"Now I say to you, a new commandment I give to you"

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. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have Love for one another."
  How many times have you caught yourself experiencing the Love Christ has for you, in a moment of weakness, a moment of sin, falling into temptation, you name it? When we know we have messed up, stepped out of line in our obedience.  Or even times that you experience His presence and Love in worship or reading the word, or sharing the gospel to someone who is broken?  Whenever or where ever you have experienced Christ's Love, you know the feeling, the warmth, the joy, the feeling of no condemnation, disappointment is turned into compassion, as you hear "it's okay, it is okay, I Love you no matter what."

And now I ask you and myself, do we have that Love towards others? Do we Love them as Christ has Loved us? I know that I can honestly say, not even close.  I am so quick to judge, and so quick to assume.  The reason why I am writing about this is because I don't Love others the way Christ has Loved me.  Here I am thanking Jesus for His Love in my life, for His warm smile, His kind touch, and His joy.  How am I loving others with that same Love? 

My challenge to you as you read this, is to recognize how Christ has shown you Love, and take those and Love others how He has Loved you.  If Christ has Loved you in all your hard heartedness, Love those who have a hard heart.  If Christ has Loved you through the pain, Love others through their pains!  Christ has show each one of us Love that surpasses all knowledge and understanding, but you understand it and He is calling you and myself to Love others in the specific ways He has shown you.  

Ephesians 3:19 "You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God."

CHICO, I MADE IT!

Hey everyone, it's been a while, but I finally made it to Chico.  For all of you that don't know I just transfered up here to Chico which in about 1 1/2 hour north of Sacramento.  I had a hectic first week moving in and getting situated with a new life up here and at a "Big Boy School" since I have been at a community college for the past 3 years.  So to update you all, I am taking 5 classes, Tuesday and Thursday and I am getting involved at the local church called EV Free and also with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ)  Everything is going well for the most part, I am living with my roommate from last year, he was one of 10 other roommates I had last year, in which all of whom I miss.  Two sundays ago one of my roommates, Greg, got married and it was one of the best weddings I ever went to.  The reception was in a barn which was awesome, and it was such a blessing to see my roommate marry the girl of his dreams.

So I ran across this the other day and wanted to share it with you guys, it gave me a pretty good laugh but also made me realize that it is so true..... If you know me, and even if you don't, now you know this about me, I love to watch kids(not in a creepy way) but with the perspective of how the Father views us as HIS children.

Things that kids have taught me....
1. It's more fun to color outside the lines.
2. If you're gonna draw on the wall, do it behind the couch.
3. Ask why until you understand
4. Hang on tight
5. Even if you've been fishing for 3 hours and haven't gotten anything except poison ivy and a sunburn, you're still better off than the worm.
6. Make up the rules as you go along.
7. It doesn't matter who started it.
8. Ask for sprinkles
9. If the horse you're drawing looks more like a dog, make it a dog.
10. Save a place in line for your friends.
11. Sometimes you have to take the test before you've finished studying.
12. If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse.
13. Picking your nose when no one is looking is still picking your nose.
14. Just keep banging until someone opens the door (My favorite)
15. Making your bed is a waste of time.
16. There is no good reason why clothes have to match.
17. Even Popeye didn't eat his spinach until he absolutely had to.
18. You work so hard peddling up the hill that you hate to brake on the way down.
19 You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.


Think about them, they will make ur day brighter
-God Bless

2 weeks left & Catching up with a best friend

I have a little under 2 weeks left here in San Diego and running Student Venture ministry.  I can't believe it is almost over.  This week will look the same, Big Monday tonight where all the kids gather and then we will be having small groups tomorrow, dodgeball and bible study with the boys.  Also, this week will be the last week of me meeting up and mentoring with the guys 1 on 1.  The director of Student Venture, Shawn Faulkner, has asked me to write up and article of what the summer contains for followers and supports of 'SV' so keep your eyes out for that, I will most likely post it on here.  

This past weekend I was able to visit a very close friend of mine up at UCLA.  He is living in the frat he is in and is involved in CRU.  It was such a blessing getting to hang with him, and also to see his ministry in the frat and the relationships he has built with the guys and just the witnessing his life is to so many.  I got in late afternoon Saturday and we hung out and played basketball like old times then grabbed some Chipotle in Santa Monica on 3rd Street Promenade, which was awesome I have never been, so many street performers, and also got to see a lot of his friends as well as some people that I went on Summer Project with in New Jersey, which was great. 

 Yesterday we were able to just continue to catch up on our lives and dig into one another's over coffee and then got to run the courts some more playing ball.  There is just something about competition that just gets my blood pumping, especially basketball.  But anyways, we played and ended up driving with some friends to Reality LA which is a church in West Hollywood, and man I was blown away.  The worship, the message, I was so challenged.  The pastor went through Ruth 2 and how Boaz is an example of Christ allowing us to sit at his table, even though we are so undeserving as well as serving us.  The pastor said it like this..... "The CEO of the UNIVERSE has allowed us to sit at HIS table and serve us." I felt so blessed to see Tyler and just catch up, I consider him a close friend in the Lord and cannot wait to worship the King for eternity with Him.