Been Quiet

So I've been quiet for a while here on my blog, sorry, but it's mainly because I've been super busy. In my time off I've gotten plenty of Ideas to write about but also I have been really thinking of dropping Blogger for Wordpress. Now don't get me wrong this blog has helped me but i think it's time for an uprgrade. Well not sure when the move will be or how? but for right now I'm going to be working on stuff and let you know if anything does happen.

"Who Said that?"

Here is a quick insert from Mark Batterson Lead Pastor from National Community Church.

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

IT

I just finished one of the most challenging books ever! Craig Groeschels book "IT" really goes into the roots of ministry leaders. The things that pastors and leaders are afraid to mention at times are exposed here. I'm glad I was able to read this book and gain wisdom from a successful pastor and creative mind. So if you are a leader get this book. If you have a team of some sort, read this book together. Just go get IT.

Leadership Lessons

Just came across this site that has collected several leadership material from several blogs around the blogging world. I recently downloaded it and it's filled with bunch of good stuff. Check it out and download it free here.

Sunday Night REwind

• CWCM worship team was out but Pastor Ben and the San Jose worship team came and brought the presence of God.
• Had a great time in our journaling class. I enjoy when someone doesn't know how to journal but at the end they are moved by their experience.
  
• Pastor Dan changed his whole sermon at the last minute, I'm glad he went with what the holy spirit was leading him to speak.
• Prayer at the end was great. God was giving me some words for individuals.
• P. Ant prayed over me and one thing I remember he said was I need to learn how to receive.
• The pastors left so BJ, Sylvia, and me stayed to lock up. We entertained ourselves with this clip.
• Leebo and Sabrina stopped by, it's always good to see them, miss them both.
• I had no thought of going to CWCSJ but since Julian left his backpack and BJ asked me I decided to go with him.
• There was some great word that was spoken over me and many others, Everyone was blessesd.
• Tonight at MCEC I started the first message about a series on sonship and fathership. We are called "Children of God"
• Many were moved, especially those who haven't had a great father figure in their lives.
• Keep me in prayers because I have a couple of speaking engagements coming up.
• Get to speak chapel for MC on tuesday, I just want to inspire them to not end the year with regrets!
  

Remembering some Words

Today there was a prophet and his wife that was at CWCSJ, I feel bad that I don't even know their names. The strangest thing was that I wasn't supposed to be there, but I truly believe God had everything planned out. Who would've thought that because someone left there backpack (thanks Julian) I would've made it to the end of this service.
I honestly wasn't even looking to get prayed over but I did want to hear what they would say about Amanda. I also need to give another thank you to BJ who kept on nudging me to go up there, thanks because if you would've quit I don't think I would've had the courage to step up to the plate. Well I'm not so sure if I remember it all but here is what I do recall:

• The prophet really didn't give me a word but he did pray for me (I felt discouraged thought he ran out) but one thing he kept on repeating in his prayer was "you are a son of this church."
• His wife spoke prophetic words over me the first one I remember is "you don't have to be confused anymore."
• "Choose the thing that you cannot live without, that if you don't have it you feel like you cannot breath."
• Something about crazy or feeling crazy??
• She mentioned the word Apostolic.

I really don't remember them all and maybe I have a few mixed up, if you were there and remember anymore please let me know.

Oh yeah another thing what do you do after with the word that has been given to you?

HAHAHAHA

This is what I do on my spare time, but never had the guts to put it up online, this kid is Frickin HILLARIOUS!!

Free Leadership book!

So if you're not following me yet on twitter you might have not gotten this HUGE hint, BUT i'll get you all in on the secret (which it really isn't) So Catalyst is giving out FREE LEADERSHIP BOOKS!! Yes you heard it FREE!! (everyone likes anything FREE!!) so anyways all YOU have to do is call this number- 1•888•334•6569 then they'll shoot out some updates click #1, after that ask them for the free book, voila and there you go! Just REMEMBER call them during their office hours and they have this going on up until the 21st, so tell all your friends. Oh and another thing just in case you don't believe me check out this video.

Live your life

This song usually makes me laugh just because it reminds me of this, but if you take time to listen to the lyrics it's pretty inspirational.

Lord God...

Lord God...I've been teased about always starting my prayers like this but hey that's just who I am. This morning I just felt like praying for YOU.

Lord God I come before you right now and I thank you that you are God. There are several negative voices coming our way through media and technology, but I thank you because you give us hope. Hope for a better future, hope for a stronger family, hope that our lives do count for something. God for the reader who needs a sense of direction, I pray that you may unveil his/her purpose. That although they may never think they can do what you call them to do let them remember that "I can do ALL things through Christ..." For those battling financial storms allow them to trust in you. You are our source and our way of income is just the resource, help us not to walk around with clinch fists but to have them open to give to you and recieve from you. Lord like the good ol saying goes "It gots to get worse before it can get better." I pray that their best life may now be revealed in your name Jesus, Amen

Sunday moment

Yesterday we had a great service at church, check out some quick updates here. We didn't have a normal service but we did have a breakthrough, an encounter, an unrehearsed experience. Troy asked for us to pray like never before for an individual, so I did, and that person was Vin. As soon as I was done I saw Matt holding his son and decided to go pray for him as well. As I was getting closer I felt God telling me "Let him pray for you." I wasn't sure how Matt would take it but as he saw me slowly approach him, he put his head down ready to be prayed for. I quietly asked him if he could pray for me, and he did.
He prayed one of the most sincere prayers ever. It was truly Matt. He excused himself in the beginning but every word that poured out of his mouth was directly for me. He didn't come with any christian lingo he just prayed what was truly in his heart. I enjoyed each word and was moved by what God told him to speak over me.
At the end of his prayer he gave me a big hug and told me "That was the first time I ever prayed for anyone."

What is God telling you to do? does it require a risk, something that you've never done before? Live a life that is unrehearsed, because not only will you see more of Him but you will see the great work that He wants to do through you.

Sunday Night REwind

• Service was "Unrehearsed" Pastor Anthony gathered us in the back and spoke one word and IT came to life during worship.
• I don't know if I can explain what I felt but it was a feeling like God telling us, "You guys are finally getting IT."
• Troy asked for us to pray for one another like never before. I went directly to Vin, but right after I went to Matt and I suddenly felt like God told me "tell him to pray for you." so I did IT, and he prayed for me (I want to give this it's own post later on)
• No Manny G. but worship team brought IT.
• In worship the kids tore IT up! At one point I said that kids running around was a bit of a distraction, but I'm taking it back. Lil man fired me up as he jumped, ran around, and threw up his fist when we sang "say so" for me, he truly led worship.
• There really was no "church" but IT was an unforgettable time of worship and impartation.
• Our Pastor and his family had a very special moment of honoring for Troy, Mike, Sylvia, Tee, Amanda, and myself. I didn't see IT coming, but IT means alot to me, thank you.
  
• We all went to CPK after church. IT was all good until BUJJU (that's BJ in Japanese) car wouldn't start. (Oh yeah don't ask anyone who shops at valley fair for jumper cables, they don't have any, we asked everyone but had the same answer...NO!)
• Tonight was the last day of the conference here at MCEC, and IT ended with a bang! Word+Prophetic words+Prayer+Food= GREAT SERVICE
• IT is actually 1am, and I am still on a spiritual high. Thank You Jesus for a Great day.

I guess I didn't mean to do this but I think we have IT. Every line that I wrote had an IT! WE HAVE IT!!

Serving Passionately

Just found this interview/testimony of Troy Polamalu, check it out:

Stayed home

I decided to stay home today, mainly because I just needed to slow down. I haven't had much time to think or do anything, I've just been too busy. So today I decided to catch up on a lot of things like:

• Devotionals
• Prayer
• Emails
• Blogging
• Facebook-ing
• Projects
  
• Jogging
• Planning
• Looking for another job
• Listening to Podcast
• Reading
• Rest
  

Maybe I wont get through to all of those, but some I may in no particular order. So let my adventure begin.

Not just another day

Today was just that, it was not just another day! usually I'll end my day of work at 3, then I'll call or text Amanda while running to the the shuttle. Everything seemed to go as followed but then it happened, it became not just another day!
From the corner of my eye I saw a face which seemed familiar but also looked as if something was wrong, real wrong. Being helped by an unknown lady (which I like to call an Angel) my old manager from Starbucks gripped the hands of this woman. My ex-manager FRIEND was in desperate help. See she suffers from epilepsy. For those of you who don't know what that is, here is a quick definition brought to you from wikipedia: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizure.
I'll never forget the look on her face, it was as if I had been her family friend of twenty years, she gripped my arms and with all her might uttered the words "thank you" We hopped on the shuttle and headed to her doctors.
I was shocked, scared, and thankful that I was even outside at that moment. I started praying in my head and just trying to hold a conversation with her. I've never been in this situation, but it was sad to see a person who I looked up to and took orders from now being in a situation of help and barely being able to speak. It absolutely broke my heart.
I can't believe how it must feel like living with this illness, but I know that she is a strong woman and that one day God will heal her, He did it for my mom and I know He can do it for her. So I ask that you may, in your quiet time pray for my friend.

I NEED COFFEE...

Monday mornings seem to always be difficult for me at work. I'm coming from a busy non-stop weekend just to enter a busy non-stop week! (yikes) But this Monday was different because I tried Coffee or should I say a "Grande, 6 shot, 6 pump, White Mocha" (this was Troy's suggestion) yes sounds crazy, and it was. Just for the records I'm not a coffee person, but for some reason I was willing to try anything to wake me up!
I had several instances with coffee before but I guess you can say I quit. As kids we used to drink coffee all the time (did you catch that AS KIDS) We come from a hispanic family and whenever there is "Pan dulce" there was coffee. I guess that's the reason why I'm so short? Usually I joke and tell people that I quit coffee at the age of 5, which might be true.
Anyways what I'm trying to say is "don't try a Grande, 6 shot, 6 pump, White Mocha" nah that's not it but just want to say that I need to get better with my scheduling. I heard this lady say "make sure you have your life scheduled, instead of your schedule having your life."
(...Oh ya I still don't like coffee)

Is there anything you can improve in your schedule to make you have a non coffee day?

Daddy (the sequel...I guess)

As I was finishing up journaling I had a urge to read up on what Pastor Dan had written on his blog. "Daddy" with a title like that who wouldn't want to read his latest post. I could just imagine the heart of a father in a moment like that. Today as I read, these verses stood out and the application that P.Dan gives is for us all.

"God wanted them to look for Him and perhaps search all around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any of us: 'By His power we live and move and exist.' Some of your own poets have said: 'For we are His children."

-Acts 17:27-28

Calling you out!

"While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking." -Acts 14:8-10

O- The bible is such a great book, it just paints a picture in your mind. I don't know bout you, but can you just imagine and picture those verses from above? It describes the odds against this man "...with crippled feet." but it didn't just end there, "...he had never walked." With his body laying on the floor, no one must have taken notice of him, except for one, Paul. Paul looks at him, with eyes that say "this isn't the way it suppose to be." and immediately he sees what a lot of us fail to see, he sees the potential in this mans life. Paul doesn't look at him as who he is but Paul looks at him as who he could be and who he should be. I believe this is a portrait of how every christian should be. We need to stop judging others because they aren't exactly like us, but we have to call out the gold in them.

A- I stand here today (well I'm actually sitting down) as a product of what God has spoken to me through the lives of others. Let me explain, I honestly never have heard God's voice or seen a burning bush that starts talking to me (closest was the bush man telling me to stop taking any pictures of him) but I do believe that God has spoken to me through many people. Pastors, parents, friend, his Word. Many people have seen some type of potential in me, the potential that I've lacked to see in myself plenty of times. They have been like Paul calling out the Gold in my life. If I could I would personally thank each and everyone of you but there are so many.
Who in your life do you need to call out the gold, the potential in? think about it we walk, we work, we go out, we see several people in one day maybe just maybe someone needs to hear that they are able to do the impossible.

P-Lord I don't have any excuses anymore, you have spoken to me through your word. So right now I pray that I may tune my spiritual senses to your radar and I can see what you see, hear what you hear, and feel what you feel. Use me to call the gold in others.

Anyone need a fullback?

As I was thinking about what to write, I suddenly received a text From Leebo Pomele (My other Brother) and just want to show you what he is up to.

Podcast Experience

At work I get time to catch up on some podcast, I just wanted to share the top three podcast that I listen to or have been listening to this week.

1. NewSpring- I'm a huge Perry Noble fan but more than that I'm a huge Jesus fan, and I enjoy hearing Perry's in your face sermons. Lately one that has me on the edge of my seat is their newest series "No perfect people allowed."
   
2. Elevation Church- This is Amanda's boy, Steven Furtick. Havent been a big fan of his, but lately what he has been speaking about has really stirred me up. He has a new series that fires me up it's all about leadership called, "Purple people leader." (try saying that 5x fast)
3. Experience Life- This is kind of a no name church. Probably nobody knows about them but I enjoy hearing Chris Galanos. He is very practical and passionate. They are a church plant that has been blessed by God. Their current series is "Ready to Change"

These are my top three podcast so far, any of you have any suggestions? Big names or small names i'm interested, let me know?

Sunday Night REwind

Yes I know it's Tuesday, just goes to show how busy I've been for the past week and a half, but I'll try to write as much of my highlights that I can remember:

• It was a rough morning (stayed up REALLY late trying to finish a video) but managed to wake up on time.
• Having Zai and Lei running around always makes me laugh and sure enough brightens my mornings.
• Today was Super Bowl Sunday (which till right now I have yet to see any highlights of the game) so everyone brought either a jersey, shirt, or sweater to represent their favorite team.
• We are on our One Prayer Series, "Lord Make us Passionate."
• To me P. Ant totally resembles the word Passion! I think having him as my leader, a bit of that passion has transferred to me.
• I'm enjoying what God is doing both in Milpitas and here in Daly City.
• I'm amazed every Sunday that I get to be part of a church plant here at my fathers church.
• There was a surprised visit this Sunday, Amanda came w/o even telling me! I enjoyed it, she encourages me so much.
• I'm trying to implement a lot that I've learned at CWC here with the youth.
• I usually replay my sermons and dwell on what I did wrong, but it was good hearing Amanda say I did Great!
• I had a heart to heart moment, when My mom talked with Amanda. (not really an emotional guy, but that brought some tears to my eyes.) I love both of them :)
• We celebrated a night of victory with PUPUSAS, and if you don't know what that is you need to be slapped.
• Although I missed the Super Bowl, Sunday was great day!