Upper Room Worship Gathering

Had a sweet night of BEING THE CHURCH with multiple churches coming together to worship in music and prayer. 6 different worship leaders from different churches. I loved it!

Thankful for X-Factor
Watch the Video on Youtube here!

A little taste of Heaven through music

In February I had the privilege of joining BOSS Church (Bayside of S. Sacramento), along with some other PCC Young Adults, on a retreat. Not only did we experience great connections with each other, we connected with God in beautiful ways through music. I have to admit, and I hope I don't sound harsh or judgmental, but I get surprised when the church-GOD'S PEOPLE, doesn't respond in such an outwardly expressive way. (View via FB here). I know that we all have different ways we worship, but imagine standing before our great God...and checking your watch, or playing with your cell phone. I find it hard to believe that when captured by such love, beauty, purity, and HOLINESS we won't just burst out crying, dancing, and/or fall flat on our faces. I think encountering God must be expressive, that's why I loved this time worshiping with song and dance. And I am so excited that Sam, the leader of the band, will be joining us for our Fall Retreat in September (17-19). What made this gathering time so meaningful for me was the way we worshiped our ONE God together, being that some of us didn't even know each other, and came from different places, and ethnic backgrounds, but it was God's love and a love for him that brought us unity. I'm really looking forward to being together at this retreat in the fall.

Reviewing my last week from Father's day June 21-today June 28th.

Thumbs UP. Great week. I just have to recap:
When a dad's birthday falls in the same week as Father's day, some might feel the way people who have birthdays at Christmas. (Y'know, "kill two birds and give one gift?"). Not that I'm looking for gifts, I just really scored a great week.
Last Sunday it started with heart shaped pancakes and coffee when I woke up! Happy Dad's day from my family! I loved it.

We had some great family hang out time. My wife blessed me. I love her and I love being married to her and being a dad to my two girls.
Side note, For my daughter's 2nd birthday she got a playhouse and a family with Dad, Mom, and two daughters. Sound familiar?
Here's a picture of the dad figure:

What does this image say about how fathers are seen in our culture? (Besides possibly that men aren't masculine enough, I mean, really, he looks slightly feminine). This seemingly "innocent" toy gives a wrong impression of fathers or just affirms the stereotype that I don't want to be: always seen with cell phone in hand. I know I'm not the only dad that struggles with this because I've seen many dads, at restaurants or parks, talking on phones while their kids wait in the wings. (Even a grandpa figure has a crazy big phone.) I am striving to be seen with my phone less in my hands so that my hands are free to hug, chase, and carry my girls around! (This means I often leave my phone at home while on walks or at the park).

So... on to GAP AT THE MOVIES! Review time.

Three movies in one week. THAT'S RIGHT! I actually got to sit in the movie theater three different times in one week. That's the benefits of having a birthday the same week as Father's day! (Thanks again to my wife! She knows what I love!). So here are my reviews:

Star Trek. I FINALLY got to see this 5 star movie. Over two hours but I was never bored. I was always more of a Star Wars fan so I worried if I would feel "left out" of the inside info, but that wasn't an issue at all. The story moves fast, the acting is so believable, and the plot makes sense. It makes you question, "Am I living out my greater purpose?" So, if you are way behind in your movie viewing, check this out.

Moon. This indy flick, in limited release, is very well done. Dark and a bit sad, but a great commentary on identity and controversial issues. Sam Rockwell is an amazing actor, and you'll agree as he plays two different people, sort of, in the movie. I don't want to spoil it. I highly recommend this. It was a bonus for me cause I hang out with good friend Matt Nightingale.

Now on to the little blip on the greatness of my week.

Transformers. I fell asleep. A friend commented on facebook saying, "At 2.5 hours...it was 1.5 hours too long." I second that. It needed a lot more editing for me to green light this flick. I've always been a huge Transformers fan. I grew up with every single one of those toys awaiting me at the foot of my bed every morning I woke up. I loved playing with them, watched the cartoons, and loved the first movie. Shia LeBeouff is going to have a great career as an actor. There's no denying he's good. Michael Bay brought , blow-em up action but the story had many holes, lacked substance, and tried to hard ( what ended up lame) laughs. Therefore my suspension of disbelief "grace" was not willing to cover over the length. And yet, it still sold out the box office and will probably go on to make a third installment. I just hope they don't try to sell tickets by lowering the bar with more "potty humor." Spoiler alert: I mean, come on, humping dogs, ok, ha-ha, but then a humping robot. I just rolled my eyes. My wife also cracked me up when she said something about how even running through the dessert the lead actress, Megan Fox, had glistening lips and perfect hair. Ben Mankiewicz of At the Movies reviewed it and had some funny things to say about it, too.

So besides much time at the pool trying to escape the heat wave here in Redwood City it was a relaxing weekend that ended the week with a great concert, in one of my favorite cities, with a new favorite band.

Wake Up Church

God is definitely speaking to us who are a part of PCC (as well as the Church world-wide).
Listen to guest speaker J.P. Moreland who spoke on the Kingdom of God. I sat there listening last night just amazed. This is the timing of God. I had no idea what he would be talking about when I arrived at the gathering. But in divine timing, God reminded and revealed there is more.

LISTEN TO HIS MESSAGE HERE. 

GOD WON'T RELENT until he has it all. This song has been on REPEAT this week.

Thank you God for creating Bono

If you aren't listening to U2's new album, I highly suggest it! I have many faves (Stand Up), but Magnificent, for me, is a beautiful love song to God, the Magnificent.

Magnificent I was born I was born to be with you

In this space and time After that and ever after I haven't had a clue Only to break rhyme

This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born I was born to sing for you I didn't have a choice but to lift you up

And sing whatever song you wanted me to I give you back my voice

From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise...

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify The Magnificent Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love unites our hearts Justified till we die, you and I will magnify The Magnificent Magnificent Magnificent

Good News for your Ipod: January Imix

Lost and YOU FOUND ME

After hearing the bum news that one of my three fave shows Pushing Daisies is being cancelled, I stumbled on the new song, YOU FOUND ME, by the Fray. This great song is also being featured on Lost (one of my other faves). Cool thing is the Fray guys are all Christ Followers doing their music and art in the pop music scene. So if you listen, you can hear echos of their faith bounce through. I've also hung out with their drummer, Ben, as he married one of our young adult women (who also was one of the photographers at our wedding four years ago). So although I'm seriously bummed to lose this artistic and spiritual piece of TV, I'll now make room for Lost which starts 1/21!


PS. My third fave show is 30 Rock. I used to be in to Heroes the 1st season, but haven't made the time to watch any of the DVR recorded episodes since.

Good News for your iPod. November 2008, iMix

My November mix is inspired from Thanksgiving, travels to Dallas, Twain Harte and the cinema! Yes-Twilight to Fireproof. Oh, how God can use anything! I will post my December mix in exactly one week to celebrate the great month of Christmas!

Valeri Lopez

Have you heard of Val Lopez? She was a huge hit when she joined us on our summer retreat, and she will also tag along with us next weekend to Twain Harte. If you are a PCC young adult are you going? Have you signed up? (November 7-9).

I love this song of hers. It's a great song for marriage but also a great song in relationship to God. Listen and see what you think. She will also probably be playing at La Tartine on Sunday night, 11/9, too. She sings some Italian in this song, too. Cool.