My Life At Crossroads - 1 of 2

It all started my senior year in High School. My family just left FBC...now COTH...because of some stuff at the church. I stayed for a couple more months to help the new youth pastor with some transition stuff. But had to leave and join my family at CBC. So January 1998, I made the scary move. I knew Pritam and that's about it.

Ben Pitney, FBC's old youth pastor was the new youth pastor at CBC. SO it was a little easier to move on into the group. I knew I had to jump in feet first to start well. The HS Group was going to Mexico and me being kinda Mexican, I thought I should go. But yeah I knew that God had planned this perfectly. SO I had a couple months with the group before we went to Mexico. Matt Carver remembered me cause I was the guy that came onto his VCHS football bus, crying, and thanking them for beating us??? And for being good Christians:) (little did I know at that time)

SO, April of 1998 we went to Mexico to get my first taste of the mission field. We had a good team and we were going to put on a VBS, play soccer, and preach! This is where all the memories of CBC started. "Peaches" yeah, that was my nick name given to me but some "hot chick" while I was serving her peaches. "Strawberries", if you were there you know what I'm talking about:) "Coco Lima's" very good tacos! Camping, cold showers, the guys NOT taking showers, the BUS and so much more. God grabbed a hold of my heart and stuck it right in the middle of the lost and CBC!

That was it! CBC was my home. Another 'hot chick...Betsey", hired me as an Intern for the Childrens department. It was the best summer intern staff and we had so much fun! Bamboola was probably the best. All the interns painted each others faces and we had a great time. PS...kids really do pee and poo in the BALLS at Bamboola.

I have to say that our College Group starting that summer was amazing! Ben did a great job at bringing us together and making us a family seeking God more and more. We actually loved coming to the group on a Friday night and just being with each other. I thank God for that time in the college group.

POLAND!!! I think I have been to Poland 5 times! Yeah crazy! I can honestly say that the Summer of 1999 is where my ministry started. I had a chance to use my story to lead someone to Christ. I got to see that relationships built on trust and Christ makes for a great foundation. We did English Camps for Polish Students and in that built relationships. We ate, drank, slept, showered, played, learned, worshiped and grew closer to Christ! Each trip was awesome but I have to say that our first trip was the most memorable.

Africa was another beautiful country that I had a chance to go to and see how God is working there. Again we were the first from CBC to step foot in Africa. (It seems like, I'm always on the teams that go first???) The children of Africa...well...what can I say...they...umm...you really have to go there and see it for yourself. The children that we ministered to loved life because Jesus loves them. They have nothing but they have smiles on their faces because they have Jesus. AMAZING is all I can say.

In the middle of all this I was volunteering with the children's department with teaching, leading and even leading WORSHIP! Yeah you heard me right! I was also volunteering in the Jr. High Group. I served with Ben, Sean and Brian in the Student Ministry Department. But I had to quit when Brian was the head. I was starting a new chapter in my crazy life...

Betsey Alford came into my life like an Angel floating on a cloud. Beautiful, WHITE, perfect and everything that I wanted. But I didn't even know it:) Yes, she was my boss when I came to CBC. I dated other people. She dated other people:) We were on the first trip to Africa together and serving right along side each other. We worked well together and were becoming friends. Nanda was trying to rekindle the flame between my ex-girlfriend but God had another agenda. We came back to the U.S. of A. and Betsey and I were on another team to Poland. And that's where Betsey fell in love with me!!! We stayed a few extra days in Krakow, we had to share a room in a youth hostile, watch A.I....the worst movie EVER, and we had a Corona! Good times. We again came back home and that's when I started the magic. For the next couple weeks, we went out on dates but they weren't dates. Finally, at the FRENZY...so good by the way...we went on a drive all night talking about us. If we would last? When she would kill me? And just everything under the moon. We ended the next morning in front of my house with a kiss to seal the deal. It was perfect!

SO, I was dating an older woman. I WAS THE MAN! We spent the next year with each other and letting our families try to figure us out. I had the talk with her parents. I thought that I was going to walk in and Mike was going to be cleaning his guns and knives, but it was Jan that gave me all the trouble. She grilled me for hours! But I won them over in the end with my charm and good looks.

I took Betsey to Disneyland in November of 2002 and asked her if she would marry me and be with me for the rest of her life. And she said YES! It's been 5 years now and she hasn't killed me...yet.

I was involved with the non-church plant "church plant" at CBC called Crossings. I was involved with the Cafe and had a great time. There came a time where this "church plant" actually planted but we didn't go. Betsey was working and getting paid big bucks at CBC...lol...and we both felt God keeping us there. We got back from our honeymoon in Hawaii and Nanda asked us to help with another non-church plant "church plant" called Crosspoint...yeah that's what I said...and we said yes? (not to self: DO NOT start or get involved with a ministry your 1st year of marriage...no matter who asks you) That kinda flopped...really flopped!

Betsey and I had a chance to go to the Czech Republic and lead a team to do a VBS for Missionary Kids. Really good trip! The kids were amazing and we had a great time. I still remember this little girl who didn't speak any english and did not like anyone...except me:) She would cry and ask for me and give me this big ol hug, while patting my back. It was the best. But Chris Coggins was on the trip teaching all the kids how to write viruses for Macs and that's where we started our love relationship. How can't you love that big sexy head. He was the Youth Pastor at CBC that time. He was in charge of the College and HS. As we talked about everything I was telling him that I wanted to get back into youth ministry somehow in anyway. He told me to go back home, pray and we would talk 2 weeks later and see what God was saying...

We sat down at Togo's in June of 2004 and Chris offered me the JOB as the Jr. High guy. I didn't eat my lunch, that's how much it took me by surprise. I started August 1, 2004. I had some big shoes to fill and I had no clue what I was doing. But, I read a couple books and put my head down and made it work only by God's grace! We had a crazy fun year!!! I was working at Adobe as a building engineer at the same time so it made it even crazier!

In the next couple years we bought a condo, had a crazy kid named Dylan, and we were loving life and our little family was growing. I was loving ministry and having a bunch of fun! We went to YS in Dallas. I was learning a ton from Chris, myself and God was teaching me more that I was expecting to learn.

Chirs came to me in January 2006 and said he was going back to the Motherland...Texas...to plant a church. He was going to be gone in May and wanted to get me prepared. I don't think that was enough time to prepare me for the next 2 years of my life:) But that how God planned this crazy life and I just had to hold on! I didn't know I had the job until Chris recommended me as the next Youth Minister of CBC. The elders saw my heart and where I wanted to take the group. They said YES and told me to hold on...

As I started, there was a whole new team starting at CBC. Kyle, Brandon and I were the new guys and we were looking to the future. There was new and exciting things happening.

Student Ministries was taking new steps. Every major leadership change is big, weird and it takes some time to get comfortable. I stepped in and started running. Chris had some big shoes to fill but most of the kids were my old Jr. Highers and I was in a good place. Ministry was good. We were doing new things and making some mistakes. We were in Hume again, we started going back to Mexico, taking families to New Orleans, All-Nighers got bigger and better, leaders were getting BIGGER and better, and the ministry that was happening outside of church was even better. Jordan and I were running the Student Ministry and killin it! We worked well together and I love that guy!

Ryan came in August of 2007. He was the new Family Pastor and the old Youth Pastor of South Hills. I knew that he was going to be a great addition to our team. He was my new boss and I finally had someone that was going to be walking through ministry with me daily. He was the reason why Student Ministries grew and with his leadership and knowledge I looked good.

By the summer of 2008, there were major changes in CBC. Brandon was gone. Kyle was gone. I was wanting leadership and someone to step up in CBC and take us to a new place. By September of 2008, I had the whole school year of 08-09 planned and I was totally excited for the school year. This class that is graduating in 09 was my 1st class that I had as the Jr. High guy. I was excited to complete them as a class and pass them on. But CBC was in chaos and money wasn't showing up every Sunday.

God is good and his plan is always the best! God's timing will always rise above your timing!

Oct. 08 - Nov. 08 in the next blog...

Who's that person you want to slap?

SO, I like to play this game. Whenever we are on a trip or out somewhere with a group, I ask, who would you kill. Yes very extreme so over the years I have toned it down to who would you hurt:)

As I saw this video, I want to know, WHO WOULD YOU SLAP?

I have my list of people. I know that Jesus wouldn't approve of this but just for giggles. And yes, this post is way to close to His birthday but this video is great!

Happy Holidays!

Pandora - Internet Radio

www.pandora.com

If you haven't checked this website out yet...GO NOW! This site allows you to create your own radio station. FREE! You're not stealing anything but using the song within the website. Totally legit.

So you type in your favorite artist and the site makes a playlist based on your pick. You can sit on your computer and listen to your own radio station, without commercials, without DJ's you can't stand. Just music!

Go check it out and thank me later!

Give More Presence

More to come when I find my notes:)

Friends from Japan

LOL...so all day we were walking around CA. Adventure, I would turn around and see this group of girls wearing these hats. I told Betsey that I wanted to take a picture with them.

Earlier that we were at a India Team dinner and I was telling Elton, David, Kalam and Tom that we usually find people dressed weird and try and take pics with them. Usually they are of the Asian decent...I'm not RACIST!

LOL...so I went walking with my brother-in-laws and saw them! I said, we have to take a picture with them! As we got closer, there were some other people taking pics with them, as I looked around, there was a line to take pics with them! I'm telling the truth here people!!! SO we waited in line to take these pics...

Thank you friends from Japan!

Morales Family in Disneyland

Disneyland is the Happiest and the Craziest place on Earth! Betsey's family is NUTS about The Land and will go everyday if they could. SO, I have to show some excitement too:)

We went down there with her whole family. Jan, Mike, Tim, Sarah, Abby, Kate, Brandon, Livers and us 4! Yeah crazy but good. This was the best trip that we have been on in awhile.

Most of you know that I am without a job right now and money is tight. But God has totally blessed me and us with a family that takes care of our needs.

So let me walk you through our trip...



This is my favorite pic from the trip. Dylan can make himself go crosseyed...it's really funny. SO we were getting on this new ride in CA. Adventure...really good ride by the way...and he had his gloves and make this funny face. Killing me Dylan!



Jakey LOVES Mickey! So when we walked in his house and then took a pic with him, Jake bit his nose! If you haven't experienced a kiss from Jake yet, it's with a wide mouth and it's pretty wet, so this might be a kiss.



Our Family with Mickey!



The guys with Minnie!



The boys with Chip! If you can't tell the difference, Dale has a brown nose and Chip has a nose that looks like a Chocolate Chip, hence the Chip:)



Another one of his dorky faces...



Watch the boys!



Goofy!



SO...these pics are always fun! Put your camera on night vision, start spinning where there are lights in the back ground, press the button and SMILE! They are always good times!



My wife puts DOG LEASHES on the boys:( Yes she is that lady!



Another family pic!



The Morales Boys waiting for the new Toy Story ride in CA. Adventure



Another exciting trip to the Craziest Place on Earff!

Good Dylan + Beans = Disneyland!

Tonight was the night! Dylan has been trying to earn beans by being a good boy. We told him awhile back when we found out that we were going to Disneyland...with the whole Alford Klan...and so it was just something we were doing. So when he was good, we put some beans in, but when he was bad, we took some out. At one point we didn't know if he was gonna make it.

But tonight, tonight was the night that he got all of his beans! He has no clue that we are going to Disneyland tomorrow. I don't have a clue how we have kept it from him but we have:) Abby didn't even say anything to Dylan...yeah baby!

So tomorrow morning we are waking him up and telling him we are going to Disneyland with the Crazy Alford Family! Seriously...they are crazy when they smell Disneyland!

Anyways...I think we are cool parents and Dylans going to crap himself tomorrow:)

Comfort Food is so Comforting

Yeah, I know, FOOD again!

Anyways, I have to eat lunch!

Betsey made grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup. I think this is one of the best comfort foods around. It makes me feel all warm inside and gives me all the sodium I need for a year.

The grilled cheese was American Cheese placed gracefully between 2 perfectly buttered & grilled sourdough bread slices! They were served to me not too hot and not too cold! Cheese was melted perfectly and just enough butter. The soup was good ol' Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup...salty as all can be! The soup was perfect for dippin the grilled cheese in!

Well, I just had to share that with you! Betsey is the best wife I have!

The Scale:(

So, after a LONG Thanksgiving and a week of eating, I was expecting to gain 20 pounds...at least...because I had to eat all the good food. When you put good food in front of me, expect me to get down! Thank you to everyone that has cooked for me:)

Anyways, last night I was just about to go to bed right after my last post. I was walking around the house turning all the lights that my lovely leaves on? Why does she leave ALL the lights on? I was locking all the doors...you know she leaves ALL the doors unlocked too...WHY???...back to the task at hand, my wife leaves the scale in the kitchen? (side note: I'll have a talk with Betsey later about out house) I jumped on the scale...not jumped cause I would kill it...and it said that I was 40 pounds lighter!!! It was 1am and I was a little tired so I tried it again. And YES, I lost 40 pounds.

So, I went to bed so happy! Betsey was snoring and I was watching Top Chef. As I started thinking about it, how could I have lost that weight? SO, I weighed myself again, and yes, I lost 40 pounds! Went back to be skipping:) Still didn't believe it, I repeated the process and yes, I lost the weight. I wanted Betsey to test it cause I didn't believe the weight was gone. I was buggin her and she finally said bring it in our bathroom and she would try it.

I walked into the kitchen and picked the scale up. Started walking towards the bedroom and I noticed there was a toy under the scale. I wondered if it was throwin the scale off. So I placed it nicely on the ground and placed both feet on the scale. And yes, I only lost a couple pounds. Stinkin toys! I'm going to throw them all away!

Who wants nuggets?

So...my love for chicken nuggets is unstoppable at times. McDonalds has nuggets that make my mouth water!!! (you have to eat them with their BBQ Sauce cause dark and creamy) I don't know if my mouth waters cause they are delicious or cause they are only 40% chicken? What's the other 60%?

Anyways...I saw this commercial and was crackin up! Nuggets do make me want to sing R&B Songs:)

Next time you are there pick me up a 10 piece!

Good Times

So...here is my late night with Jordan:)



Jordan text me earlier in the day just asking for prayer. Jordan and I have been doing life and ministry for over 5 years now. CRAZY! I love him like a brother and he is a close friend. As I have been leaving CBC, we haven't spent that much time together. So here was our chance. We talked about everything and had a nice meal.



We ate Pho...it's pronounced Fuh...white people say pho noodle. It's a delicious Vietnamese Noodle Soup. My wife hates it cause I smell like it when I get home but its really good. Just like any good food...you smell like it for hours after you have eaten it:)



As we sat at Pho, they were playing Dolly Parton Christmas music. So funny! I can't count how many times I have been in an Asian resturant and some silly music comes on. I was was wait for 2Pac's Christmas Album to come on next.



As we were jammin to Dolly, Asian church came in singing, playing music and asking for money for a missions trip. Which is pretty cool but they started the set off with Feliz Navidad! Yeah it was the best! Pure goodness! They were happy to serve Jesus so it was all good:)



We spent some time just talking then I got a bug to have some Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts! If you have not had a fresh hot one, you have not lived life to the fullest as Jesus came to give us! John 10:10:) Anyways...Jordan said you won't! So we did! Yeah drove 20 miles to get there and have A donut. As my mouth started to water, we pulled off 101 and I saw that it was closed. CRAP! We talked about breaking in but there was a guy looking at porn in front of the store...weird. But the next big thing...



In N Out! A shake and fries...you can't go wrong. As we waited I counted all my pennies to have exact change. Rolled up to the window. Said something sarcastic to the youngster working at the window and she didn't think it was funny. A lot of people don't get me??? But the shake and fries we crazy good!




My song that I have been listening to right now is Fix You by Coldplay. Check it out!

All in all, I had a great time with Jordan. Late night dates with him are one of my most favorite things in ministry. Doing ministry with J-Money has been a total blessing. If you have had any contact with this man, you are truely blessed...take it all in! Thanks buddy...I love you!

ps...yes I still love my wife and kids! If you have watched Guy Love on Scrubs, you totally understand this blog.

Unstuck???

Podcasting is the coolest! I have been following Westgates new series UNSTUCK. This morning I had the chance to attend the service and hear the last teaching by Joel. Really good!

Very challenging and it makes you think. How are you getting unstuck? What is getting you stuck? What is that thing in your life you need to get rid of? We all have something:)

In this time of life it spoke straight to me. God is good and just hearing from Him these last couple months have been awesome. He has spoken to me clearly.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is crazy! My parents are divorced and I am married. SO yeah we have to try and please everyone. No one really wants to see us, they really want to see Dylan and Jakey! Yeah they come over cause they know that we are going to have great food but it's really for the kids.

So I will be eating at least 3 different turkeys in the next 3 days. YEAH...don't blame me cause I'm big, but you can thank my parents and my wife:) But yeah I love to eat and Thanksgiving is my favorite food. STOVE TOP STUFFING is my favorite...my mother-in-law makes it especially for me. But all the food of Thanksgiving is great. I also have to have Cool-Whip with my Pumpkin Pie...not whipping cream!

Anyways, I love seeing all my favorite family members and the crazy ones! I am very thankful for my family and friends. God is good and has totally blessed me with a great people around me. I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving and you don't only spend this day thanking people around you for being themselves...thank them everyday!

Jetlag SUCKS!

SO this was 80% of my plane trip home from the Motherland of India! I popped a couple pills to help me out but I had some good ol sleep. I thought it would help me out when I got home to get adjusted to CA but my body had other plans.

This morning I woke up at 3:25am, totally wide awake! I have been home for almost a week now and I was ASSuming that I would be all better...but that's not the case. Then I got on FB and David and Elton were up at weird times:)

So I have been watching Sports Center, Hunting, The Most Extreme Water Parks, MTV and the news. I started doing laundry and cleaning! Crazy stupid! But I guess it's a good thing.

Now it's 7:19am and Jake is up and now I have to watch Mickey Mouse Club House...BOOOOO! I have been watching that non-stop for years! Anyways...JETLAG sucks! India is making me mad right now. But I think my wife will be happy for jetlag:)

Top 10 Movies

I copied the text below from Elton and changed a few things...

This was during our India trip as we ministered to many people! God did amazing things through our team and had a great trip.

But for more important matters... we spent a lot of time on planes and in airports. And there are only so many moments of heartfelt emotional connection that guys can make in a given period of time. There's also a limit to how much we can talk about the project at hand - the plight of Dalit Christians and the grassroots civil rights movement that is taking place at this moment.

In between all of that, we talked... movies. We debated the best movies of all time. Granted each one maintains a bias based on when we were born, the family we grew up in, movie disposition based on personalities, the accessibility of movie rental establishments and even the interest to spend this amount of time talking this kind of nonsense over the course of the last two weeks.

As we compiled a larger list, obscure movies came to the surface. Could we leave Memento off the list? Could we ignore the intestinally gratifying nature of Dumb and Dumber? Was there ever anyone more scary than Kathy Bates in Misery? Great questions with deep philosophical roots were discussed.

So Tom, Elton, Dave and I came up with our list [Kalam was supposed to come up with the 10 hottest male actors]. A list of our top 10 movies and 5 honorable mentions. Here's mine to be debated at length...

1. Braveheart
2. Three Amigos
3. Dumb & Dumber
4. Forrest Gump
5. Tombstone
6. Gladiator
7. Shawshank Redemption
8. Top Gun
9. Jaws
10. Dark Knight

5 Honorable Mentions
1. Nacho Libre
2. Breakfast Club
3. Fight Club
4. Beverly Hills Cop
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

May hours were spent on these lists...what are your Top 10 Movies?

The Nap

While in India, we had a lot of work to do. We were on a pretty good routine of getting up, breakfast, work, tea, lunch, work, tea, NAP, dinner and then bed. Yes the introduction of the nap everyday was amazing. I know how good a nap is on Sunday's after church and a big lunch but everyday is just brilliant! Indians do a lot of things right that we...Americans...should really look at. Some ideas should stay in India:) Like not using toilet paper:o

Today I had the boys while Betsey went to work. Jakey ate, changed his nasty diaper and then put him down. Dylan went to the bathroom and then said he was ready for a nap(that's my boy)...so I asked him if I could take a nap with him and he said...YEAH! So we got all comfortable and warmie in my bed.

I just woke up and feel so refreshed! I remembered everyday in India resting and how good I felt. Thanks Inida! Oh...go take a nap!

ps...I love kids cause they will nap anywhere:)

The Perfect Church

The Grand Enterence from Mike Morales on Vimeo.

So, our team split up both Sundays for church. Crossroads taught the 1st Sunday and Haven taught the 2nd Sunday. I had the GRAND privilage to be with David and Kalam. (Great people by the way...CK!) Anyways, we road in the Bishops hoopty. As we drove up this dirt road, honking at everything, we pulled up to a crowd. The only thing that I could think of at that moment was...I'M GONNA DIE! Life was racing through my mind and I was scared.

As we pulled up to the crowd, men started to gather around the car but no one in the car moved. My window was down a little and a man started speaking into it at the Bishop and the driver. (Side note...all the drivers we had were employed by the Mission and they didn't go by their names but went by Driver??? Weird!) Still no one moved and Bishop didn't say a word. SO I didn't move. Suddenly Davids door flung open and he got out. Kalam followed him. Still the Bishop didn't move. Then the drive got out. The Bishop DIDN'T move. Then they pulled my door open and I got out...very slowly! Still not knowing what was going on...finally the Bishop and his wife got out.

These people were here to greet us. They had a parade that closed the whole street. They greeted us with and friendly handshake and a plastic Indian pooka shell necklace. As we walked down the street there were drums, trumpets, symbols and other instruments. It was awesome to see people excited for our arrival:) I got a little mad, cause this girl came running up through the crowd with a red umbrella with tassels and covered the Bishops head. I wanted one really bad:( It was pretty cool.

So we walked throught the crowd of Indians. We got to the church and Bishop dedicated the new church building. We walked in and sat in front. Sitting in front means on the stage, looking at everyone and having everyone watching our everymove. They gave us all a beautiful flower arrangement.

This church was over 200 people. They had a choir and mic'ed drums...it's pretty big in India. The pastor lead us in prayer. Then is happened...we all got BISHOPED! (Getting Bishoped is good and bad. More good than bad:)) David spoke the WORD! Kalam wanted to do a solo...but no go.

I was just thinking that this church was perfect! A warm greating. Loving people. And the Word was spoken. Great day!!! The perfect church only exits at Haven...I mean Heaven!

Small Groups

SO...I went to our Men's Retreat this last weekend. Friday started off good with golf with the guys. Pritam and Brandon were on my team...or was I on their team??? Anyways! The morning portion was great just catching up and making horrible shots:(

We had dinner...fried chicken, mashed potatos veggies...GOOD!

THEN...the meeting started! The speaker was good! Connected to everyone and showed a Harry Potter clip...don't get me started on that one, grown men really need to GROW UP...and then small groups:)

Small Groups are for connecting with other people! Working through good and bad times. Building trust. Loving one another. TALKING? I know what Small Groups are made for but as I sat in a group with a high schooler, college guy, me, a late 40 year old, 50+ elder and a 78 yr elder I was very confused! YES we all have a penis but there is so much seperating us from each.

I walked away from that night asking how do my students feel in their SG? DO they feel comfortable? Is there more community? Do they really care about each other? Just a lot to think about and put me right in the middle of what I'm trying to accomplish.

I think I'm going to the Woman's Retreat next year cause they don't even get in SG! It's hard enough for men to talk about their feelings, woman don't even try:)



There was a lot of this stuff going on! Not Asian guys but lots of hugging!

Bad Boy!

I have been meeting with a student all summer and watching him grow! Not in size but in the way that he thinks. He is a new believer and becoming a follower of Christ. I guess when you give your life to Him you are a follower but with this kid...it's been a process!

His life before you couldn't even imagine. The life that he has lived in 16 years is more life that most people see in their 60 or 70 years of life. (Side note...I really only want to live till 70) But this guy is struggling with his past life and getting ride of it.

Anyways I just wanted to thank God that I could be a part of his life and seeing the transformation! As a "Student Minister" we see a lot of kids but never know when the Truth will pierce their hearts! Thanks Jesus!

Breakfast is Gooood!

SO today I met with a student that I have been meeting with this summer. He is a new believer and we are walking through some scripture and life itself. It has been crazy encouraging just to see his life turning around slowly. Still struggling with his old life but knowing why it's a struggle.

The truth is very hard for people to understand and put into y our life if it has never been there. This kid knows the truth and what he has to do with it but that next step is crazy difficult. To go out to your old world and tell the truth and how freeing it is...it's hard.

This kid is going to be someone someday, someone for Christ, I'll be waiting to see what He has for him. I look at my life and see where I was when I was in High School and NEVER thought that I would be sitting at this desk right now??? God is good and so is breakfast!

Cutie Pie

If you haven't had one of these you really need to go out and FIND THEM!

I have seen better days but after eating one...maybe two...my day got so much better:) Oh and if you read your bible while you eat one, what can I say, the Holy Spirit shows up!

Trust a fat guy with food!



You can trust a fat guy with food!

Who trips when they crawl???

Jacob does!

This last weekend we went to SLO for a wedding and had a great time. The wedding was nice and the food was good:)

But today we went to Pismo Beach for the day. We got some good Chowder...bread bowl was great...and had to get seconds! Anyways we were down at the beach and the boys were playing. Dylan had sand everywhere, I mean everywhere! Jakey is crazy! He just crawls right into the water and does not care. It's pretty funny and scary at the same time. 

So he was crawling around and all of a sudden he trips over his hands and face plants into the sand! YEAH, face full of sand and water! It was pretty sad to see him in pain and not able to communicate it in words. Just crying, grunts, red face and closed eyes:( So for a good hour he had sand in his eyes and just a crappy end for his trip.

After that last grain of sand was out, he was back to his happy go lucky...that's what Jan calls him...self and he already forgot it happened! WOW 

But yeah we had a great weekend and it was really nice getting away!

Dylan Feeds the Homeless

So, Dylan, G...my Indian friend, dots not feathers...and I went to get some Papusas! Yeah I thinks it's El Salvadorian food??? Anyways...really good food...we ordered and I got Dylan 2 chicken tacos. We had a good time eating and catching up. The only down side were the flies...boo on flies!

Both G and I inhaled our food...a regular practice of mine:) Dylan ate 1 of his tacos and was done. He somehow weaseled a sucker out of the server? As we were talking this homeless man rode up on a bike. I looked at him and he looked at me! In my head I was saying, "Crap, just ignore him and he will leave!" I just wanted to enjoy my lunch and have a homeless free lunch! Then Jesus spoke to me and said...feed him, stupid!

I licked my plate clean...so did G! Then Dylan asked what does that man want? I said he was homeless, hungry and wanted food. Without any thought, Dylan gave his taco to the man. He picked his plate up and gave it to him. I looked at Dylan, then G, then the homeless man and was amazed. The man didn't want to take it, then Dylan motioned for the guy to take it. He took the taco and said thanks!

It spoke volumes to me, G and the homeless man! I pray that Dylan keeps that heart and I show him how to serve.  Feed the homeless...if you need help, I'll rent him out for a small cost!

This is the best life ever!

That was Dylan's quote for the day!

His grandpa Mike bought him a race car big boy bed. So when I got home there was this big box in the backyard and I had some work to do. First I had to get Jakey's crib out of his room, then get Dylan's out of his room and put it in Jakey's and then I had to put the race car together.

Dylan was helping me the whole time and as we were pulling the last piece of his bed into his room, he takes a deep breath and says, "Daddy, this is the best life ever!"

It amazes me that simple things effect him in these ways. He is 3 already and growing every day of his life. The love I have for this kid is growing and growing too. If you don't know Dylan...get to know him! He is a great kid!

Fear This!

My son, if you except my words and store up my commands with you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the FEAR of the Lord and the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

Looking at this and seeing that I need to except His words! Store up commands! Not just turning my ear to wisdom but applying my heart to understanding! Call out! Cry ALOUD! Look and search for these...then I will understand the FEAR of the Lord and His knowledge...WOW!


(I just found this as a draft, so I'm just posting it as I found it!)

Have Faith!

	In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
	Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
	“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
	“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
	Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
	And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:20-25 SO after Jesus and his boys stay in this town they get up in the morning and leave. Peter says, "hey Jesus remember that tree you said would never bare fruit, it's dead!" Jesus just says, "have faith in God!" It's just weird to me that these guys that have been following Jesus still are amazed by what He does. Yeah they are human but they are walking with Him. I wonder who I would be if I was around when Jesus was around??? SO yeah...I sit here on my soon to be Betsey's old computer writting about how lame these guys are. But I look at my life and still have questions. Jesus says, HAVE FAITH IN HIM! Why is it so hard. I want to have faith like Jesus wants and expects us to have. Knowing that when He says something is going to happen...it's going to happen! When He says NO...it means NO!!!!!!!! It's easy to sit and type but being out and living this...that's where the rubber meets the road.  SIDE NOTE: I love Andrew Zimmer and his Bizzare Food...he just drank lizard infused sake! God please give me the faith to live in this world. Let me walk, run and fall into ways that I can have my faith tested. I know that when I am tested I learn. I sometimes don't know why I ask you things I ask you but I know that I need to. Slowly make me a man of faith and let me be an example to the humans around me. Make me strong! Make me bold! Humble me!

I'm glad I'm not rich?

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10:21-22 SO this guys comes running to Jesus out of humility. Jesus is probably trying to call him down and try to understand him but after running...I know...he was probably gasping for air! Settling him down I think that he was expecting a different answer and it's just weird not hearing what you want to hear. Now I ask, what was Jesus trying to teach him? Jesus is always teaching and trying to make us understand, but we are stupid. This guys face FELL when he heard that he was suppose to sell everything. Who knows if he did??? SO if Jesus is teaching us something all the time, what is He teaching us right now? Or, right now? Or, right now? To sit here and try to hear from Him and walk away without our face falling? We were talking about Jesus and His teachings today and there is so much he wants us to hear and do. He wants to meet us where we are and speak to us exactly what we need to hear. I know that with every situation He wants me to hear something...I want to be open to that! God as I prepare for the next big thing, let me be able to sit and see what you really want from me. I know that you are teaching me something with everything that I touch...please let my face shine your face. I know more times than not, I am like the man with the falling face and I want to turn completely around. Clean my ears out, clean all the eye boooogars away, take away all the weeds and let me serve you and die for you each day!

I love Cluck U...and my wife!

So Pritam and I just came back from Cluck U and it was so good. I have been really good this week with eating and working out but tonight was good and bad! Yeah the chicken is always good and HOT! Yeah the ranch tastes like heaven...I don't know how heaven tastes like but that what I think! The food is just good...late night food is always tasty! 

Oh...I love my wife! I can't sit here and talk about food and not say anything about her:) She loves me even thought who I am. She is a great mother and wife and would trade her in for anyone...:) We are coming up on 5 years and that's just crazy to me. She hasn't tried to kill me in my sleep and no knives have been thrown my way...thanks babe!

Good night!

Die to find life?

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38

These verses are crazy! If you want to save your life you will lose it? Saving it for the gospel??? Yeah but how do I do this? This section I have been stuck on for a year now. Not cause I read slow but just trying to lose my life to save it. It just makes me think and how God wants us to be sold out for Him and only Him. 

I want to live my life looking for ways to DIE! Die to myself and have CHrist as the only thing that I live for. I have so much in my life that clutters up and I can't see God clearly. I want to live life to the fullest in light of Christ but how do I do that? How do I lead my boys to that heart. How do I lead my wife to that heart. I need the biggest help with my heart and just making it pure day after day, minute after minute and yes...second after second. Just because I'm a "pastor" doesn't mean I'm perfect:) I want to be pure, loving, kind, encouraging, the perfect husband...everything under the sun, moon and Cluck U! 

God mold me into the man you want me to be! I never want to be able to say I'm done growing and dying to myself. I want to see you in whole new lights and hear from you in whole new ways. Make me a great husband! Make me the man my wife needs! Let me take the lead and show people around me who I really am...in you! I want to serve you and love you more and more...thank you for this week and everything that you have been showing me. I thank you for the cross and sending that son of yours! Thank you!

They weren't the brightest bunch!

He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:48-52

As Jesus was on shore he see these guys on the boat and starts to walk out there? The last part of vs. 48 says He was about to pass by them??? COme on I know that the "storm" was crazy but you don't see a man walking on the lake? I know that this is like my walk and Jesus is walking right in front of me during the storms but I choose not to see him until it's almost too late? SO many questions!

I want to be a follower of Christ that see's Him at all times. I know that I don't praise Him enough while I am in the good times and I'm always crying to Him when I'm having a bad day. Just preparing for Mexico and getting my brain in order...I think about the kids that we are going to be serving and my bad days are not bad days! I want to see Jesus every day of my life and not get distracted by understanding the past but looking in front of me and seeing what He has for me!

God make me the man you want me to be. Let me push aside everything that is distracting me and focus on you and you only! You are constantly good to me, let me do the same for you!

Let me slap you!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud. Jesus is not rude, Jesus is not self‑seeking, Jesus is not easily angered, Jesus keeps no record of wrongs.  Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Mike is patient, Mike is kind. Mike does not envy, Mike does not boast, Mike is not proud. Mike is not rude, Mike is not self‑seeking, Mike is not easily angered, Mike keeps no record of wrongs.  Mike does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  Mike always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Mike never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

WOW! I tried something different this morning. SO I was reading these verses that I have read a million times and I was asking God what He wants me to hear. Reading the same thing year after year is hard and try this sometime. Jesus loves no matter what! But putting my name in it just makes me sick! I am suppose to be more and more like Jesus and when I read these verses with His name in there it makes total sense. But when I put my name in there, I was just thinking about yesterday and how many of those I was not! Many...more than I want:(

I need to be patient. I need to be kind. I shouldn't envy other people. I have to stop boasting. PROUD...yikes! RUDE...I won't even touch that one. Self-seeking, angered, record of wrong??? Do I delight in truth? DO I always protect, trust hope and persevere? FAIL? I feel like crap...how much work do I need to do? Let me slap you...that's what God wanted to say to me this morning. Wake up and smell how bad you are!

God, please make me all of these...please! I know that I am not perfect and I like to make everyone believe that I am. Help me to be transparent and speak the truth. Lord, I know you want me to have life to the fullest, let me get closer and closer to that everyday. Thank you for being the best example of all of these...make me more like you!

Why do I waste so much time?

They devote themselves to the apostles teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

This verse and section speaks volumes to me! To Deovte???!!!??? What does that mean? Do I devote myself to anything here on this earff that is Godly? I need to be putting myself in check everyday.

I want to get up and devote myself to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer! I know that my heart shows how the heart of our group is and that's scary sometimes. I want to start this blog thing and have kids talk to each other day and lift each other up...because of the Word! I nned to pray more, eat more:), and fellowship more! Being is the word is the biggest thing. I need to start soapin it up everyday and posting it! Follow me as I follow Christ!

God let me be the best example to my wife, boys, friends and students for following you. 

A Cool Blog Title?

So I sat here for a while trying to figure out a cool blog title. After some time of typing names and deleting them...I said this was stupid. I wanted everyone reading this blog to read the title and say that's deep! This guy has is totally figured out and he knows what he's doing on this site!

Well folks...I don't! A Cool Blog Title...yeah that's it:)