When someone will do whatever it takes to get what they want...

That's the making of a good story. A story we want to read, watch, or hear. This is Zach. He's an actor. I don't know much about his life other than what I read here, but it's a good story. But he has a story of wanting something really bad, and overcoming the obstacles, his own physical challenges, to get it. That's the making of a good story. A character who wants something and will do what ever it takes to get what they want, completely changing in the process. So, like I said, I don't know much about Zach, but his story encourages me. We are called to OVERCOME. This story encouraged me because it's someone conquering the odds, and I love it when it's someone fulfilling a dream within the arts.

Speaking on Human Trafficking

I started following Jesus because of two amazing friends, high school students, that followed Jesus faithfully and radically. I believe that youth can/are used by God in great ways. This morning I got to speak on Human Trafficking at The King's Academy, thanks to the invitation from a PCC High School Student, Esther Smith, who attends TKA. I co-taught with friend, former human trafficking victim, Jill Ranes to a few hundred students. I felt their potential and had a momentous time praying with them. Jill gave these students another face to human trafficking. She was used in the Bay Area, as an American citizen, for ten years in an organized crime ring of pornography in her twenties. It's happening all over the world, perpetrators are kidnapping children and taking them to the US, but it also happens right in our back yard on college campuses, in airports, with the use of drugs and manipulation. Jill is exposing this issue and expanding it. She is speaking about her plight and helping to bring awareness, so that other might be rescued and healed, too. We just recorded her story for The Sound Room (Podcast) which will be up in a couple weeks, so watch for it.


We started out by reading ISAIAH 58 AND PRAYING FOR GOD'S LOVE TO SHINE AND BRING FREEDOM TO THE CAPTIVES.
After, the high school chapel, we viewed some art made by the Jr. High Students around the issue.




The HS chaplain said these students have raise almost $5000 for the issue.

an ignorant, foolish, or silly person

I recently tried out Scrabble for a few rounds. Humbling for me since I played my wife Wendy and she beat me... blindfolded. Normally, I would avoid games that take intellectual left brain skill (ie: I hate Trivia Pursuit), cause I opt for games where I can act and just make a fool of my right brained self. That kind of competition I can do! But I wanted to play Scrabble out of shear desire to try and feel smart---- it didn't work. There's quite a distinction between "feeling" smart and "being" smart. (That was pretty profound, huh? Maybe I AM smart).

On the serious side, I've realized that when it comes to my mind--I'm definitely not a "scholar."(among other things). I''ll never be the tweed-coat clad theologian pastor puffing a pipe and sitting next to the fireplace deliberating on the profundities (now there's a good scrabble word) of Biblical interpretation. I'm not much for heady conversations. Don't get me wrong-I like details, information, and "knowing" all I can about the Good News but I lean more toward the touchy feely side of the Gospel. God's story is a fact--that we choose to believe but I also believe we must choose to feel the Good News, too. I might not be able to debate systematic theology and get an A (after all read this:) cause what, (or who), I really know is Jesus, the love of God, and his Spirit-empowered, world-changing story of hope. You'd think that would be enough, but honestly... I sometimes have to fight to believe this---the truth that this--God's love and his transforming power in my life--is enough. You see, a lot my brokenness (on-going and from the past) enslaves me to comparisons.

I have no plaques, degrees, or scholarly achievements from any prestigious places hanging on my office wall. I probably never will even if I do finally attain my Masters one day. In fact, not only do I lack lots of intellectual credentials, I'm void in a lot of areas: For instance:

I had to ask someone one time what the acronym MLB stood for, which goes to show that I'm not in the know at all when it comes to sports. Admittedly, I often feel small when conversations come up and I can't contribute stats, college football projections, or any pertinent info on baseball, basketball..not even ping-pong is on my radar. Your Grandma could beat me.
I pretty much know nothing about mortgages, escrow, stocks and/or bonds. Although I wish I had the ability to play the market and own a house, I'm just happy that God provides just enough for our little family..check to check.

If I pick up a hammer or screwdriver--beware!! Run for the hills and protect your children. I suck dirt at fixing things and couldn't build a block, let alone a house. My wife's had to accept that the bar for my handyman skills is low and she's just happy when I'm able to change a light bulb, or fold up our double stroller (-think sumo wrestling). When I attempt to fix stuff my thumbs end up paying for it. Besides have you seen my thumbs?

Sorry to all my gamer friends but as for video games you won't want to pick me for your team. I can't join in on that past time, I'd rather go to the dentist than play video games.

This list could go on. Things in this world that I just don't know, won't ever know, and realistically don't ever want to learn.

This is when I realized I'm a simpleton and I'm OK with it.

This post is not about self loathing. It's actually about self acceptance. God really spoke love to me this as I was coming to terms with my limitations...which are actually not limitations but specific freedoms which increase my ability to be who God created me to be. I'm growing more and more in my understanding of God's full love and complete acceptance of me and who I am. That I'm a man, made in his image, capable of leading and living passionately for him and also leading my wife and kids by his power and love. And when I stand before him one day he will not be judging me on how on my knowledge of sports history stats or the makes and models of cars.

What matters is knowing HIM, loving him and loving others! Whew!

So with what I know..I will fight. With what I am passionate about. I will live a life of worship and I will (try) not to compare myself to others. I will resolve to know Jesus! I will choose to love God and seek to serve others with His love and power. That's what makes us truly wise.

If you feel like me, Please read:
1 Corinthians 2

We need to be eloquently well spoken, intellectually knowledeble or put together to be used by God. We just need to know God, be ourselves, and let Him work through us. God can even use a simpleton.

TRANSFORMation

The only "Transformers" worth being mentioned right now are the ones being changed by God's work (that's a ping that requires a movie review in a later post). I was emailed this video below portraying changed lives of students at UC Santa Barbara. The second woman featured is a part of our church family. I met her two years ago on Father's Day and (with with some other women) prayed with her and seriously before my eyes saw God do something in her. She suffered some serious wounds but with God's love and the support of community she began a great healing process. Now, two years later, after letting God do a lot of work in her, she is a college graduate and an intern with Campus Crusade for Christ. I love TRANSFORMATION!

The Crucifixion

Good Friday. A time to reflect. A time to weep and mourn. But not for long.

Watch a video here.

May we all have perspective today of the love of God for the world demonstrated through the life and death of Jesus Christ. If you are near Redwood City join our gathering tonight 8pm in PCC's Worship Center for TENEBRAE.


Easter awaits...when we celebrate the end of all darkness, sin, and death as it's done away with forever because Jesus conquered the grave and the evil one. TO BE CONTINUED.

God's power is real

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.

Africa and Owies

As I have late shift nights (holding our baby so my wife can sleep during feedings) I am spending lots of time reading blogs, catching up on movies, or facebooking--with one hand. I saw this video today and was inspired.

I pray for Africa a lot. I've only been there once and it was amazing. I hope to go back one day with my family. I've also been teaching my 2 year old daughter through pictures about the water issues that that most of Africa faces. I've told her that African kids have "owies" in their tummies because they have dirty water and then we pray for them. She is consumed with people and their "owies." So now when she brings up Africa she says, "Kids have owies," and then we pray for God to HEAL! Right? Like I blogged before, we as the church need to believe this and do something. This video reminded me that God want to heal the sick AND simply change my life in surrender and freedom from materialism--willing to use all that I have for him

I'm a witness

Like I said in this last post, I am so ready for more of God's power and praying to see him move more. God's kingdom is breaking through into our life, into our world! Last month I personally witnessed two people physically healed by God's people through prayer. Here's a story of Rashelle, one of the women in our church family, who was healed during a time of prayer on our young adult retreat. She was jumping up and down on her ankle that had been in pain and unable to hold weight. All of us there witnessed it and broke out in applause and thanks to God. When I talked to Rashelle, a few days after to see how she was doing, she laughed and said, "I went running for the first time today and I'm wearing high heels right now." Awesome. And that's not the only story.

Meet Richard.


I'm telling ya, God wants his power to amaze people and display his love and glory.
Richard was healed when we were praying with Street Church. We prayed for anyone who had any physical pain to be healed in the group huddle. No one specifically asked for prayer, we just did. After we finished he came up and said it was as if God was speaking right to him as we prayed. He no longer had the the pain he was dealing with in his arm and in his leg. In his words he said, "I feel light [not heavy]."