The Glory of the Lord

Yesterday I beleive the Lord's glory was in the theatre. I was teaching with the kids during second service when these random chimes filled the theatre. It happened about three different times and the second time I did reference the Lord's presence. After the service I was talking about it with David Armendariz who was running sound. We were trying to figure out what it was and then I told him it was the Glory of the Lord. I recognize it could have been toy or something else but the timing and the lack of a better solution suggest the Lord revealing himself. You can imagine how incredible it was for me to return that evening and worship the Lord at our Impact service. The service was incredible and filled with worship and praise. In my mind the chimes continued to ring and it is so sweet to be in the presence of the Lord. I shared with Shayne what took place and this woman of faith immediatly was bummed that she missed it. Shayne and her family are so hungry for the presence of God and welcome him into thier lives and ministry. Shayne actually led worship that morning and evening and did a great job. The Lord is real and he is revealing himself in ways to you as well, you just have to be listening. I don't think I mentioned and in fact I am reminded that I was speaking about bells ringing in response to the birth of our savior. God is so good. Jingle Bells will always be one of my favorites from now until eternity.

Angels and Helping Hands

This past sunday I worked closer with our Angels For Christ Bus ministry and Helping Hands ministry. I was humbled at how those involved serve so faithfully. Our bus ministry takes families from needy areas and brings them to church. Lydia Duncan is the leader and she does whatever it takes to get the kids to church. Erica and Steve Mcbride charged the same day working with our special needs kids. These two ministries are the hardest to find volunteers for, but in my mind are most rewarding. You have to have the heart of the father to work with someone who appears to not appreciate you. Many times you feel that your not doing much good and don't feel very fruitful. They are typically the ministries that are not talked about as much either and so today I wanted to encourage and ask you to pray the Lord will stregthen these two valuable ministries I am blessed to be a part of . Thanks,

Joe

Fight On! Dodgers! Sumo! and Tiger

I need to blog more because I have been living large and it's good to think about my blessedness. A few weeks ago Ryan Ikari invited me to join him and the USC associates at the coliseum for some tailgating in class and a great game. The best part is I am not even a hard core USC fan but after my day with the associates all I have to say is Fight On! Days later I am watching Manny and the Dodgers in the NLDS with my girls. Then minutes before I am ready to take the Sato family off my wall, the Sato family rolls in the house from hawaii and we had a great time capping the night off over at knowlwoods hangin with Ricky Lombard. Then this morning I golfed like tiger woods. I actually had one of the worst outings on the course. I want to blame it all on the fact I missed my bathroom break at hole 9 and I beleive it was snowmans across the board after that. Right now Caden is calling so I need to bail.

Smell,

Joe

Vacation

I thought I would share about our family vacation. It all started with a triathlon in Newport on Sept. 7th. Most races are on Sundays and me being a Pastor its difficult to participate in many races. I love racing and my goal is to race and that means that I am able to pass some people and be competetive. I do find some joy in being the heavier set guy passing all the ripped people who look like they could easily win the race. I did extremely well with the kind of fitness level I entered the race and had a great time. I did demo some Zipp racing wheels that retail well over $2500 for $30. I found it comical that I beat my swim split and run split from a few years ago and manage to ride a little slower with the so called faster bike and wheels. The lesson learned is that the wheels don't make that much difference and are not worth it. You would think I wouldn't care about owning a pair of aero wheels after my experience but I want them even more. Their lighter and I just feel faster using them. I give all the credit to experience with my faster swim split, swimming in a straight line helps tremendously and running the course before gave me an edge of how hard to run. I was in much better shape in 06 yet manage to beat my time by a few seconds. That evening we packed up and headed off to San Diego for one of our best get aways ever. I am amazed how much God blessed us and provided for us. We couldn't afford to race much this year and spend much money on a vacation with the arrival of Caden but the Lord had plans to finance one of our best vacations ever. Enough for now but it was fun to remember day 1. Smell you later.

Joe

I no longer call you servants ... but friends

I have been wanting to post on this subject for a long time since my last post. I just taught on the words of Jesus just a few hours ago from John 15. It stems from reflecting on all those who I have served with over the years. Seeing many of you over the last few months has me missing and reflecting on you and how I consider you all my friends. For many of you I see at a distance and it brings me great joy to see you continue to in the faith. I so want to pick up the phone and call all of you. I see Jesus communicating this truth as he looks at each and everyone of us. Paul echo's his heart to remain with the churches that he has labored with over the years. I have had so many great moments with you all, and I long to spend more time with you all. So to all I have served with and continue to serve with, consider me one of your trusted friends that you can call on at any time.

Joe

Who thinks I should do the Face Book thing and what are your thoughts about it?

CADEN JOSEPH

Say Hi! to my new baby boy. These past few weeks have been pretty amazing and eventful. I think it all started after having breakfast with Kelly Slater. I went surfing with friends and sitting right next to me at the SC cafe was Kelly Slater we did the head nod thing and went on eating breakfast. A few days later, I was up at kids camp. We had something like 260 kids with another 100 leaders and God moved in everyone's life. I am so amazed how the team works together and serves the kids. A few days after camp baby Caden was born and then a few days after that we started VBS. We had something close to 200 kids and I would say it was one of our best Vacation Bible schools. MY team really stepped up and made a point for me to spend some time with Caden. A few days later Caden's birth mother wanted to spend more time with him so he was in my arms one minute and gone for a couple days. It was so difficult but God proved himself to be faithful and Caden is home now. Yesterday we launched Adventures in Science (exploring Gods miracles) and it was also a complete success. It was so great to see Matt Agosto on stage with kids. Today I'll be picking up the youth at camp and I am already hearing reports that God moved miracously. A few days from today I"ll be heading up to Lake Mead for college camp and Mike Larkin will be sharing. How cool is that and he also will be bringing his boat. A few days after that I will be directing the father son camp out and I am beleiving for great things as well. A few days after that I pray I will be off to some time away with my family and starting my vacation with a Triathlon in Newport. Sorry for not posting but how do you even keep up with a schedule like mine and report about it. When you see God move like I do, it makes complete sense to join the Angels in singing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.

pray for me because I am praying for you. Caden kept me up last night so I had time to get on line. Love you all.

God is good.

Joe

Life is not about me

I thought I would be in agreement with btaylor since Chapter 4 is all about a life in complete submission to God. Chapter 4 is for sure a Venti with triple shot espresso and go ahead and throw on the whip. So much that I just may spend a few days meditating on it. I'd like to comment on v.1

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

I don't think we recognize that the core of issues with one another is our selfish desires. James says you want something and you don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

I have found it to be true that when I give up my desires for His I find that my life is full of blessings and peace. All the battles in my life originate from a desire for something that is birthed from me and and not Him. James is so true when he says friendship with the world is becoming an enemy of God. James is not talking about a physical world, remember God said it was good. James is talking about the sin of the world and unfortunatly it's in our nature. When we lose our life we say no to sin and find life in Him. So today I pray that my life I live is not mine but His. The scripture also tells us that when we lose our life we find it. So I encourage you to start living for Him. v. 7 Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I wonder if resisting the devil is saying no to caffeine? Is Caffeine from the devil?