-13, ESV


CHRISTIANS: We should be the professionals of celebrating.  We have so much to celebrate.  And the truth of the matter is this: to celebrate is a good thing, but to celebrate in the presence of Jesus is truly sacred.

FLOOD FAMILY CONTINUE READING...
To keep in step with this, we will be having a party this Wednesday night, May 4th.  We will meet at 7:00 just like every week.  We will be worshipping Jesus through our praise time, prayer, and the study of the Bible.  And then we have a time of baptism.  This is always a crazy time.

After all of this, we are going to have a party to celebrate Jesus for the people that have surrendered to him since January here at FLOOD, and to celebrate with those who get baptized that night.

So here's what you need to do: come ready to celebrate.  Come ready to PARTY!!! For the baptism time, bring signs congratulating those who get baptized.  Bring noise makers and come ready to shout so loud that all of Pomona hears us.  We are going to sacredly celebrate all that Jesus has been doing.  And a bonus: we will have us some birthday cake.

Come this Wednesday night to FLOOD, ready to worship Jesus through celebration.  Bring people with you to witness the celebration that we have in Jesus.  Bring people who don't know Jesus as I bring them a message of hope that is only found in Jesus.  This is going to be an unbelievable night.  I am so excited.  I hope you are too.  See you there.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

FLOOD: Wednesday Night Video Library Channel

Just wanted to let you know that there is now a video channel set up just for FLOOD on Wednesday nights.  If you missed a FLOOD worship service in the past, or just want to listen to a message again, you can click on the link below and you'll go right to it.  The messages are the only things that are saved on there.  I hope that it's helpful to you.

FLOOD Video Library Channel

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES!!!

Hi all,
I just wanted to give a quick update to let you know that we saw three people stand up last night at FLOOD to surrender their lives to Jesus.  I just can't tell you how exciting it is to see people surrendering to Christ.  That just never gets old.

Next Wednesday night is baptism.  If you can join us, please do.  We would love to have you there.  We're even going to be having a little party after the worship service to celebrate the baptisms and to celebrate those who have to come Christ this year.  It's going to be a blast.

If you have any questions, call my assistant (Calli; 909-629-5277, ext 3044; calli@pfblive.tv).  She can help you (so much more than I ever could :).

Praise Jesus.  What an amazing night.

Monday, April 25, 2011

The LIFE of the Gospel

"But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel,..." — Galatians 2:14a, ESV


Exactly what was happening inn this passage? Read it all (click here to read Galatians 2).  The "what happened" is not the key point for me as I write this quick blog today.  Rather, it's the message in this short section of a verse.  Do you see it?  Look at it again:

...their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel,...


Understand this: my relationship with Jesus has been paid for.  My redemption has been provided.  My soul has been purchased by the blood of Jesus.  Salvation is provided solely by God's grace and received by faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9).  I am justified by faith, not by works so that I am not able to boast in anything but Jesus.  But please notice the verse: there is a conduct that is expected when one claims to have surrendered to Christ and to his gospel.

conduct: the manner in which a person behaves, esp. on a particular occasion or in a particular context.


I am not saved by what I do, but what I do will show whether or not I have been saved.  I do not gain heaven by the things that I do, but the things that I do will prove if heaven has gotten into me.  I cannot claim citizenship in heaven while living like hell.

Does this mean that I will not struggle? Of course not.  However, there should be no more excuses from those of us who have surrendered to Jesus.  Because the truth of the matter is this:  "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery... For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:1,13, ESV).  

I have been freed to not sin.  I am free to serve others.  I am free to love God.  I am free to live my life in a manner that is worthy of the high calling that I received from Jesus.

My conduct does matter.  My life is to reflect the life that Christ lives in me.  The things that I do will prove whose I am.  My LIFE should be about the gospel, and the power that is in it (see Romans 1:16), and that should be visible to all.

Prayer Update

Hey all,
Thank you so much for praying for me last week while I was teaching in Mexico.  If you didn't see the update for it, click here to read.  It was absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Seriously.  I'm still blown away with what we saw the Holy Spirit do while we were there.  So thank you.

Here's how you can be praying this week:

1).  This Wednesday night I am back teaching at FLOOD at PFB.  I missed being there last week but heard that Ryan Palmer absolutely tore it up.  Please pray for me as I prep and preach this message (read James 2:1-13 to prepare for the message on Wednesday night).

2).  This Friday and Saturday I am teaching three youth ministry seminars in Pasadena.  Please pray as I prep and teach these seminars.  My week is jam packed this week and making time to get those done will be somewhat difficult.  :)

3).  This Sunday morning I am back teaching at TOGETHER at PFB.  Looking forward to where God leads us now that we've finished the study on Oikos.

Thank you so much for praying for me.  You are such a blessing.

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Miracle of Salvation in Mexico

I'm so sorry that I didn't get this out to you on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, but the internet was down where I was staying in Ensenada.

THE UPDATE: The Holy Spirit was not done with our camp.  In short, here's what happened:  on Wednesday night I invited people to surrender to Christ, and we saw 7 high school students stand up to surrender to Christ.  It was so exciting to watch it happen.

Then on Thursday evening, I finished up by teaching on giving up everything and following Jesus.  We closed it with a candle-light service.  I prayed and we finished.  About 10 minutes after everything was over, a high school kid came up to me and said, "I just want to thank you.  Tonight you helped me find God."  I asked him, "Wait, did you surrender to Jesus?" He said, "Yes."  I hugged him and started laughing.  I didn't even give an "altar call," but Jesus did and that young man surrendered to him.

So in summary for my week down in Ensenada, we witnessed 18 people surrender their lives to Jesus, experiencing the forgiveness of Jesus and entering into a relationship with God as one of his kids.  We also saw God heal people of things that had been plaguing them for so long, a time when they were able to confess their struggles and be prayed over and loved on by their team and by the Holy Spirit.

The week was absolutely amazing.  I am so thankful to Jesus that he allowed me to be part of what he had planned all along.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Did You Hear Heaven This Morning?

The party was happening again this morning down here in Ensenada, Mexico.  I woke up and got ready for the leader's meeting at 7:00am.  While I was sitting there I sensed pride and arrogance setting into my heart.  When I sensed it, I took out my prayer journal and wrote these words:

I fear that pride and arrogance are creeping up and knocking at the door of my heart (or it's already in my heart and its waking up).  Please help. I confess it and ask for your forgiveness.


Also, I want to preach your message this morning.  No matter who is here, I want to teach your message.  And please confirm your message for this morning before I go up to preach today.


So I walked over to chapel and it was confirmed in te worship time.  The message I had in mind was not confirmed but rather a different one.  The passage: Lamentations 3:22-26.  Click on the passage reference and be encouraged by it's promises in the midst of difficult and hopeless times (times of lamenting).

At the end of the message I called people to surrender their lives to Christ.  Before I could even finish the invitation, a girl stood straight up with no hesitation.  After that, two more stood up.  I asked them, "Is Jesus your Lord?" They all said, "yes."  I asked if they believed that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.  They said, "yes."  And everyone went nuts.

I then invited those who had been running from God (resulting in them not seeing God as good - read Lamentations 3:25) to repent and come back to him.  There were about 7 or so people that stood up confessing their need to repent and return to Jesus.

After this, team members circled those from their own team who stood up to make some type of decision for Jesus.  They circled them, loved on them, and prayed over them.  It was beautiful.

For this week so far, we have seen 10 people surrender to Jesus here in Ensenada.

The work that the Holy Spirit is doing in this camp is absolutely mind-blowing.

Thank you, Jesus, for letting me play with you here in Ensenada this week.  You've blown me away once again.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

You Have To Make A Choice

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." — Galatians 1:10, ESV


Just before this, Paul gave a strong charge and warning to the Christians at the church of Galatia.  Here's what he said:

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." — Galatians 1:6-9, ESV


accursed: (adj) 1).  under a curse  2).  used to express strong dislike of or anger toward someone or something.


Following Jesus may actually mean that there will be people that don't like you.  It's part of the walk with Jesus.  Paul's concern in this whole section is the gospel.  He had preached to them the gospel that he had received.  The Christians in Galatia were turning to another gospel.  Paul addressed that issue and gave that stern warning above.

I don't like passages like this because I just wish that we could all stay focused on the message and mission of the gospel of Christ.  But there will be some who will add and/or take away from Christ's gospel, making it completely different and contrary to the gospel clearly laid out in Scripture.  So Paul, with concern for his flock in Galatia, comes out strong in order to protect the people of this church.

PASTORS: Our first priority in our calling is to be true to God's gospel, first personally and then in our teaching of it to our people.  The gospel can never be messed with.  It can never be changed.  It can never be altered in any way.  And I'm guessing, as hard as it is, we will have to stand against those who take the gospel and add or take away from it.  It doesn't mean that we have a green light to be jerks and arrogant idiots.  It seems like there are many with an arrogance about them when it comes to "defending Jesus."  For those of you who sense the call to defend Christ, what makes you think that Jesus needs your to help defending himself? He's not insecure.  He's not getting beat up and thrown to the side.  We are called to bring him glory.  Let's leave the defending of Jesus to Jesus.  He knows how to take care of himself.  Let's stay focused on his mission (Matthew 28:18-20)

We have to decide whether we are striving to please God or others.  There has to be a decision made.  If no choice is made, the choice to please other people is the default decision.  We must be about Jesus, his message, and his mission.

Monday, April 18, 2011

If I Can Just Touch the Hem of His Garment


For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well."  And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she  felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. — Mark 5:28-29, ESV

The Holy Spirit did some incredible work tonight out here in Ensenada.  The passage for tonight was Psalm 73.  This was the passage that God used in my life to help me through some of my darkest times.  I preached on the reality of life, that there are circumstances that will arise, but we are called to look past those circumstances to the God who is over the circumstances.  It was a call to be healed.  I called people to stand up if they were needing to tell God that they were broken and were needing for him to step in and heal.  About 25% of the camp stood up.  When they did, their team members from their church stood up, surrounded them, loved them, hugged on them, and prayed for them.  It was absolutely mind-blowing.

I'm convinced that there were some tonight who were healed of something that has been eating at them for so long.  One example: a dad came up to tell me that his daughter stood up tonight.  Their family went through a really tough time a while back.  She told them tonight that because of that painful situation, she had not talked to God for six years.  Tonight she did.  She experienced healing.  It was beautiful to hear about.

Keep praying.  Thank you so much for it.

God Is Showing Up & Showing Off

Well this morning was a great event to watch.  I'm still here in Ensenada, Mexico, teaching for Azusa Pacific University to the 400 or so students and youth workers from the states who are down here on a week-long missions trip.

During the worship singing time I was praying and trying to hear what Jesus was wanting me to teach.  Right when they started singing the last song, Matthew 17 came to my mind so I was going to go with that.  After the last song, however, Ryan brought me up (Ryan Hall is down here leading worship) and I began to pray.  As I was praying, I sensed God leading me to preach the cross.  So I did.  I preached about what Jesus went through for us physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually for us so that we might be made right with God.

After the message I called people to surrender to Christ.  As I stood there and waited, an adult from one of the teams stood up, in tears, and surrendered to Christ.  People were clapping and cheering.  Then a student on the other side of the chapel area stood up to surrender to Jesus.  After they stood up, members from each of their teams surrounded them, hugged on them, and prayed over them.  It was beautiful.  And I thought Jesus was done.

After chapel ended, and after all of the teams left for the ministry sites, it was time for staff meeting.  So I walked on over and expected to hear the same old reports.  However, God had something else in mind.

First: as we stood there, the nurse interrupted us and said, "Can I say something? I don't think that I have ever given my life to Christ, and I want to do that now."  We weren't even on the topic of salvation.  She just came out and said it.  She shared how she was listening the message that I had taught and wanted to give her life to Jesus right there in the meeting.  So I asked her if Jesus was her Lord.  She said, "Yes."  I asked her if she believed that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.  "Yes".  And everyone went nuts.  In fact, we are having a birthday party with cake and ice cream today at 5:00pm here in Ensenada for her.

After a little while, people started to leave after the meeting, except for one woman named Leslie.  She came down from the states to help with the kitchen crew here in Ensenada.  When she got here she sprained her ankle and has been on crutches the whole time (since Sunday - and by this way, Leslie is a prayer warrior who spent a lot of time with the nurse over the past two days.  Jesus is amazing).  So she stopped me and Ryan and Karen Hall and asked us to pray over her.  She believed that God was wanting to heal her.  So, she took the Ace bandage off of her ankle and put her foot up on the bench.  Ryan, Karen, and I stood over her and laid hands on her ankle.  We prayed for healing and for Satan to have no place in her life.  We finished praying.  And SHE STOOD UP!!!! That's right.  When she stood up I asked her how her ankle felt, and she said, "It's all better," and she walked away without Ace bandage or crutch.  It was awesome!!!

God is at work friends.  Keep praying.  Be encouraged.  He still does miracles.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Update & Prayer

ATTENTION: PRAYER TEAM

I just wanted to give you update on how you could be praying this week.  

1).  This week I am in Ensenada, Mexico speaking for Azusa Pacific University.  For the past 11 years, I have been able to speak to youth workers and students from the states in Mexico the week before Easter.  They come down for a week-long mission trip.  I really enjoy this trip, watching so many different churches with different backgrounds, coming together to worship, learn and serve Jesus.  Everything remains pure when that's the focus.  It is such a blessing.

2).  This Sunday morning, please pray for EASTER SERVICES at PFB (if you are on my prayer team and are not a part of PFB, please reply to this with your church name in the reply section below so that I can be praying for you and your Easter celebration services).  We are having 1 service at PFB Church and then having 2 at the Fairplex in Pomona.  This is the first time that we have tried to have 2 services at the Fairplex, but we are going for it in an attempt to see even more people come to the Easter service so that they might ultimately surrender to Jesus.

Thank you for your prayers while I've been down here in Mexico.  We've already seen three students surrender to Christ since we've been down here (click here to read about that).  Keep praying big.  Jesus is already showing up and showing off.

When the Answer is No

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" — 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, ESV


"You just pray it and believe it.  If you claim it in faith, it will be given to you."

Really?

I was reading 2 Corinthians 12 tonight when I came across these verses again.  I have read this passage so much in my life that it's made it's way into my memory.  God has brought this passage to my mind so often to encourage me so many times.  And it has.  But tonight, as I read it again, this thought came to my mind:

There are times when God's answer to my request is no.  When it is, my response should be the same as when he says yes.


That's tough.  Here's the reason: I'm usually praying in such a way that requires a positive response from Jesus.  Those are the prayers that I want to see fulfilled.  But when God says no, there's a natural tendency for me to get all bummed out rather than being thankful that God said no.

Here's the thing though: Paul was asking the Lord to remove the "messenger of Satan" that was given to him to keep him from becoming conceited because of the amazing things that God was showing him.  When Paul asked for "Satan's messenger" to be taken away, God said "no" by reminding him of this: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

This request seems doable and right.  It seems like the response should be "of course", but God has something else in mind.  He says no for Paul's own good.

I know that this is hard to handle.  I know that this is difficult to digest.  But it's true.  So often, God's greatest gifts are wrapped in the wrapping paper of trial.  For him to take away the trial would require him having to take away the gift as well.  Hang in there.  Keep going.  Keep trusting.  There will be times, and are times presently, when things don't make sense and seem out of control.  When that happens, pray.  Just make sure of this: no matter what God's response is to your request, it's always based on his best interest that he has in mind for me.

It is my prayer that whether God answers me with yes or not, that my response will always be one of gratitude, knowing that God's response is always best.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

And It's Only the First Night

This is a quick update letting you know that God is at work here in Ensenada, Mexico.  I preached tonight on the majesty and glory of God (read Job 38-42).  At the end of the message, on the first night of the mision trip let me remind you, I called students to a commitment to Jesus.  Three students stood up telling everyone here that they were surrendering to Jesus.  Three lives were changed for eternity tonight.  And it's only the first night.  I'm convinced: the best is yet to come.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Continued Update from FLOOD Last Night

I wanted to add the other amazing thing that God did last night at FLOOD to this blog.  We saw two people surrender to Jesus (which I already said before - click here to read about it), but that wasn't all.

Because the topic was the Great Commission, I then addressed everyone in the room who called themselves followers of Jesus and called them to stand if they were committing to do their part in obeying Christ's Great Commission.  I'm convinced that it's not a Great Suggestion, but a Great Commission for every person who calls himself/herself a follower of Jesus.  To not fulfill our part in Christ' Commission is to be disobedient.  A sin.  It is not an option but a command.

With that, I called people to no longer hold on to any excuses, including myself, but to stand if they were committing to the Great Commission.  The result: almost every single person stood up committing to the Great Commission.  It was awesome.  I'm excited to see what's coming, because as I always: I'm convinced that the best is yet to come.

Surrendered

God is doing something at and through FLOOD like I have never witnessed before in ministry.  Here are some praise stats before tonight.

Since the beginning of the year, we have seen 28 people surrender their lives to Christ on a Wednesday night at the FLOOD service.  Also, we have seen 23 people get baptized since the beginning of the year.  This is cause of CELEBRATION!!!!

And then last night comes: we saw two people surrender their lives to Jesus.  It was so great.  Everyone there went nuts.  After those two stood up, I called true followers of Christ to commit to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).  The whole room stood up.  POWERFUL!!!

I am so excited to see what God is going to do through this ministry.  I'm humbled and jacked up to get to be a part of it.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Already Feeling Discouraged...


I'm getting ready to preach on the Great Commission tonight.  Already I'm feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and discouraged.  I love teaching the Bible but the attacks that come can be so very exhausting.

If you're a teacher of the Bible, hang in there.  Be true to the text and faithful to your call.  Opposition should be expected.  When I don't experience any spiritual opposition, I can be sure that I'm no threat to my opponent.

Jesus, help me.  Prepare me to teach your word.  Please anoint me to teach your truth, boldly and lovingly. I love you.  It's all for your glory.

Sneak Peak at FLOOD Tonight

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)


I was sitting in church this past Sunday morning listening to the legendary Glenn Gunderson preaching.  The first passage he read from on our study outline was the one above.  Honestly, my first thought, "The Great Commission. Know that."  He read it and I listened.  But then I went back and read it again.  And the Holy Spirit opened it up in a new way again.

I sat and continued to read it over and over again.  I then prayed, "God, do you want me to teach this on Wednesday?" No answer.  So I went home that day, not thinking much of it, but thinking that I would probably be teaching it at FLOOD.

Monday I go for a prayer walk through the park by my house asking God the same question: "Do you want me to teach this on Wednesday?" No answer.  So I just started talking through what I would be preaching on it.  And as I did, I got completely jacked up about the passage.

Do not miss tonight.  I know that many of you reading this have read the Great Commission.  I know that you have heard it preached, and some of you have even preached the passage.  But I'm telling you: it came alive again to me.  I don't think I have ever been MORE pumped up to preach a message than the one that I am preaching tonight.  Hope to see you there with whoever you are bringing with you.

WORSHIP SERVICE INFO:
Flood Worship: 7pm in the worship Center @ PFB Church
601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767


Join us live online: www.pfblive.tv

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Baptisms from March

Check out these baptisms from March.  These are always so much fun to watch.  I LOVE WHAT JESUS IS DOING!!!

Monday, April 11, 2011

TOGETHER: Going Strong


Together is going strong.  I am so excited about the people that are showing up on Sunday mornings for this time of community building and studying of Scripture.  We finished up Oikos yesterday, and while in the process of talking about prayer we jumped into the topic of the purpose behind why we suffer (look at 2 Corinthians 1:3-11).  It was such a great time.

Then last night, Kelley and I opened up our home for dinner and hanging out with college/post-college aged people (thanks again, Cody, for supplying all of the carne asada and chicken for the evening).  We had somewhere between 30 and 40 show up to be together.  It was an absolute blast.

For those of you who come over our home on Sundays and who read this blog, thank you.  Thank you for loving my family.  Thank you for loving my boys.  My boys absolutely adore Sunday nights, getting to hang out with you and having you watch them play Wii.  :)  You are a huge blessing to me and my family.  I'm so glad that we can now call you that: family.

For those interested in this community movement within FLOOD, don't hesitate to contact us.  Here's the quick info for our current community gathering times:

Sunday mornings; 9:45 in G102 at PFB Church
Sunday evenings; 4pm - ? My home just to be together.

If you have any specific questions, please call and speak with my assistant, Calli.  She can help you with all of the details (e: calli@pfblive.tv; 909-629-5277, ext. 3044).

God is on the move.  It's absolutely incredible to be part of it.  He's building the community life within the movement of FLOOD that is moving forward.  The best is yet to come.  I'm convinced of it.

Just a Fun Afternoon Run... Nothing Special

I know you'll see the name Damien Walters on here, but it's obviously me.  Look at the bald head.  Here's me enjoying a nice afternoon


And by the way, it really is Damien Walters.
Hi Prayer Team,

Here's how you can be praying for me this week.

1).  This Wednesday night I am teaching at FLOOD.  We have been in the book of James pretty regularly since the beginning of January.  Yesterday during the worship service at PFB, Pastor Glenn read the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).  As he read it, I went back and re-read it and God really spoke to me anew through it.  So, we are taking a break this week at FLOOD from the book of James to look again at the Great Commission that Jesus gave to every person who claims to be a follower of his.

2).  This Saturday I leave for Ensenada, Mexico, to partner with Azusa Pacific University.  I will speaking at their base camp to about 450 - 500 Christians from the states who will be down there on a week-long mission trip.  Please pray for me as I teach, but also pray for my family while I am away.

1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA. 91768
3).  Please be praying for Easter at the Fairplex coming up on Easter Sunday.  I love our Easter outreach at PFB Church.  This year we have gone from two services on Easter Sunday (one at PFB and one at the Fairplex) to three (one at PFB and two at the Fairplex).  We are so excited.  The church is moving to get the word out all over the Inland Empire.  Please be praying as we move forward in this.  If you're part of PFB, keep getting the word out.  If you're not, I'll be praying for you and your Easter service as well.  Just leave a comment under this on how I can be praying for you.

Thank you so much for your continued support of me and the ministry that God has called me to.  You are all so special to me.  Blessings.


           What a ride,

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Unveiled Faces


And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. — 2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV


Read the whole passage in context:  2 Corinthians 3

I have to be honest: THERE IS SO MUCH IN THIS CHAPTER THAT I MAY JUST HAVE TO SPEND MORE THAN ONE BLOG ON IT BECAUSE I DON'T QUITE GET IT ALL YET.

But I wanted to share something that is going through my head.

In the Old Testament, Moses was in the presence of God writing out the Law.  When he came down from the mountain, his face was shining so much that he put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome... (2 Corinthians 3:13).  Moses was in the presence of God and there was an obvious and visible result of that encounter.  Everyone could tell because Moses had been changed.

Fast forward to today.  Notice this truth: "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV).  The veil is removed.  There is veil that only Christ can remove when the "old covenant" is read.  Without Christ unveiling a heart, a person cannot understand the heart of the gospel.  The facts, sure.  But the heart behind it, no.  And when that heart is changed, the Spirit (who is the Lord) comes into that life and brings FREEDOM.  That's right.  FREEDOM!!!

freedom - the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.

I am free not to sin.  I am free to follow Christ.  I am free to serve Jesus.  I am free to surrender everything to the God who loves me beyond ability to comprehend.  I am free.  And for those of you in Christ, so are you.

So hang in there.  Remember what Paul said at the end of this chapter:  "And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  There was glory in the old covenant, but it does not compare with the glorious work that the Spirit of God is doing.  The Spirit of God (who is the Lord) is at work in every follower of Christ.  There are not some that are being transformed and some that are not.  All are being transformed.  It's a process. Parts of that process are so much fun while others are so painful to endure, but all bring about the transformation that is more glorious than our former way of living.  You're in process.  It will take every ounce of strength in you, filled by the grace of God, to move forward.  Thankfully, God's grace is amazing, his mercy is unending and new every morning, and his love is steadfast.  God wants you to succeed more than you want to.  "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, ESV). 

But how can you be sure? Because the work of the Spirit of God in a life is more glorious than the work of religion in the dying.  "For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."  And since God began the work in you, he will finish it, gloriously.  The result: a veil will not be able to hide what it is that God is doing, and has done, in you.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

G.O.S.P.E.L - AWESOME!!!

Baptism Pics from Last Night At FLOOD

These pics are awesome!!! It was an incredible night.







Can You Say BAPTISM?!!!!


We had a great time last night at FLOOD.  We continued in our verse-by-verse study through the book of James [James 1:22-27] (series is called, "In Your Face).  At the end of the night we called people to surrender to Jesus.  No one did.  But we continued on and baptized SEVEN people!!!! It was awesome.  I had the people who came to get baptized walk forward in front of everyone.  The place went nuts.  It is absolutely unbelievable what God is doing in and through the people of the FLOOD.  Please keep praying.  I'm convinced that he has only just begun.

Monday, April 4, 2011

FLOOD: Reminder about David & Margaret Spring Service Day

Hey FLOOD,
Just wanted to throw out this reminder to you about the service day going on tomorrow at David and Margaret's (1350 Third Street, La Verne, CA. 91750).


Here's the main info:

Volunteers may sign up for:
morning shift
8:30am - 11:30am

afternoon shift
12:30pm - 4:30pm

or the whole day

If you have any specific questions, please call Tiffiane Ousley at 909-596-5921, ext. 3631.

This is a chance for us to get the FLOOD out.  Hope to see you there.

Update & Prayer

Hey Prayer Team,
Thank you for praying for Ignite.  I keep trying to find the word to describe how it was and all I can come up with is indlakd&!*(@!nd!!! Seriously.  I do not think that I have ever been involved in worship time like what we experienced at Ignite.  I'm absolutely speechless at what happened that night.  So thank you for praying.  The next one is October 1st.  If you want to start praying now for that, I would love it.  :)

Here's my teaching schedule for this week:

1).  Tonight I am teaching at the graduate chapel at Azusa Pacific.  This is the once/month gathering that we have for graduate students.

2).  This Wednesday night at FLOOD we get back into the book of James (James 1:22-27 if you're interested).  We have seen about 7 people surrender to Christ in the month of March.  It has been awesome.  This Wednesday night is baptism at FLOOD, which is always a special time.

3).  On Friday morning I am preaching at Crossroads Junior High in Corona.

4).  This Sunday morning I get to teach and hang out with the young adults of TOGETHER at PFB Church.  I have so much fun with this small group community.

5).  And finally, please be praying for me.  In late June/July, I will be going to Palau with a group of people from PFB on a missions trip.  My main responsibility while there: to teach youth workers and to preach about Jesus.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Thank you for constantly praying for me.  I can't tell you how much it means to me.  Your partnership is so important to me.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

IGNITE was EXPLOSIVE!!!!


Ignite was absolutely incredible!!! I cannot believe that what I witnessed actually took place.  It was three-hours of intense and passionate worship of Jesus.  I spoke on the renown of God, his fame, glory, power and steadfast love (spoke from Psalm 63:1-4).  Megan's key passage was Romans 11:36 and she was AMAZING!!! Jarret and Ryan led us in worship singing.  Ryan Palmer and Andy Shoemaker were the MC's for the evening - the greatest MC's on the face of the planet.  The night was incredible.  More info is coming, but I at least wanted to share the picture above of one of the moments in the evening.  I was so overwhelmed with this sight that I had to stop and take a picture.

The next Ignite worship event is October 1st, 2011 (www.igniteusnow.com). The theme will be "Free Fall".  Thank you so much for praying.  Thank you to those of you who joined us for the evening, whether in person or online.  It was unbelievable!!! Thank you, Jesus.