March 7, 2009

Lean Times

Dreams come true - From the account of Joseph, YHWH demonstrates his great love for His people Israel by Raising up Joseph from a life of slavery to an adviser to Pharaoh.
 
The account of Joseph begins in Genesis 37.  From the beginning of the story of Joseph, we see Jacob/Israel, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel or in this case twelve sons show favoritism toward his younger son Joseph.  Joseph is clothed in a robe with long sleeves.  In Genesis 37:3, the Bible says, “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves.”  This beginning shows the dysfunction of the family of Joseph.  First, Israel loves Joseph more than his other sons.  Second, he gives Joseph a robe that is a constant reminder to his other sons of how Israel loves Joseph more than them.  Thus it would seem that the robe Joseph wore could very well have had the significance the Bible attributes to it-namely, that it marked the wearer as a favorite.   This is a big problem from the start as to how out of touch Israel is within his own family unit. 

Joseph being the favorite of Israel does not help his cause when he brings bad reports about his brother’s to his father.  Joseph also tells his brothers and father about two dreams he had where they were bowing before him.  Joseph was telling his entire family that one day he was going to rule over them.  This gets Joseph the nickname ‘dreamer.’  Joseph had a gift from YHWH that would get him before Pharaoh but this is a long way from that day, in this context, the brothers use the term to mock him and they take it as an insult to them.  We can be quite sure that the older brothers had no idea of flattering Joseph when they used this expression, but what could better describe the peculiar talent that was to bring Joseph both fame and power that to call him the “master of dreams”?   Genesis 37:18-19, the Bible says, “They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him.  They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer.  Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’”  This is all a result of the blatant favoritism of Israel toward Joseph over his brother’s and this leads to them wanting to kill him but instead they decide to sell him into slavery in Genesis 37:28.  Joseph was sold by his brethren for twenty pieces of silver (Gn 37:28), and that was also the average price of a slave in ancient Babylon.  It was the same as the price of an ox. 

This is a little introduction into the beginning of Joseph’s story but if we go back to the date of his birth an exact date is not known.  Joseph was born three generations after Abraham but before the small family of Jacob entered Egypt.   Translating this into the frame of secular history, archaeological evidence puts the age of Abraham in the Middle Bronze Age, somewhere in the first half of the second millennium, and the entry into Egypt during the second “intermediate” period, which covers a period of over two hundred years.  Our only hope for dating Joseph more exactly lies within the realm of archaeology-i.e., the possibility of establishing a convincing synchronism for Gen.14, or the recovery of more Hyksos documents.  

Joseph went down to Egypt during the Hyksos period.  In the latter half of the eighteenth century, the Middle Kingdom declined under rival dynasties.  With the country weakened, foreign peoples from Canaan (later called Palestine) and southern Syria infiltrated and eventually seized power.  Named Hyksos, an Egyptian term meaning “foreign chiefs,” their exact identity is still much debated.  The majority were certainly West Semites (Canaanites or Amorites).  They placed their capital at Avaris in the north-eastern Delta region.  For about a century, (ca. 1650-1540), during the second intermediate period, they ruled Egypt and parts of Canaan.  It is not unlikely that during this time Joseph and his brothers came down into Egypt.

There is a recurring theme of being favored then hated or being forgotten in the life of Joseph from Genesis 37 through Genesis 41.  Joseph is favored by his father but hated by his brother’s in Genesis 37.  In Genesis 39, Joseph is favored by Potiphar, the captain of the guard in Egypt when he is put in charge of his house but he is hated by Potiphar’s wife when she lies about him trying to seduce her when in fact she was trying to seduce him.  As a result, Joseph was thrown into prison for this offence.  In Genesis 40, Joseph is favored by the prison warden and put in charge of the prison then he met the chief baker and cupbearer of Pharaoh and interpreted dreams they had by giving them the meaning of each dream but when he asked the cupbearer to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh and ask Pharaoh to get him out of prison because he was an innocent man, the cupbearer forgot him. 

This all leads up to Joseph being in a position to use his gift of interpreting dreams before the most powerful man on earth, Pharaoh King of Egypt.  The Bible says in Genesis 41:1-5, “After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass.  Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows.  And Pharaoh awoke.”  The interesting thing about Pharaoh’s dream is the reference to the Nile River.  The Nile, as is well known, is the condition on which Egypt’s fruitfulness depends.  Its overflowing fertilizes the soil, and when it does not occur, the crops fail.   YHWH gives Pharaoh a dream where he is standing on the Nile, the very strength of all of the land of Egypt.  The LORD is showing how he deals with the rulers of the earth and in this instance He gives Pharaoh a dream where the Nile is producing death in that the ugly cows come up out of the Nile and eat the sleek and fat cows.  I believe God is showing that Nile only produces life because He wills it but in this instance, it will be an agent of death because something horrific is about to take place. 

Another interesting thing about these first few verses of Genesis 41 is the reference to the term “after two whole years.”  Joseph had asked the cupbearer to remember him before Pharaoh at the end of Genesis 40 but instead he was forgotten by him.  Two years is a long time and Joseph had to be disappointed but had to move on with life and accept the fact that he would never get out of the dungeon. 

Genesis 41:1-16 is all about two dreams that Pharaoh had that troubled him deep within his spirit.  In verses 5-9, Pharaoh has a second dream but this time he sees seven healthy ears of corn get swallowed up by seven thin blighted ears of corn.  Again YHWH gets the attention of Pharaoh with a dream that shakes him up at his very core.  The first dream had seven healthy and seven ugly cows and the second dream has seven healthy ears and seven thin blighted ears of corn.  The number seven is of significance to the dreams of Pharaoh but who could tell him what they mean?  In verse 8 it says, “In the morning his spirit was troubled; so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.”

Now the gift that God placed in Joseph as the dream interpreter is going to get him from the dungeons of Egypt to the palace of Pharaoh.  The gift of God will not only deliver Joseph from an unjust prison term but it will deliver the entire known world from a severe famine and save many lives.  God used a dream to shake the foundation of the Egyptian Kingdom.  Dreams seem to play an important part in the Egyptian culture.  God conducts every nation by its special characteristic, by its religious forms, according to the measure of piety that is in them. Thus He ruled the Egyptians through the night-life and the world of dreams.

The Egyptian symbolism in the dreams of Pharaoh.  “These and similar thoughts, no doubt, occurred also to the Egyptian scribes, but Joseph’s divinely-sealed glance was necessary in assuming the responsibility of the fourteen years, as well as in the interpretation of the dreams, which afterwards appear very simple and obvious.”

Joseph has been preparing for this from age 17 in Genesis 37 when he has the dreams he tells his brothers and father about ruling over them to age 30 in Genesis 41 when he is going to be called upon to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh.  God was with him all along, through the ups and down’s and now YHWH is going to call upon him to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, King of Egypt.  Joseph has a gift of interpreting dreams and from those first two dreams he has in chapter 37, God is setting the stage for Joseph not only to rule over his family but give a dream interpretation that will affect the entire world during Joseph’s time. 

The verb pasar occurs in rabbinic literature with the meaning “be lukewarm,” probably a homophone, then “dissolve, solve, be loosed, undone,” though also “interpret dreams” (e.g., Bab. Yoma 28b; Ber. 56a).   Pasar is the Hebrew word for interpret.  Pasar can refer to interpreting words or dreams.  The word is used in Genesis 41:8, 12, 13, and 15.  Joseph had the gift of Pasar and God squeezed the Egyptians, got the attention of their ruler, and gave Joseph an audience with him so God could use Joseph to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh when all of the wise men in all of the land of Egypt couldn’t.  Joseph is quick to remind Pharaoh that God is the one who will give Pharaoh an answer to the dreams.  Joseph was only an agent of God and could do nothing apart from YHWH. 

Genesis 41:15-16 says, “And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’  Joseph answered Pharaoh, ‘It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favourable answer.’  This is the climax of Genesis 41:1-16 because now the Pasar, master of dream interpretation is before Pharaoh who just had a disturbing dream and he is in need of a Pasar and its no accident that God has Joseph in a dungeon in the land of Egypt when two year later, the cupbearer of Pharaoh remembers his shortcomings and remembers a young Hebrew who just happens to specialize in dream interpretations because God was with Joseph and raised him up for such a time as that.  Joseph was born to interpret dreams and rule with wisdom and discernment and during those perilous times, Pharaoh had a Pasar in Joseph who had the Spirit of God directing his every move.

Just as God raised up Joseph to dream and lead in lean times, He is raising up dreamers to lead a generation in whom the Spirit of God leads.  The world is asking for hope and these dreamers preach under the direction of the God of Hope.  The world is asking for answers and these dreamers have the Answer because they are led by Jesus Christ, the Lord in whom are all the answers. 

When the world asks for a Pasar to interpret the times because lean times are coming and in fact are already here, God will send the dreamers of these times to give direction and vision for the terrible times that lie ahead and they will be His mouth piece, giving direction to the great of this world because they will see God moving through the dreamers of this age. 

Do we have any dreamers in whom is the Spirit of God?  If that is you, serve Him Faithfully and when the time comes, the Pharaoh's of our time will come calling, asking for your advice as to how to deal with things during these lean times.  That is when God will shine through you like the noon day sun, giving wisdom and discernment in the leanest of times.

Challenge -  Prepare for lean, lean times because in those days will God get the attention of the movers and shakers and raise up dream interpreter's who will speak to the lean times and make them surrender to the will of God. 

Serve Him faithfully in the little things becasue the big things are coming and the fate of the world will require you to be in tune with Him so you will interpret the times and speak forth His hope in the days to come.

When the Pharaoh's of our time come calling for a Pasar/Dream interpreter, stand boldly with a a humble heart, and speak forth His vision because you are His instrument put on the scene for the saving of many lives.


Be Blessed,

Joey

PS:   If you need prayer, write you requests in the comments section of the blog and we will pray for those needs.  Let us know when God answers your prayers by sending your testimonies. 

If you haven't received Jesus Christ yet and you want to, pray this prayer with me.  Dear God I admit I am a sinner in need of a Savior.  I believe the Savior who can and will forgive my sins and give me eternal life is Jesus Christ.  I confess Jesus today as my Lord and Savior and commit my life to follow and obey Him from this day forward.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Amen. 

Let us know if you received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior so we can celebrate with you because it’s the greatest thing you will ever do in this life.

February 13, 2009    

My Hero

Hero's - In life we have many heros that we look up too.  We look up to some because of a particulary sport they play and we would like to play like them.  Others because they are people who help others and we want to help others like them.  Maybe its business and your hero is a business expert that you would like to be like.  Their are many reasons we have heros and the common tread of all heros is we want to be like them.  We admire them and would like to have the impact for good that they have on us and the world.  Hero's are a good thing to have and I recommend all people to have a hero.

When it comes to picking a hero, make sure they are people who make the world a better place, not just for how much money they make or how well they entertain you or play a certain sport.  Hero's should be people of character and people who help others to make their lives better.  Parents are good heros to have because they make your life and your families life better. 

Their is nothing wrong with having heros because of what they do or make but they should be at the bottom of the list of reasons for picking a hero.  

On February 2 I lost the only hero I ever really had.  Today, February 13 I gave a eulogy at my hero's funeral before we buried her in Stockton California.  The hero I am talking about is my grandmother, Carol Elizabeth Sarraraz who besides Jesus Christ is the one person who was my biggest fan.  She has always believed in me.  She believed in me when I was two months old and my uncle Daniel found me at my mother's house crying all by myself and he brought me to my grandmother's house and she welcomed me with open arms.  She believed in me when I was three years old and my little brother Henry was a few months old and we were about to be adopted in texas because our parents got in some trouble but she sent my Uncle Pete to come and get me and my brother and bring us home to Stockton California to live with her.  I have always lived with my grandmother growing up.  Anything I have ever told her about my dreams and what I wanted to do in life, she always listened and supported me because she believed in me.  You see, hero's have a way of always showing and lettling you know that they believe in you.

My grandmother always believed in me and has always been my biggest fan.  She made my life a joy and I couldn't have asked for a better grandmother and hero.  There will not go another day in my natural life that I will not think about her.

Heros have much love to give.  She always loved all of my family in all circumstances.  She was their when my brother who has been in and out of prison for sometime needed someone to visit, she made time.  She was in her late 70's going to see my brother Henry in prison every weekend.  That is love in action because heros have and give love.  She was their for my uncle Pete who contracted Diabete's in his late 50's and needed to eat a certain diet to be healthy, she made him food everyday that she could and made sure he was following that diet and it probably has prolonged his life.  She gladly did it and that is showing love because heros aways find a way to show love.  Their are many more stories I could share about how my hero showed love to not only my family but to the people she crossed paths with in life. 

The Bible says Psalms 16:3 (The Living Bible), " I will make the godly in the land my heros."  If for no other reason you pick a hero is but for them being godly that is reason enough.  You see my hero grew up Catholic her whole life but never relly went to church until the day in 1991 that I shared what it means to follow Jesus Christ and she bowed her head before the Lord Jesus and made Him Lord of her life.  She went to church with me on Sunday's and got involved with a senior's Sunday School class.  She used to save pennies for the church because Pastor Craft shared about giving money to help missionaries in need.  My grandmother didn't have any money and was on social security for many years but she gave to further the work of the Lord on her watch.  She would pray for my family all the time and she would tell her children who were not following Jesus that they needed to go to church and follow Christ.  She left a godly legacy that myself and the rest of my family who have became believer's will carry on now.  Since my hero became a Christian in 1991, she has witnessed my Uncle Daniel, my cousin Pudge, my cousin Molly, my late aunt Angie come to know Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives, and other's draw one step  closer to Christ.  This is all a result of God using her to further the Gospel in her family.

Lately, when I pray, I have prayed to God to tell my grandmother I said hi.  I don't know how that prayer lines up to what the Bible says about prayer but I like to believe Jesus hear's that prayer and tells my grandmother Carol that her grandson says hi.

My hero just celebrated her 85th birthday this past Christmas.  I use to always pray, if possible, God let my hero live to see me get married and see my first born be born.  God didn't grant that request because her time here on earth came to an end on February 2, 2009 and He wanted her to go home to her real home but I know that her memory will always be in my heart until I see her again in the Kingdom of God.  

If I am ever to have a little girl, I planned on naming her Anabellee but that changed recently because if I have a little girl, she will be named Carol Elizabeth after my hero because she was one of the godly of the land who more than met the criteria of being called a hero.


Be Blessed,


Joey 

 




 

December 24, 2008

Who is the reason for the season?

Merry X-Mas - Tis the season to be jolly.  Christmas is the best season of the year.  If for nothing else, it's a time when family gets together and can catch up because families are scattered all over the country.  Also families get so busy throughout the year that you lose touch even if you live in the same town and in the same neighborhoods.  I believe God smiles to see all the families reunite even if it is just oneday out of the year. 

Now that would be reason enough to say Christmas is a blessed season but there is more to this day.  Santa Claus is cool and he tries to get us to be good for goodness sake.  That is a great way to live and make the world a better place but there is more, much more. 

Giving to people who are less forunate is a great thing as well and if for no other reason during the Christmas season you give more to make other's Christmas's better that would be reason enough to celebrate but there is more, much, much, more. 

All these reasons make Christmas what it is but the main reason that Christmas is what it is has to do with Who was born on Christmas day.  When we are with our families opening presents sitting by warm fires in a cozy house remember He Who was born on Christmas day didn't have that luxury.  When He was born there was nowhere for His parents to go because everywhere they turned there was no room for them.  He had to be born in a manger which is a barn made for the animals. 

He Who came to save the world had no other people around When He was born except for His parents.  The animals where there and I would venture to say they knew Who was being born into the world that day. 

Open up His book this season to the book of Luke chapter 2 verses 1 through 20 and read His story because He is the reason for the season and the reason we can enjoy all of the above and whatever else that is good is all because of Him, Jesus Christ The Saviour who was born on Christmas Day. 


Be Blessed,

Joey 

September 20, 2008

Eric and Regina's Call 

Who will answer His Call? - When I was in college at San Diego State University, I had some hard times do to poor choices of mine.  I wasn't living for Jesus for the first four or so years at SDSU.  During this time I met Eric Martin in one of my communications classes.  We hit it off immediately and became good friends.  We lived for satan together literally by doing the worldly thing.  Throughout our friendship, I was drawing closer to Christ little by little. 

Eric had a girlfriend named Regina Montoya in college in his BC days, lol.  I didn't see Eric for awhile and we just randomly ran into each other one day so I thought.  As we started to hangout again, I find out his on again off again girlfriend Regina started to go to church.  Eric started to want to checkout church as well.  In my ignorant days of putting God to the side, I managed to tell Eric that I attended church.  I invited him but he wasn't interested.  I wasn't much of an example of Christ to him either.  

Now that the flame of love was rekindled between Regina and Eric, Mr. Martin was wanting to go to church himself.  It's amazing to me the power of a woman.  I know it was all by God's but He used a woman that Eric thought was the bomb to bring him to relationship with Jesus.  You go girl!!!!  All for His glory.  

Eric and Regina both committeed their lives to Jesus and a marriage and two beautiful young girls later; are a missionary family.  Doing it all for His glory.  Eric and Regina are some of my best friends and they are the real deal.  They are some of the most godly people I know and when I get married, I want to pattern my marriage after them because they do it for His glory.  This is their story of how God called them to the mission field.  Read it and be blessed by the Call of God on a couple's life.

                                                                     Missions Testimony
Calling
I received the calling to be a missionary while on a short missions in Juarez Mexico doing a Festival of Life.  I didn’t want to leave and probably would have stayed if it wasn’t for bills and my girl friend, now wife waiting for me at home.  After getting married, God began to put urgency on our hearts for Mexico. The church where we were serving literally closed down, and had to ask me for the keys as I continued to use the building months after it closing.  So we began to pray, pay of our bills, and visit Rosarito Mexico where Regina’s family friends were starting a church.   We felt like now was the time, when we were young and could serve God for many years, instead of waiting until we retired and giving God our left-overs.  

Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

While there Paul cast out a demon, close torn off, beaten, whipped, thrown in jail, delivered from jail, kicked out of the city.  But they never doubted their call.  While there Lydia and her family were saved, the jailer and his family as well, and the slave girl and a church was started.  

He was only there a few days, but later wrote a letter to the church there stating
Philippians 1: 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now… 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.  

Our calling is so important because if we are sure in our calling, then no matter what happens, attacks, slow growth, failures, we know we are called.  

How do you know your calling? 
Phillipians 4:6-7  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

God’s never spoken to me in a loud voice saying “ERIC, go to Mexico.”  It was always more of an inner peace through prayer and fasting.

God Provides
Many people thought we were crazy because we went to college, and were going to quite our good paying jobs, to live in Mexico.  But we knew that God Was calling us. 
Mathew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 
I am not going to say it has been easy, the first year especially.  Some months we had only 400 dollars, 300 of which was for rent.  But somehow God always provided.  One time in El Salvador we had 16$ in the bank with an empty tank of gas.  That night an American who was visiting gave me an offering.  My car was stolen, and two weeks later someone gave us a car.

God Guides
The only problem is we didn’t know where in Mexico.  Rosarito was cool and all but we didn’t feel we would be real missionaries because it was so close to the border and they are more like Mexican Americans.  So after praying, fasting, and hearing no answer, we got in our car and headed throughout Mexico for a month and a half visiting the various Horizons, to see where God would call us.  We visited many churches and saw many needs, but never really heard from God where.  However the first week back, we went to visit Rosarito, and on the way back Regina and I looked at each other and knew that God was calling us to Rosarito.
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.  

God Confirms
God immediately confirmed our call in Rosarito.  We told Horizon we were going to Rosarito and they told us they were praying about a Festival, which we never thought would happen in Rosarito.  Regina became pregnant with a month of living there.  Regina’s father needed open heart surgery and she was able to help him through it by being so close.  Mia’s asthma needed to be close to states.  When we started going down Eric spoke high school Spanish, and shared with a translator, but upon returning from our month trip through Mexico, Eric started and never stopped preaching in Spanish.   Thank God He knows exactly what He is doing.

God continued to bless and do many mighty things while we were in Rosarito.  The church moved from 1. Juan’s driveway to a 3 story church building.  2. The youth group grew from 1 kid to 30+ many of whom were from unchurched families, 3. purity and 4. extreme sport outreaches in the local junior and senior high schools, 5. God provided for free a huge warehouse and ramps to run a bike skate park for years where thousands of teens heard and many received the gospel, and much more.

Make Disciples
One thing I learned in Mexico is that it is very easy to get someone to pray to receive Jesus.  It is not like here, where no one wants to hear anything about Jesus.  You can do a sinners prayer and everyone will lift their hands, again and again.  We would get all excited because someone prayed to receive Jesus.  We would follow up with the people, call them go to their houses (hard because numbers aren’t in order), pray with them, offer a study at their house, etc.  But many of them would never change, never come to church, continue in sin, not want anything to do with Jesus.  Did that prayer save them? 

Our goal is not to get people to say “the prayer”.   Down there everyone believes in Jesus, they know they are sinners, they all say they want Jesus, but to get them disciple, to live a holy life, and into a church is the difficult part.  Mathew 28:19-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore  and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  

The goal of missions, the church, or any ministry should be to make disciples.  How do we make disciples: Go, baptize (win), teach. His encouragement is that He will be with us.  Vision of Horizon win, disciple, send. 

Mathew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Changes
After being in Rosarito for five years we began to feel that Jesus was preparing us to go somewhere else.  The church had grown and was healthy; leaders had been raised up.   So we began to pray for God to show us when and where.  We began to feel the Festival is where God was calling us, so I went to Chiapas for a month to confirm God’s calling.  I was there for a month.  My first day there I met a guy from Rosarito working there, and miraculously found him in Rosarito.  I witnessed to bikers, a Pizza Hut guy with a broken down motorcycle, worked with over 120 churches, taught alter call training to over 600 church volunteers.  I couldn’t stay for the Festival because my wife was 8 months pregnant.  God confirmed the calling while there.

God will Complete it
Going back to Rosarito and telling people we were leaving was very hard. We had been at that church since the beginning, watched the kids grow up physically and spiritually.  They hold a special place in our hearts.  

But God began closing the doors.  For example, one day we drove by skate park and the ramps were being thrown out on the street and fenced off.  Someone had bought the building and wanted us out without warning.  This was my main ministry, I was destroyed.  But God is awesome that same day the director of sports saw what was going on and offered us a basketball court to use for the ministry.  It is right next to the new movie theater and a high school with 2000 kids.  The church is opening a youth center right across the street, if anyone is interested.  

The teens were bummed we were leaving and I was afraid what would happen to them when we left.  I had personally shared Christ with many of them, I was their father in the faith, how could I leave my kids. 

We were teaching through Philippians with the teens and God gave me this verse.  Philippians1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…  God showed me that it was His ministry.  These were his kids.  He had started the work, not me, and He was going to finish it not me.  It gave me a peace that I could leave because He was in control. 

I went back a year later, and yes some of the kids had left, but those that stayed were His and had grown immensely.  One kid Pancho from the skate park would always raise his hand to receive the Lord.  But would never come to church or let me disciple him.  Before leaving he started coming to church and taking a discipleship course with the pastor.  I was able to baptize him before I left, and know he is so on fire that he led his mom, dad, and sister to the Lord and then started bringing all of his friend to church with him.

Growth through Struggles
So we said our good-bye and packed up all our stuff and left Rosarito.  After a month of downtime we headed down to El Salvador to help prepare for a Festival.  However things there were not easy.  2 days before Regina came down with the family my 7 month old daughter Ily was diagnosed as far-sighted and her eyes were beginning to cross.  My wife had to cancel her plans to come down to get exams and glasses for my daughter.  God is faithful as we complained of the injustice of a daughter with glasses for life, I met a teen who would be blind in 3 years, and learned to play guitar before going blind to praise God.  My older daughter Mia has asthma and was in and out of the doctors the first month there because of the asthma from the smog and pollution.  The car we bought was a junker, with the wheel and axle falling off, thank God we were pulling out of the drive way.  The buses drove like they were in sports cars with people hanging out the windows and doors.  My wife swore that she was going to die in a car in El Salvador.  My wife and daughters were faithful as they are had to deal with the plagues of mosquitoes, rats, no water, and scorpions.  After the first scorpion she told God I can deal with rats, but not scorpions.  A week later we had a rat.  Through all of this we suffered but then the Festival was post-poned and eventually cancelled, so we questioned God exactly what we were doing there.

Harvest is Plentiful
God showed us that even though we weren’t there for the intended purpose, He still had a purpose. While there He used us to start a  homeless soup kitchen/bible study ministry with 20+ people weekly.  Five of which now live in a Christian rehab center where they are being healed as they learn about Jesus.  Bernardo went in the week after his son died from a liver failure from alcohol.  Begin a woman’s study at a church plant.  Serve weekly at two mission churches.  One of which was Angustura.  A church with 50+ kids and like 3 adults.  Those kids were faithful, the church was 3 walls, with a roof on a dirt field, very poor, but the kids would come every week, even in pouring down rain, some would come in canoes from across the river, half of them barefoot.  The little kids even led the worship.   Lead a group of Salvadorians on a mission trip to Belize in hopes that one would be called to pastor a church.  We developed a youth discipleship program at the churches’ high school which included two camping trips, hospital visitations, a teenage run Sunday school class, weekly devotions and daily Bible classes. 

Luke 10:2 says, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Did we serve with the Festival of Life? No! But God used us in so many ways that we couldn’t have imagined.  No matter where we have been in the world, there is always so much work to do, so many lost and hungry souls.  So many churches and organizations needing help.  So many people need Jesus, but we sit and do nothing.  To make disciples we must first “Go.”

1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh…

Love
I do not know what God is calling each of you to do specifically.  But I do know that His general call for you and me is

Mathew 22: 37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

It is such a blessing to love, bless, and serve others.  Usually the one who is serving receives more, grows more, and is more blessed.

In Latin America it is a family oriented society.  It is all about spending time with people, getting to know them, talking, sharing.  It is not unusual to have an hour conversation with someone you just met. We were only in El Salvador for 10 months, but in those ten months we made so many amazing friends.  They invite you to dinner, bought us beds, prayed for us, lent us cars, not just friends but part of the family.

Many of you went on the “Love Out-Loud Tour”.  You had the opportunity to love people in many ways.  Buying them groceries, construction around the house,  visiting the sick, in prison.  How have you been Loving Out-Loud since being back?  You see what happens is It is very easy to love and serve when everyone else is doing it.  When you friends are with you.  You work off of one another’s faith.  Maybe there is a leader who is really outgoing, or gifted.  But how are you loving when you are all alone, when no one else is looking, when no one knows you are a Christian, when it is just you and God, because He is the one that really matters.

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Why is it a new commandment?  Because Jesus says “To love as I have loved you.”  How did He love us?  HE DIED FOR US!  Who are you dying for?

I want to encourage you to Love Out-Loud daily.    We tell people that Jesus loves you and that is correct.  He does.  He loves them so much.  He gave His life for each and every single person that you see every single day. 

But the question is do you love them?  Are you loving them as Christ loved you?  Why not?



Be Blessed,


Joey


PS:  Sorry for the delay of blog postings.  I just moved to San Diego and I have been busy but that is no excuse for delaying the work of Christ.  I pray that you are inspired to love Him all the more from this testimony. 

 

August 25, 2008

Akira's Story

The Goodness of God - Akira Kosuge is another one of my closest friend's.  We have known one another for 12 year's.  We met in college and from the start, we knew we where going to be friend's for life. 

We have had many great times together and have kept in touch over the years inspite of being continent's away from each other.  I remember when we both shared our testimonies with one another and we realized we had many things in common. 

Akira's story is a powerful testament to the Goodness of God and how serving Jesus from a young age can keep one from being polluted by the world.  Akira is a righteous guy and I know God has many great things in the future for him because of his life of purity for the Lord Jesus.  The Testimony I am sending you is a tremedous story of the Goodness of God in the life of a person who has served God from a young age.  Enjoy and be inspired as you read Akira's story.

Hi Everyone!
 
My name is Akira Kosuge and I am going to share a testimony of my path to coming to know Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  The story is about a man who came was prayed that he would become a Christian, follower of God, long before he knew that he would become a Christian, and how he is continuing to develop a life long relationship with God once he became Christian.

I became a Christian on February 10, 1993.  I had been seeking God until this time, but I did not understand what it meant to become a Christian.  My parents, themselves non- practicing Buddhists (they are non- religious, almost agnostic people), enrolled me at Liberty Christian High School.  The school is part of a church called Central Baptist Church, (now called Crosspointe Baptist Church.  I was invited to a winter retreat held by the High School Youth Group at Big Bear, California.  I went to the retreat.  Pastor Jim Gane, was the high school youth pastor, asked if anyone wanted to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  I did not receive Christ at that time, though I was thinking about it.  I had been thinking on it for about a month afterwards and soon realized everything about Jesus Christ began to make sense to me.  I needed Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  The school holds an event called Spiritual Emphasis Week every year.  So I notified Pastor Jim Gane that I was interested in accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  So, during Spiritual Emphasis Week, on February 10, 1993, Pastor Jim Gane, took me through passages of the Scripture and I prayed that Jesus Christ would come into my heart.  My life has changed since then because I have to live by the standards set forth in the Bible and God would convict me when I sin, or have sinful thoughts.  My life became accountable Jesus Christ and God.  I also began to develop deep friendships with other Christians, so I could be held accountable for my actions, and I too could hold my Christian brothers for actions as well.  In high school, the people I developed a deep accountability with were my youth pastor (He is now the pastor of the married couples group of Crosspointe Baptist Church) and other members of the high school youth group.  When I got to college, I had (and still have) accountability with my Christian friend Joey Escarsega.  I also joined a Christian Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Omega and this helped me keep accountable to Christian brothers.  With parents who come from a non- practicing Buddhist/ agnostic background, I am constantly defending and professing my faith so that one day they may know the saving grace of the Lord.  I do not struggle with living a Christian life, but like every other Christian, I still struggle with sin, and therefore I have Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, and I have had, have, and continually developing new friendships with other Christians so I would sin less and struggle less with living a Christian life..



Be Blessed,



Joey


PS:  If any of the testimonies from this series have blessed you or someone else, let us know so we can praise God with you. 

We will continue to pray that you become all that Jesus Christ called you to be in this life. 

If you haven't received Jesus Christ yet and you want to, pray this prayer with me.  Dear God I admit I am a sinner in need of a Savior.  I believe the Savior who can and will forgive my sins and give me eternal life is Jesus Christ.  I confess Jesus today as my Lord and Savior and commit my life to follow and obey Him from this day forward.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Amen. 

Let us know if you received Christ so we can celebrate with you because it’s the greatest thing you will ever do in this life.  We would also like to recommend some links on the net to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. 

 

August 15, 2008

Gary's Story

The Fast Lane - Gary Fonseca is one of my closest friend's.  I can personally say he is a man of God and desires to be all He can be for Jesus Christ tin his life. 

We have known one another for three years and he has been a big encouragement to me and my walk with Jesus Christ.  Gary is going to be my friend for life and I know God has big plans in-store for my brother. 

Before he knew Christ, brother Gary was living life in the fast lane of destruction.  The link that I am sending you is his story of how God took him from the fast lane of destruction to the fast lane of glory.  Click the link below and be inspired as you read Gary's story.

Testimony


Be Blessed,


Joey

08/10/08

Dear Friends,

Over the next few weeks, The Jfirst Casue will be featuring testimonies of friends who have overcome tough times in their life.  They will be sharing from their heart about what Jesus Christ means to them and how they came to have a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.

I want to encourage you over the next few weeks to respond to the testimonies in the comments section of the blog.  Send words of encouragement to encourage the people who will be sharing their stories with us.  Write how the story has blessed you and what God has done in your life as a result of hearing one of the stories during the The Testimony Chronicles. 

If you feel so led, send me your testimony of how you came to faith in Christ and I will post it on the blog.  In sharing testimonies, you will be overcoming the devil and giving him a good one to the face.  I know sometimes I wish God would literally let me just sock the devil in his face.  Give him a good one right in the eye.  Praise God we can do just that by sharing our testimony.  The Bibles says in Revelations 12:11 (New King James Version), "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." 

In sharing our testimonies, we are overcoming the traps of the enemy that he puts in our way to make us stumble.  When you fall because you will, fall forward.  I am not saying to go and sin deliberately but if you do, get back up because there is only shame in falling when you don't get back up.  God is saying let me dust you off and He is encouraging you on to being holy because He is holy and He shedd His Blood on the Cross for our salvation.  

Also, in sharing our testimonies, we are sharping one another.  The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17 ( New International Version), "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."  Testimonies are a powerful tool that God uses to sharpen us in our faith.  Hearing these stories will make us razor sharp in walking with God and go along way in making the devils other eye black as well. 

I look forward to hearing from you in the next few weeks.  I pray that you would be all that you can be for Jesus Christ in this life, nothing more and nothing less.


Be Blessed,


Joey

July 21, 2008

Think Big

Big eyes, small stomach – When I was a kid, my best friend Jose and I used to go to MacDonald’s almost every day.  We were little guys but we never bought happy meals, we were Big Mac guys.  We couldn’t really even finish a Big Mac but no way where we going to be caught eating a happy meal. 

We use to even daydream about eating two Big Mac’s but I don’t recall either of us ever doing that feat.  I don’t remember either of us ever buying fries with our meals.  We always had to buy a soda though.  MacDonald’s was one of the first restaurants to offer free refills so we were all over that.  We were Think Big little guys so with our Big Mac’s, we had to have a drink that offered all the refills one can desire.  With Big hunger comes Big thirst.

The saying, “your eyes are bigger than your stomach” came to mind as I was thinking about Jose and me and going to the MacDonald’s on Wilson Way.  We thought we could eat more than our stomach told us because we were brave kids who always were up to the challenge. 

I believe we all have this Think Big mentality but like the little kid who thinks he can eat what the grown-up’s eat but when given the chance he comes up a little short, we need to get back to that attitude.  What I mean is we have to get back to Thinking Big again and attempting to live it out even though we may come up short because there is no shame in falling a little short but to not even try is a crying shame.  I believe with my whole being, God would rather us go for it and come up a little short then to not go for it at all.  In reality, when you go for it for Jesus, do you ever come up short?  We may not do what we think we should have done but we never come up short with God. 

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians about this attitude of thinking Big.  Now of all the Lord’s servants, I can think of no other person who was in tune with God and knowing how Big God is than the Apostle Paul.  In Chapter 3 of the book of Ephesians, Paul who was a little man physically, saw God and what He can do through anyone who dares to Think Big because He is Big and wants to do Big things through all of us. 

Ephesians 3:20 (New King James Version)

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

The first thing in Thinking Big is to go to Him and give Him His just do.  God is worthy of all praise.  He is the Creator of everything and nothing, including us, wouldn’t be here if it were not for Him and His great love. 

If God only gave you life and no other blessings that would be more than enough for you to own Him everything and for you to give Him all praise and glory which is His just do. 

The second thing in Thinking Big is to acknowledge God is able to do anything.  Paul says in this verse that God is able to do what we ask of Him and even more. 

He uses two key words to demonstrate the greatness of God and how Big He is.

The first word is Exceedingly meaning God can do what we ask but even do greater than what we ask because everything is because of Him and He can do what He wants with everything.  Not only is God able but don’t be surprised when He does more because God has no limits and will do infinitely more than we ask.  He may do something you didn’t even ask because He meets and exceeds what we could ever attempt to ask.  Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big. 

The second word is Abundantly meaning God can reward greatly because everything is His.  When we ask God, is it Big enough?  I would rather ask God for more than to ask Him for less because it’s safe.  I would rather ask God for the world and Him give me California than to ask Him just for Stockton.  Where’s our faith.  God may not do what we ask but make no mistake, He is more than able to do what we ask and even more than we could ever imagine or dream.  God will do something and it’s going to be Big therefore Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big.

Here’s a thought for you.  The Cross is so Big that salvation was purchased for all before, while, and after Jesus died on it.  That is the power of God and that is as Big as it gets. 

The last thing in Thinking Big is to live a life of Thinking Big because God has the power.  The Apostle Paul ends this verse with saying it’s all a matter of power.  Life is a search for power and why not go to the Source of all power, God Almighty Himself.  Not only is God all powerful, He makes His power available to all.  It’s not limited to asking God, we all have to have God flood our thinking as well.  We wouldn’t ask if we didn’t think first.  It’s pretty simple in reality, when we think about God, we see how Big He is, and start to Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big and He has the power.

The Challenge – don’t let the saying, “your eyes are bigger than your stomach” limit your faith because we serve a God who is bigger than our eyes and our stomach, He’s bigger than our life.

The next time you ask God to do something, ask Him, am I asking big enough? because He is Big and is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

Think Big, Believe Big, and Ask Big because God is Big, does Big, and rewards Big. 

Be Blessed,

Joey

PS:   If you need prayer, write you requests in the comments section of the blog and we will pray for those needs.  Let us know when God answers your prayers by sending your testimonies. 

If you haven't received Jesus Christ yet and you want to, pray this prayer with me.  Dear God I admit I am a sinner in need of a Savior.  I believe the Savior who can and will forgive my sins and give me eternal life is Jesus Christ.  I confess Jesus today as my Lord and Savior and commit my life to Him.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Amen. 

Let us know if you received Christ so we can celebrate with you because it’s the greatest thing you will ever do in this life

 

July 11, 2008

The going around and doing good gang

Ministry - I just back recently got back from a missions trip to Uganda, Africa.  I loved everything about the trip except the plane ride and being sick for half of the trip. 

The plane ride is no joke.  We literally flew for a 24 hour period to get to Uganda and 24 hours to get back to California.  I was thinking I never want to do that again but God let me know that it would not be my last time to Africa.  My response like I even have a say in the matter was well hook a brother up and let me get sleep the next time around and keep me healthy.  I slept an average of three hours a night and I was exhausted from the heat and this was not a good combination for the body.  A few times I thought I was going to clasp and have to be taken to the hospital.  By the grace of God, I made it through and I am feeling much better now.  God comforted me there by letting me know everything was going to be okay but at times it didn't feel as though everything was going to be okay.

God called me to go on this trip so was me being okay ever in jeopardy, probably not but when sickness comes on you and there is a war going on in the spiritual relm, the doubts come but the verse the Holy Spirit reminded of constantly was greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.  What more can I say then God is in control and satan can't touch this. 

We did more ministry in four days than we probably do in 6 months in the U.S.  I don't know if that is a sad thing or a good thing.  I know its good to be used by God but does it have to be half way around the world?  That is up to us because God is always ready to use us to minister to people.  We need to get busy ministering and stop sitting on the sidelines. 

We went around doing good for God by leading discipleship groups to encourage young believer's in their relationship with Jesus.  We did good by going to small groups for women suffering from HIV/AIDS and sharing testimonies to lift them up before the LORD.  I don't know if we lifted them up so much as they lifted us up.  We did good by going to the public schools and singing, performing dramas, and preaching the gospel to teenager's who are hungry for Jesus and they didn't know it.  We got to share the gospel and give an altar call for them to receive Christ into their lives and hundreds responded. 

We went around doing good by praying for the sick and who knows what testimonies of the power for God will come from that if not in this life but definitely in the next life.  We went around doing good by making bricks for a church buildling and houses for the sports outreach ministry staff.  We went around doing good by having a medical clinic to serve the sick and to the naked eye we were way over our heads with one nurse and two sports medicine therapists but God did more than we will know because eventhough they could give them right pills as far as medicine goes they were able to give them the only pill they will ever need, the gospill I mean the gospel.  You won't know that God is all you need until He's all you got.   

We read the book of Acts before we went on the mission as a team and in Acts 10:38(New King James Version) the Bible says, "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."  This verse became us on this trip.  This is exactly what God used us to do in Uganda and this verse is exactly what God wants to use us to do in California or wherever we call home on the planet. 

We are anointed by God to go around doing good and healing those who are oppressed by the devil because God is with us and He will do miracles though us as we let Him lead us.

The Challenge - Round up a gang of do-gooder's and go around your town and start to do good and see God's power start to make things shake for good in your part of the world because He is with you and He will use you all to advance the Kingdom with the power of the gospel.



Be Blessed,


Joey


PS:   If you need prayer, write you requests in the comments section of the blog and we will pray for those needs.  Let us know when God answers your prayers by sending your testimonies. 

If you haven't received Jesus Christ yet and you want to, pray this prayer with me.  Dear God I admit I am a sinner in need of a Savior.  I believe the Savior who can and will forgive my sins and give me eternal life is Jesus Christ.  I confess Jesus today as my Lord and Savior and commit my life to Him.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Amen. 

Let us know if you received Christ so we can celebrate with you because it’s the greatest thing you will ever do in this life

June 18, 2008

Uganda Mission

Africa - It's finally here.  I will be going on an 11 day mission to Uganda, Africa.  I am excited to be going and to be used however God desires to use me in Uganda.  A few weeks ago I was not too excited about the trip in fact a thought crossed my mind about not wanting to go now. 

I have been battling some stomach issues lately and I was thinking maybe God is saying do not go to Africa.  That is what the flesh was telling me but I took it to the Lord and I am feeling better.  I believe God called me to go on this mission and He is going to do some things in my life and the others on the mission that will blow our minds and make us fall more in Love with Jesus.   God has been moving in my life as far as my health goes.  Continue to pray for me and my condition but I believe God is getting lots of glory through this and He will use me and the Uganda team to do great things to advance the Kingdom of God in Africa. 

Please pray for God to open up hearts and bring people on the trip who are ready to receive Christ into their life.  Pray for protection over us as we go do battle for God.  The devil is not happy and will come at us but greater is He who is in us then he that is in the world.  Pray that God's anointing flows through us mightily and that we have a servants heart during the trip becasue we don't know what to expect and we have to be open to change.  Pray however God leads you to pray for us because its a missions trip and God wants to do much in us and the people we will be ministering to.  

I will not have a blog for the next two weeks but when I get back, I will have many praise reports to share with you on how God used us to share the Love of Jesus with the people of Uganda, Africa.   


Be Blessed,


Joey