Friday, December 23, 2011

FLOOD Christmas


Our FLOOD Christmas service was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! I am still in awe of how awesome it was. The music was outstanding. The special music of, "O Holy Night" sung by Jarret Lemaster and Jessica Cabral was unbelievable!!! Jesus was exalted and worshipped. I am so thankful for what I was able to be a part of. Thank you for praying.

Merry Christmas.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Please Pray for Tonight

My Bible and notes for tonight.
I FEEL LIKE PREACHING A BIT!!!
I'm in my office as I write this - reading, praying, and going over Luke 2:1-20 to preach tonight at FLOOD Christmas. As I keep reading it over and over I just get more and more excited. The thing is: MY THOUGHTS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. I want clarity. I want to proclaim God's truth in a way that people get and understand. I want GOD'S MESSAGE to be proclaimed loud and clear.

And even as I write that, there is one key thing that keeps coming to mind (which is actually the title of the message for tonight): "The Message in the Manger." Here are key words that I believe are found in the message in that manger: humble King, good news, great joy, for all the people, peace, hope, help, God's plan. It is amazing!!! I would love to see you join us in person at FLOOD tonight if you can make it (PFB Church - 601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767), or you can join us live online at www.floodnow.com.

Please pray for me as I continue to prep, plan, and pray through this message for tonight. Then please pray as I preach it.

About what else to pray for, I am on vacation starting on Sunday for a week and a half.  However, I will be speaking/teaching at a church retreat in the San Jose area December 30-January 1 while I'm gone. Please be praying for me for that trip. I'm pretty excited.

Thank you all for praying. Merry Christmas to each one of you.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Just Fill the Jars...

This is the message that I preached at PFB this past Sunday morning at all of the morning services. I share this not because I am needing people to see me preach, but because I'm convinced that this message is a message that needs to be embraced. It is still freeing me from the feeling of not doing enough.

I don't think I have ever had as big a response to a message as I did this one. If you watch, be blessed. If  you don't, be blessed as well. :)


Monday, December 12, 2011

Prayer and Update...

Hi all,
Thank you so much for praying for me last week. Here are a few of the updates from Wednesday night at FLOOD and Sunday morning at PFB Church:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT FLOOD:
We saw two girls get baptized.

SUNDAY MORNING:
At the 11:11 service we saw a woman stand up in front of everyone and surrender to Jesus. THAT NEVER GETS OLD!!!

Here's how you can pray for me this week:

This Wednesday night I am preaching at FLOOD out of Philippians 1:12-18. So far the topic that is popping out is the fact that perspective is the necessary ingredient in getting through difficult situations. We all face trials. God has a way to get us through those times every time. Join us in person if you can (7:00 pm @ PFB Church; 601 N. Garey Ave, Pomona, 91767) or watch live online (www.floodnow.com).

Thank you so much for praying. God has been blowing me away lately with what he has been doing. The best is yet to come. I'm convinced of it.

Friday, December 9, 2011

It's All About Perspective


This coming Wednesday night we are starting a mini-series within in the Philippians study that we are going through at FLOOD. The title for this mini-series is called, "Perspective." Notice this verse that Paul writes:

"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really serve to advance the gospel,..." — Philippians 1:12, ESV

What was it that had happened to Paul? He was arrested. He was sitting under house-arrest, possibly chained to a Roman guard, penning this letter of joy to the Philippian Christians. Paul was wrongfully imprisoned because of the fact that he loved Jesus. And what was his response? He saw that his imprisonment was actually a good thing for the cause of Christ.

Perspective changes everything. It impacts your life in so many ways. I'm convinced that perspective is one of the key ingredients necessary to experiencing joy in life no matter what circumstances a person may be facing. Do not miss this mini-series. And please invite someone with you to FLOOD next week. We all know someone who is facing a difficult situation that I am convinced will be blessed so much as we look at God's word.

I love you all. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your pastor. You are such a blessing to me.

What a ride,
Brian ("Big B Holla"; Pastor B)

FLOOD: Wednesday nights at 7:00pm
Join us at FLOOD in person (PFB Church - 601 N. Garey Avenue, Pomona, 91767)
Join us at FLOOD online (www.floodnow.com)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

6 More Months... Again

I just wanted to thank Jesus publicly: Kelley had her blood work results appointment yesterday. The results came back showing that she is still free from thyroid cancer. We are so thankful. This is always the best Christmas present every year.

Thank you for praying.

Monday, December 5, 2011

The Equation of Hope

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. — Romans 15:4, ESV


According to this verse, there are two things that are necessary for hope to be a reality in the life of a Christian.

1).  ENDURANCE. I'm not sure if you've noticed this, but being a Christian is tough. For those that say it takes no effort, I'm guessing that they've come to that conclusion for one of the following reasons:

  • They aren't really a Christian.
  • They aren't trying to live a life that is set apart for Christ, but rather have bought into a mindset that Christ came so that they could do whatever they wanted.
  • They aren't being honest.
It's tough. We have to expect that it is, while at the same time not playing the role of over-dramatic and helpless victim. And on top of that, life comes with trials and tough situations that we have to face and go through. But in all of it, God is sovereign and has a plan. Our job: keep going. Just one step in front of the other.

2).  ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES. We MUST be in the Bible on a regular basis. We have to spend time with God, sitting and meditating on his word. Realize this: every time that you open the Bible, you are spending time with God. He is speaking. Are you listening? 

Both of these things are necessary. You cannot find hope in just positive thinking. It's not a mind-over-matter type of thing. Scripture gives us the ingredients for hope.

ENDURANCE + ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES = HOPE

Hang in there. Hang out with God. Experience hope.

Prayer for this Week...

Hey all,
Here's how you can pray this week:

1).  On Wednesday night I am teaching at FLOOD at PFB Church. We are continuing through the book of Philippians. Please pray as I prep, pray and preach this message.

2).  This weekend we are having our huge Christmas outreach at PFB Church ("Come Celebrate Christmas" and "Bethlehem Marketplace"). We usually have around 10,000 people step on our campus for this event over the course of the weekend. This is a huge opportunity for us to reach people for Christ.

3).  This Sunday morning I am preaching at all of the morning services at PFB Church. Please pray as I prep, pray and preach this message.

Thank you so much.