Jerrod Was Here.

Just stay in the tower, Please

2010-02-05T10:36:00.001-08:00

I had lunch with a sweet friend and her amazingly adorable baby yesterday (Side Note: I've seen a lot of cute babies in my life, but this one is definitely on the top of the list!)
Our discussion started to bounce around relationships, I made the statement "Girls, although they have a there own box of pressure and weight in relationships do in fact have the easier end of the deal." "What!?", exclaimed by sweet friend. "How so?" This is what followed....

A woman gets to sit back in here castle tower and wait. Wait for her knight in shining armor to come storm the castle and come get her. And you'll know when he comes because you you'll hear the clanging of swords and shields outside of your door. And so, you wait. You don't even have to unlock the door because he will donkey kick it down when he gets to it. And so, you wait. And at last when he comes marching through the door YOU get to say "yes" or you get to say "no". How great is that! ...But here is the problem. While waiting in your tower you start to think a couple things. One, this could be a long wait and two, what happens if he doesn't come? Well, Maybe I should unlock the door for him...or maybe I should crack open the door. Ya know better yet, I'll lower the drawbridge as well and go wait outside for him, because he might pass by and miss the castle. Ya know, come to think of it maybe I should go out into the woods and look for him because you know men, they tend to be bad with directions and he might be lost out there. So you leave the tower you leave the castle you go into the woods and get all of a sudden get swooped away by the troll living under the bridge. And then you sit back and say to the world, "why is it that all I get are the trolls?" "Is the whole world filled with trolls?" Meanwhile back at the ranch...or the castle in this example...the brave young knight has fought his way up the tower through flames and dragons only to find the you gone and being carried away in the arms of a troll.

Remedy: Just stay in the tower...wait. This doesn't mean do nothing or be nothing. Contrary, prepare yourself. Stay faithful. Trust. Believe.

Here's the second thought that goes through your mind..."What if he doesn't come?". or "What if he isn't who I thought he would be." What happens if Shrek comes marching through those doors. What if he isn't what I imagined. My question is this: Could he be better then what you imagined?

Is there a difference between want and need sometimes? You may want a six pack, flowing locks of golden hair and a huge bank account. But what comes is a dangerously skinny guy with strange facial hair and a few bucks in his back pocket...but, what is unseen is a truck load of love and faithfulness and hope and integrity and honor and protection and loyalty. Want and need. We might want to start wanting what were needing more.

And maybe you have ventured out of the castle and into the woods and got picked up by a troll and are lost and looking for your way home. How do you get back?
Let the Lord take you back and return you to your tower, restore you, love you, rebuild your heart and then help you wait..again. This time don't even unlock the door. When the time comes you'll know. Listen for the swords clanging and just stay in the tower, Please.

I know this is a fairytale example and life doesn't work out like a storybook and it may seem pretty extreme...but, doesn't it ring true somewhere deep down inside all of us. Doesn't this possibility sound better. Maybe not. Maybe I am just a dreamer, but I don't think I'm alone.

In Your Arms

2010-01-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

Where did you go last night
Without even leaving my sight
Your head went to the stars
Your heart went to the sea
And your eyes grew dark enough to not see me

In your arms
I'm finally free
In your arms
I finally see
In your arms
I finally know
I'm free to be me and I'm free to let go

Look at you now running away
From all of the world and all of your shame
Well where will you go and what will you do
When out run tonight but tomorrow still finds you

-music by jerrod steven

The Gift of Receiving

2010-01-15T00:12:00.001-08:00

I am discovering an area of weakness in my life.

Receiving.

My initial reaction to this idea is to answer with a common phrase i hear, especially around Christmas time "It's better to give than to receive"...
Now I agree, on some levels, but what I have noticed is that I can be a real good giver whether it be gifts, compliments or hugs but receiving them on the other hand is a whole different story. And I don't think I'm the only one.

As a culture we are raised to believe that it is indeed better to give than receive, and so we spend all of our time learning to be better givers. But what happens when it comes time to receive? your met with something like this:

"That's a great shirt"
"oh thanks..it's the only clean one I had"

or

"You look great, have you lost weight?"
"Ya a little, but not as much as I need to!"

or if your like me maybe you have been in this scenario...

"What a great message tonight Jerrod."
"oh it wasn't me, it was all the Lord"

Wait wait wait that last one is true, right? Is it? (before you pick up the stones hear me out) Yes, the Lord is the producer of all good things, and is the inspiration for the production of those things, but there had to have been a joined effort on my part (or your part) for Him to accomplish those things. So is it humility when you brush off the compliments or is it just inverted vanity? A false sense of humility. Because we really do believe that things the people say, but we surely can't say we agree with them because that would be prideful! (this is inverted vanity) we care more about the appearance of humility then actually being humble.

We invest so much time being givers that our ability to receive suffers. This is where my concern comes in...If we don't learn to receive then how can we really experience what God has given. We wont. What He offers is not based on what we give or do or produce or make up. It is rooted in HIM giving and US receiving what HE gives.

I need to get better at receiving...so if you would like to help we could start by you giving me something?

Twenty Ten

2010-01-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

It is a new year.

Why is this such a big deal?

I walked into Panera (this is a common theme in my weekly life) As i held open the door for the couple leaving the house of bagels, I was greeted with a smile and two friendly "Happy New Years"

What is so exciting about the start of a new year?

Gym memberships. Champagne toasts. Resolutions. The idea of a fresh start rises in the minds and hearts of each person who desperately longs for one. Those who are so deep in emotional or spiritual slumber look to the year and feel no sense of change, or hope of change.

Can there truly be a fresh start?

Yes. The wonderful answer we all hold our breath for. Yes, there can be a fresh start. There can be a new thing. A different way. A better way.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." --Isaiah 43:18-19

Drink deep weary soul. Believe once again cynical heart. Trust wholly fearful heart. The Lord has never, can never and will never change. But He will create in you a new thing, a better thing.

The chances of magical laser beams shooting from heaven and creating something new in your heart or even in front of your very eyes is slim ,but coupled with your cooperation this new year there WILL be new things spring forth from your heart, mind & soul. A path in the overwhelmingness of this life & refreshing streams in the driest places of your heart. Work with the Lord this year in submitting to His lead and bowing your humble knee to his holy, unshakable, indispensable will.

You will see changes, good changes. You will see not a better version of you, but a clearer picture of Him in your life.

He is on the move...let Him move in you.

Welcome to Twenty Ten.

So take a new grip with your tired hands...

2009-08-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

- A Portion of the book of Hebrews

A Tale From A Flight From Bakersfield to Pheonix

2009-08-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

I took a trip to Arizona this last week and meet a woman named Margarette, she was a woman that had been through the ringer of life and was still standing. I was reading a magazine from a christian environmental group and ready for the quick trip when i felt this woman staring over me to peek at what i was reading. "what is that?", she said with hope in her eyes. I told her "It's was an environmental magazine..."
the hope began to fade from her eyes...

"...a christian based environmental magazine." I added. And the hope quickly flooded not just her eyes, but her entire body. Everything in her changed and she shifted towards me ready for share time. "i knew you were a believer, well i thought...well i was hoping!"

We went on to discuss her amazing life journey of being married to a man who did not believe but she was fervently praying for him through his battle with addiction. She was in her 60's and had been running a web design company. She told me about html code while rummaging through her apps on her new iphone.

I was impressed.

but what was most impressive of this woman was that she LOVED to talk about the Lord. What He had done, what He was doing and what He is going to do. She had battled through some of life's toughest situations and still had her eyes fixed upon Jesus. She spoke of the beauty of God in her tomato garden and the hope of Jesus she has found in the bruised and broken people she has encountered. No matter how many times the world has told her its not worth it she has stood up and shouted with the fire of love in her lungs and said "My hope is built on nothing less. Than Jesus' blood and righteousness"

When we were getting ready to leave the plane she grabbed my arm and said, "This is the greatest gift, to share in Gods goodness with those who have seen it and those who desperately need to"

These are the stories worth sharing.

Salty Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-07-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting season of life. The kind that makes you wonder what the Lord is doing and if He is even aware of what is going on (blasphemy, I know). So I asked Him. And my mind immediately went to Chocolate Chip Cookies. Why? Great question! I didn't know at first. I started to think about the ingredients for the cookies and there filled with amazingly delicious things. Butter. Sugar. Flour. Simi-sweet chocolate chips. But then I thought about Salt and baking powder. These are key ingredients in chocolate chip cookies. Now I love cookies, with a passion that burns deep in my soul, and could eat them everyday, but I never have a hankering for a spoon full of salt or baking powder. But if those ingredients were missing form the recipe the cookies would not taste as good. The Lord is cooking something in my life and I do not know what it is. I do know it is good, because He is a good god who gifts us good things and moves with infinite love and compassion towards me. He is the master baker and I have to trust he knows the recipe and not just a recipe but the perfect recipe for this season. Although there are ingredients that taste real salty and I wonder if He has added too much, I must believe He knows what He's baking and that it will be wonderful and leave me full of wonder. The fact is that without these few things that hurt and leave me dazed and confused this new season would not be as good, these are not just flipped ingredients, but necessary ingredients and some of the most valuable. In fact in Roman times, the emperor would pay the roman soldiers in salt because it was so valuable. So instead of running or winching at these salty ingredients as a burden I should embrace them as invaluable and a gift in and of themselves.

here's to the master baker, who I trust to have the best recipes, know the right measurements of ingredients and has the perfect timing for all things.

.....looking forward to sharing the cookies with you when there done.

The Gym (aka A House of Worship)

2009-07-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've been training for a Triathlon that's coming up next Saturday in the bay area. Because of this training I bought something that I never thought about buying before...a gym membership.
The gym is an interesting place, filled with interesting people...

You have the Muscle Heads, these are the guys wearing Tap Out drinking no-explode who spend more time looking in the mirror holding the weights then actually lifting them.
You have the Business man with a impressively large stomach that is solid like a cannon ball, watching CNN on screen 7. Sweating profusely on the treadmill.
You have the young determined post college girl going 90 miles an hour on the elliptical machine her ipod screaming Kelly Clarkson into her ear drums.

I find myself watching these people more then actually training for the triathlon that is lingering just around the corner. And it hit me the other day...The gym is a house of worship.

I began to hear it all around me, people are worshiping. Loud. Whether it is there own body or self image, or whether it is there husband or wife that there breaking there back to try and keep a figure that will in turn keep there spouses affection alive and well. Worshipers. Filling the house of worship called Evolutions in Tulare.

It then hit me, what am I worshiping? I sat in the back yard last night looking at the stars and asking myself, What is the object I am glorying in most? What has the most wait in my life? What am I sacrificing for? The answers that came were scary and exciting. The truth is we were all made to worship. We will worship something. Food, Self Satisfaction, Money, Power, Husbands, Wives, Kids, Sports...we will give glory to something in this life.

I’m unsatisfied with giving glory to myself, I fear rejection so I pour everything I have into making you like me, making people around me like me, Ill go to any length to make this happen. And I am unsatisfied with it.

Tozer once wrote that it all starts with a "hunger", I hear my stomach growling for more than food, affection and satisfaction in popularity. The pains of needing a true savior are kicking in. And I'm loving were it's leading.

Isaiah 40:3-5

2009-07-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

'Listen it's the voice of someone shouting.
Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
Fill in the valleys and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken.'

Myself and I

2009-06-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

I made the comment today... "I need to be better at blogging."

I made the comment to myself, so myself answered. "Why?"

"Good question myself."

"What if you just got better at loving people?", said I.

"That's a ridiculous question!" Myself snapped.

"IS IT?"

Myself shuffled in the seat and replied, "Don't over spiritualize this."

"What does that even mean?" I quickly rebutted.

Silence filled the car. The tension began to melt between Myself and I. Finally Myself swallowed enough pride to say, "What if I just got better at loving people..."

I Smiled.

the end. (or is it?)

Meet the Guatemala Team...

2009-06-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

bumblebee

2009-04-30T15:31:00.001-07:00

go to lemoore to see bumblebee!
41 north to fargo ave flip a U and see the gloriousness!

monday night blues

2009-04-06T23:12:00.001-07:00

carlin wanted his hair black so we made it black...as well as a smiley face on his chest that is burned into his left pectoral now. happy monday night to you!

Changes...

2009-04-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

"There's one sure thing, nothing stays the same." "Change is inevitable."

I've heard these words spoken multiple times in my short life. And unfortunately I believe them most of the time. I have placed trust in those words. That nothing is stable, nothing is sure, nothing is sound. And it's easy to believe when it looks like everything is changing. I've rented more tux's in the last few years of my life then I planned on and been to more weddings then I can remember. And I’m getting ready for several more this year. One in particular, my friend Chris. This is a bit different because I not only have a great friendship with Chris, but I also live in Chris's house. He is getting married in October, and let me pause to say I am thrilled for this new chapter in his life His fiancé Kathleen is amazingly wonderful and Chris is going to be a fantastic husband and father someday, it just means that I will be packing up my stuff in cardboard box's soon. It's kind of fun the adventure of change, but also a bit overwhelming at times. And the phrases of "nothing stays the same" ring true in times like this. Or if you loose a job or break it off with a girlfriend. And I start to believe that Nothing stays the same, until I hear Jesus say, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

That's the kingdom I belong to. one that does not change. One that is completely different then what this world does or says or believes. It's just like Jesus to turn our logic upside down to reveal his glory.

so I may move a dozen more times before I finally go home, but it doesn't matter because i'm only visiting the land that changes daily for a short time, but my residency is in a kingdom that has not changed, does not change and will not change.

Surf Camp

2009-03-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

We took a group from the Elevate Community to Moro Bay this weekend for a Surf Camp. It was totally refreshing and invigorating to be next to the ocean and sleep on rocks and sticks and smell of campfire smoke and eating trail mix and getting to know people you see every week a little bit better.

Saturday we went surfing all day...it didn't start well for me, well it started better for me then it did Tommy. Tommy Got his big toe toenail ripped of by his surf board. No Bueno! i didn't have that happen, but I also didn't see the ocean form a top my surf board either. mostly i saw it from underneath it. Finally after lunch i went out with determination and finally road a wave and then another and another and another for the rest of the day i wondered what was so hard about this before. There was a moment when it was just me out on my board no one else around but me and the waves and sore arms and looking out i saw these huge blue waves role in and i thought to myself...i could get sucked under by one of these things and i could do nothing about it. You don't tell the ocean when to let you go or when to be let up for air...it tells you when its done with you. The power of this thing made me sit in wonder of the Lord, the unknown power that rest in his will i know little about. The God who created this rolling ocean of power also raised men from the dead and conquered death itself with one fatal swoop. I said i was sorry out loud for the times in my life where i doubt that God can do something or he is even knowledgeable on how to get a job done. When we submit to the authority of Jesus Christ we don't get to tell Him when to slow down or when to let us up for air...we just trust He knows what He's doing and allow Him to sweep us away. Scary. True Adventure. Better then finally standing on top of my ten dollar surf board.

j-AV in the AM

2009-03-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

waking up early on saturday mornings can be a task..unless you have something to look forward to seeing, tasting or hearing.

I saw good friends. I tasted good coffe. I heard good music.

Sitting on a Rock

2009-03-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went 6 hours without worrying about my cell phone, e-mail or running off to anyplace other then the bathroom. I spent the day at Potwisha sitting on a rock next to the river with Jonathan & Joel... it felt a lot like I was on a hiking trip with my dad. Instead of having my pops point out things around us and turning them into a life lesson I felt like the Lord was sitting on a rock with me all day pointing out things and turning them into life lessons. It was very Andy Griffith...just not in black and white.

(Thoughts on some of the life lessons to come..)

Saturday morning coffee 10am

2009-03-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

Woke up to go to small group at the cafe and hung out with Colleen. It was filled with great conversation about loving our enemies and took time to pray for them and how to creatively love the ones who don't love us. We watched the St. Patrick's Day parade and then to top it all off...this took place...

simple.

2009-03-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you are sitting in a room and are everywhere but there. I meet with a lot of people throughout the day. Sometimes I show up but never fully make it there. My mind is set on the other 14 meetings I have to go to that day, the discussions I should have had the day before, the laundry I left in the washer and now smell like a swamp, that crazy idea I had about opening a coffee shop in Montanan and on and on and on and on. So I show up with a cup half empty and filled with murky water. I cheat the person. I cheat myself. Ultimately I cheat the Lord from using me and actively listening for what He is speaking to me.

Simplify.

We live in a time where you can be almost anywhere in the world at any time. Get on Skype and your chatting with a friend in Mexico and the same time texting your parents in Arizona all the while sitting with your brother in a sandwich shop in Visalia. We show up everywhere but here and now.

Simplify.

You can only do what you can do with what you have when you have it. So let's both stop trying to do the opposite. Next time we have coffee...I'll be there...all the way there.

"Be a simple kind of man. Be something you love and understand. Be a simple kind of man. Won't you do this for me son, if you can?" - The Skynyrd

Happy Birthday Mom..Teacher...Friend

2009-02-17T15:17:00.000-08:00

Back to Back birthdays! Today is my moms birthday...All of my memories of when I was younger are filled with smells. Smells of Christmas, Fresh laundry, Cookies, Brown Sugar, Perfume hugs, Hot fresh bread...all thanks to my mom.

My mom apologizes sometimes for her parenting methods and not being the best mother she could have, but the more I think about it the more I realize that although she may not be wrong about much I think she may be wrong about those statements. The truth is we do what we can with what we have and what we know in life. My mom showed me what love looked like with flesh and bone. What compassion and sacrifice means to a human heart. How to give and give and give and give and give even when it looks like there is nothing left to give. My life is different, my life is better, my life is brighter because of my mom.

thank you mom. for doing wonderfully with what you had and what you knew and still giving today. I love you...happy birthday mom, teacher, friend.

feliz cumpleaños roberto!

2009-02-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

Today is one of my best friends birthday...His name is Robert Jacobo Jr. I met him when I was 2 years old in Tulare, CA where we grew up together building forts in each others backyards, playing with army men, watching power rangers, staying up late at night talking about girls and making videos that only we laughed at. We also feel in love with the Lord side by side and I learned what friendship was through the last 23 years. Robert moved to Mexico 3 years ago, he got married (to beautiful Lucero) and now has an adorable baby boy (Nico!) Life is full of twist and turns, ups and downs, surprises and mundaness, but I’m thankful iv gotten to experience these things with him.

happy birthday bubba...may God bless and guide you this new year and may you come to know just how much you are loved by the savior of the world and by your skinny white kid friend down the street.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one” - C.S. Lewis

Farm-Show

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

I went to the farm show this morning...prayed with farmers. ate a steak sandwich. missed the sham-wow guy and saw this jiggy machine...life changing eh?

Crazy Love Saturay Mornings

2009-02-06T13:04:00.001-08:00

We're starting small groups at Elevate..there is a group meeting almost everyday of the week, so if you have a day free check out www.ellev8.com to sign up for one. If you have Saturday mornings free then come to 210 at 10:30 for the group I'm leading. If you don't have Saturday mornings free you should get them free so you can come. end of story.

Rolfs Cartoon Club - You Can Join Today!

2009-01-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

I want to know everything about this man...

Surf Trip

2009-01-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

Went surfing with this weekend and I found out some things...

1. surfing is hard.
2. I throw up when I taste the ocean.
3. Sharks don’t always eat people when you get in the ocean.
4. if you react in fear to a wave you will get hurt.
5. you don't tell the ocean what to do, it tells you.
6. surfing is beautiful.

Bradford and I met up with Loren, Andrew, Rachel and Michael this weekend and attempted to surf Moro. well I attempted Loren succeeded. But despite the sand I'm still digging out of my ear and my constant be tossed like a rag doll by the waves it was a beautiful experience. I found a beautiful display of Gods Peace and Gods Power in the ocean yesterday. it was a great reminder that God is all in one. he is not full of peace sometimes and then full of power the next. or full of grace at one point of the day and full of truth and justice the next. He is all those at the same time. what a beautiful adventure it is to get to know the Lord. thanks for the reminder Loren.

The Wild Things Are Coming...

2009-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

CHECK IT

Nights of Elevation

2009-01-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

Elevate was last night and Joel started a new series "What Would You Do?" he talked about Solomon and God's granting of any desire...he ask for Wisdom. Not money. Not the slaying of his enemies. Not to be a sex god (although he did have a LOT of wives already). He ask for Wisdom, how beautiful. The funny thing is he must have had some already to ask for that cause I don’t know what I would have asked for. What about you..what would you have asked for? If Almighty God shows up on the edge of your bed in the middle of the night and says He will give to you any desire of your heart what would it be?

Sweet reminder: I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."

A beautiful truth

2009-01-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

I spent this Christmas in Arizona with my family, nothing like Christmas with cactuses! My dad and mom moved there a little over a year ago and are pastoring a church of retired people ranging in age from late 50's to late 90's and my mom directed them in there Christmas pageant this year...amazing! Little did I know that the virgin Mary was 73 years old! it was a beautiful display of confidence and joy and love. After the performance people came up to meet the pastors young kids from California and one lady in particular spoke something that has been ringing in my head sense that night. her name was Patricia and she is a spicy old black woman who has seen a lot in life. She began the conversation by talking about how much she loved my parents and how much she appreciated them and then turned to remind me i needed to appreciate them to. Patricia had lost her parents and her husbands parents quite a while ago, but there still is a longing to be with them just for a cup of tea and conversation or a simple hug and she said "Lord, child you gotta love and cherish your parents! you never know when there gonna breathe there last and you gotta cherish em! Why, there the best thing to happen to you next to Jesus!"

I was reminded of what a gift my parents are and what really matters in this life is not things. not money. not retirement packages. not vacations. not how long we have. but relationships are the greatest gift and the highest treasure in this life.

thanks Patricia.

New..

2008-12-17T13:41:00.000-08:00

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

revelation

Oh Christmas don't be late...

2008-12-11T11:13:00.001-08:00

I had dinner with Brennan Manning last year and he talk about Christmas he said, "I love Christmas, I love everything about Christmas. I even love the commercialization of Christmas!" I was a bit taken back by this because I thought for sure this man out of all men would be anti commercialization of Christmas. so I asked him what he meant. "I love plastic Santa’s, and long lines at the mall, traffic jams and little twinkling lights, they all are here because Jesus came." there is nothing to fear from the commercialization of Christmas because bottom line its all because of Jesus. If he was not born of a woman, sought after by wise man, and did the unthinkable of a deity wrapping himself in flash and blood then Christmas would not be here.

I think about Paul when he walks into a city and says...you have a lot of idols here I see your very religious, he doesn’t tear them down and say hey stupid heads you have this all wrong your going to burn for this...he says kudos to you. You know how to worship I see you even have a statue to an unknown God I would like to tell you about that unknown god and make him known to you....why would we do anything different? why would we not turn to the world and say Kudos to you, you know how to celebrate Christmas, let me tell you about why Christmas exists. Let me tell you of the beautiful boy that grew to a savior king.

don’t fear. embrace.

to late to turn back now!

2008-12-07T23:52:00.001-08:00

ouch!

nipple pierce

2008-12-07T22:40:00.001-08:00

this is what happens on sunday nights around here...

merry christmas from target...

2008-12-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

merry christmas to yooooooou

thanks

2008-12-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD.

Jonah 2

Whale Wars

2008-11-18T12:27:00.001-08:00

I found this new show on the animal planet (one of the 5 channels we watch in our house) it's called Whale Wars. Its about this group of activist that are made up of Australians and British people who ride around the seas of Antarctica terrorizing the whaling boats form Japan. they call themselves activist pirates....and I MAY want to join there crew.

CHECK THEM OUT HERE!

midnight tonight...

2008-11-12T02:40:00.000-08:00

coming back from olive garden...thats right a flat tire! thank goodness for john b!

Harvest Bazaar

2008-11-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

Hey this Saturday the community of Elevate is having a Harvest Bazaar to raise money for Gleanings for the Hungry (it's a great organization that puts food in the belly’s of missionaries, there families and the communities there impacting overseas)

Come from Noon till 4pm and enjoy musica, free food, crafts for sale, fresh baked goods, a kids corner with holiday crafts and face painting and much more...

find out more about Gleanings by clicking here.... www.gleanings.org

Christmas Time...

2008-11-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hey if Walmart can put up Christmas decorations across from the 50% off Halloween stuff i can post a blog about Christmas..

Something to think about...

WHADA YA THINK???

today...

2008-11-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

i voted for Jesus.

sweet sweet joel!

2008-10-28T21:39:00.001-07:00

see what you missed at Elevate tonight...

2008-10-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

sweet dreams from murphy mumford!

Happy 22nd Birthday EZra!

2008-10-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

What better to celebrate his birth then potty putty!

bachelor party weekend

2008-10-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

sitting around the campfire at Justins bachelor party after a day of white water rafting and hitch hiking and getting lost and making a new friend named Bill.

Blood

2008-10-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

I meet up with a friend that I haven’t seen in over a year yesterday. As of our last meeting she now has a beautiful baby girl (Anna Grace!) there was a lot of time that passed sense we last sat and shared a cup of coffee and stories of life, struggle, wonder and dreams. But it was like our last meeting was a week ago. what makes that kind of friendship? what makes that kind of connection?

Blood.

not DNA from a family tree, but the veins that were opened up from Christ. I believe that the connection of sisters and brothers through Christ are forged and kept by that. It's a special bond. It's a special family.

side note: What’s great is having a biological family that is all in your spiritual family as well...its like a twofer!

The Kingdom of God

2008-10-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

It's here. It's there. It's now. It's to come. It's buried treasure. It's on my mind.

2 things...

2008-10-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

1. what does this even mean? 2. i am slightly afraid

Really??

2008-10-07T14:10:00.001-07:00

Everythings bigger at Costco...even the sqeeky wheels on there carts! If you have sensitive ears or are trying to keep a low profile while shopping DO NOT get the evil orange cart...

A little AMAZINGNESS for your monday morning...

2008-10-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

My buddy Joel showed me this today and..well...I had to share:

good luck getting that out of your head!!

I'm an Uncle...sorta

2008-10-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

My bestfriend growing up moved to Mexico a while back and got married... they just had a baby boy monday night. Now world i present to you Gabriel Nicholas Jacobo.
Look at that hair...just like his dad!

Welcome to the world little buddy...can't wait to meet you :)

Results vs. Process

2008-09-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

I remember growing up and asking my dad a lot of question about life. I came expecting a short simple answer and instead I would get a story and 20 minute explanation. Every time my mind would shout “I didn’t ask for an explanation I just asked for the answer!”, I spend a lot of time approaching God the same way. Wanting answers, wanting a quick fix, wanting results. As if God were a microwave where you pop in a frozen prayer and 20 seconds later out pops a hot and toasty answer. I think God enjoys and moves most in the process. We live in a world where if you want an answer you can Google it and in a matter of seconds can figure out anything random thing you want. Like who invented the elevator or what year Jon Bon Jovi was born (March 2, 1969…yep I just googled it) Simple things like that can be found out in minutes where as questions like “What am I supposed to do with my life?” or “Why did I have this miscarriage?” are questions we ask and most of the time don’t get an answer back in seconds. Sometimes it’s years sometimes it’s never. This generation has been raised without want, we have been handed freedoms that we know nothing about the cost of because we haven’t had to pay for them. Some come to the Lord because we can get something, a ticket out of hell or a peace of mind for a string of bad choices. I love spending time with senior citizens who have walked with God for over years and years and know what it means to wait on the Lord or to be still and know that He is God. We are in a long distance run not a sprint in this life. The problem is we have bought into and taught the false idea of a quick fix Jesus that can answer all our questions and fix all our problems when we want Him to. The truth is He is not a magic pill. True Intimate relationships develops over time. My friend that has been married for over thirty years told me he is more in love with his wife today then he was thirty years ago when he met her. It’s because time is what makes relationships grow deeper. Years of ups and downs. Years of good times and bad times. The beautiful thing about Love is that it’s a choice to keep going when things aren’t easy. Our earthly relationships are a reflection and a tool to understand the relationship God wants so badly to have with us. He’s not looking for a one night stand, but a beautiful marriage. He is a patient pursuer and one that can be seen most beautifully in the process where He is not only encouraging us to keep moving but giving us the strength in our bones to go on. He is the only source of true life and in times of confusion or hurt or bitterness or weakness is when we need not to run from Him but to stay, wait and lean into Him for answers.

Young @ Heart

2008-09-23T10:21:00.001-07:00

I haven't seen this movie yet, but it is on the top of my list. There has always been a special place in my heart for the elderly, but you mix rock and roll with the elderly and my heart literally may beat out of my chest!

watch the trailer...and then watch the movie....then buy me a kit kat....

Rhode Island Adventure Day Six: Mystic Pizza + Taxi Ride + Ben & Jerry’s = HOME!

2008-07-31T12:52:00.002-07:00

We got ready for our last day of adventure and of course started with Dunkin Doughnuts then headed to southern Connecticut to a small coastal town called Mystic. There was a village there that looked really cool but had lame lame shops there. We headed to the Mystic Sea Port where we walked around and saw lots of old whaling ships and pirate ships and of course a gift shop that sold a million types of fudge. (we only tried 3) we drove down town to Mystic Pizza, where the 1989 movie Mystic Pizza staring Julia Roberts was in, never saw the movie but it doesn’t matter because this pizza was fantastic! After lunch we drove back to Rhode Island where we cleaned out the back seat of the car from half eaten doughnuts to road maps and broachers of the odd attractions on the east coast. We got to the air port and they told us our flight was canceled and had to come back tomorrow. Thankfully the guy worked some magic and got us a taxi ride to Boston to connect with our other flights home. Stephanie was our pleasant taxi driver, she was great and was married to a man from the Dominican Republic and had 4 kids, one who works at starbucks and one who wants to be an actor. We flew in to Colorado where one of our friends, Dee Dee, was at, but we just missed her so we ate Ben & Jerry’s and then flew home to the real adventure, everyday life.

We would like to give a special thanks to the following:
*The states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine & Massachusetts
*Dunkin Doughnuts and your 300 tasty locations in Rhode Island
*Toyota Yaris’ around the world for your wonderful gas saving goodness
*Our Guide Thomas
*RoadsideAmerica.com
*The Warwick Sheraton for all the free soap & shampoo
*New Port Ghost Tours And Paige from Papa John’s who gave us our favorite quote of the trip “Oh my gawd Jeamy are you retawded o’ something!?”

Rhode Island Adventure Day Five: Maine Lobsta…Wicked Awful

2008-07-31T12:52:00.001-07:00

We started our morning driving to Saugus, Massachusetts to Kane’s doughnuts that our dad told us to try. There family owned and operated for over 70 years and are on MSN’s Top 10 doughnut shops in America…it lived up to the hype. We drove to Salem and went to the Salem Pirate Museum. Walked to see some of the Salem Witch trial spots. Drove to New Hampshire and stopped by Hampton Beach and walked the main street for a bit. Got an Italian sausage and peppers from Giuseppe’s. Headed to Maine and saw the Nubble light house. Went to The Fox’s Den to try Maine Lobster, we got through 3 bites and stopped. It took a trip to Maine and 20 bucks to find out we’re not fans of Lobsta! Went to Maine street bought fudge then headed back to Rhode Island. Ran into a guy from California pulled off on the side of the road who was taking a picture of the Welcome to Maine sign. Drove to Providence and ate BBQ at Smokey Bones. Spent an hour or more driving around gas stations and mini marts trying to find Rohde Island postcards. Got back to the hotel loaded up pictures and fell asleep dreaming of Maine lobsta…wicked awesome.

Rhode Island Adventure Day Four: Boston….Sike! Maine….Sike! Boston

2008-07-31T12:51:00.003-07:00

We were going to go to Boston today but then the weather report said rain all day so we decided to go to Maine on our way to Maine the sun came out and we decided to switch back to Boston for the day. We got to Boston Common and tried to find “the Freedom Trail” that the lady on the plane told Ryan about that runs through the whole city and shows you all the historic parts of Boston. We finally got a map and started on the walk. We saw the state house, Paul Rever and John Hancock’s graves, the Boston Massacre sight, old north church, Paul rever’s house, uss constitution, and a lot of other sights where America was schemed up. We stopped to eat at the Brown Derby to have a roast beef sandwich for lunch. We walked to the 297 steps to the top of the Battle of Bunker Hill monument I got sick and almost threw up. We took a boat across the harbour and ate ice cream at an amazing place. Shopped in random Boston stores along the way and went to Cheers. Got in the car and drove back to Rhode Island. Made phone calls to catch up with people and went to bed with sore calves and shins.

Rhode Island Adventure Day Three: Connecticut Anyone?

2008-07-31T12:51:00.001-07:00

We got a late start and slept till 11:00am. Stopped at Honey Dew to get doughnuts in Warwick, they were kind of dry (could have been because we got them at noon!) drove to Connecticut and visited Mark Twains house. It started raining when we finished the tour and we had to run back to the gift shop, got soaked and then headed downtown to find the Museum of Curiosities, we didn’t find it, but we found the capitol building and then we drove south to New Haven to try Louis’ Lunch, it was closed. Drove by Yale and found a place to eat. The Market Place, it was a restraint that looked like a dinner from the outside but looked like a coffee shop on the inside. The menu was a combination of Burgers, Chicken Parmesan, Indian food, Steak Sandwiches and pre-bought cakes. Waited till dark to go see a tree in Wooster Square Park that had apparitions of Jesus. Walked the park and found what COULD have been the tree, I think Ryan was still not convinced. Drove back to Rhode Island loaded pictures from the day and fell asleep.

Rhode Island Adventure Day Two: Rhode Island In’s and Out’s

2008-07-31T12:50:00.000-07:00

Woke up early to get rental car, a sweet red Yaris…ya that’s right a Yaris! Headed to Providence got off at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo, didn’t see the zoo but we did see a lot of sweet statues and houses. Got simi-lost outside of the park ended up in Providence at Dunkin Doughnuts. Id like to take this time to inform you that there are over 300 Dunkin doughnuts in the state of Rhode Island. Went to the Capitol Building, it’s the only building like that except for the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Parked downtown and walked and walked and walked and walked. Went to the Mall and then went and saw the city. Walked along the river and saw where they have Fire & Water, it’s a celebration where they set bowls on fire in the water and have music from different cultures and food and dancing and a jolly time all around (they did not have the celebration that day or any day we were going to be in Rhode Island) walked by memorials and parks and schools shops and sweet east coast buildings downtown. Had lunch at Cheesecake Factory. Headed north to Pawtucket to visit Hasbro Headquarters. Visited with a sweet mustache man at the visitors center heard about the Pawtucket Rivers history then got directions to Hasbro, they were closed. But we did get a picture with Mr. Potato Head. Drove back to the hotel for a rest that turned into quite a long nap. Went to Newport and stopped in Jamestown to go see the Beaver Tail light house, but our feet in the ocean, saw a beaver (we think), walked around the lighthouse, picked up a crap and drove across the Jamestown bridge and the Pell Bridge. Walked down Thame Street and then meet Renee for our Ghost Tour. Walked around for an hour hearing stories of Newport’s Past and Haunted present. Ryan got scared. Drove back to Warwick ate pizza from Papa Johns. Loaded pictures from the days adventures set our alarm for 9:00 am. Fell asleep.

Rhode Island Adventure Day One: Getting There

2008-07-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

We left at 9:30 from Tulare. Kristine drove us, rather slowly, to the Bakersfield airport. I left my wallet in her car and made her drive back to the airport so I could actually get my tickets. We sat by each other from Bakersfield to LA with TONS of leg room. We missed a chance to get a free roundtrip tickets for giving up our seat from LA to DC. Got separated on the plane. Ryan got to sit in the exit row with 2 lesbians. I sat next to 2 men who didn’t want to change seats with Ryan so we could sit next to each other. One of the lesbians Ryan talked with reminded him of Gabriel, with her hair and cloths and arm tats. After we arrived in DC the man sitting next to me apologized for not switching seats with Ryan because he had property that belonged to the government above him that he could not move. When I got off the plane both men I were sitting next to were meet by secret service men and walked down the terminal. We ate Subway and boarded the plane to Providence. We sat across the aisle from each other in the exit row. Ryan sat next to a woman from the Boston area, she was in charge of a vascular center and just excepted a job in Cheyenne Wyoming. She thought Ryan was still in school, his reply was “the one I teach at”. She told him about little Italy in Boston. I sat next to Michael a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was going to school in Newport at a Navel base there. His wife just left for Iraq that day. We landed at T F Green airport in Warwick, RI at 11:22 and took the shuttle to our hotel. Our hotel was under construction and had no front desk. After checking in we decided to take a walk around Warwick. There is nothing open in Warwick at 1 am except the shell gas station. We loaded up with East coast versions of Hostess products and headed back to the hotel. (side note: Yodels are WAY better then Ho-Ho’s) we mapped out our adventure for the next day in Rhode Island and ended up going to bed about 3:30am.