Triple 7 soul

A Sad Circle

Here's a reality check for ya.  This is one of the sadest things I think I have ever read.  It's obvious that the lyricist has a blindfold upon his heart.  He also left out the most important part of the story.... The resurrection.  This is a classic example of why the resurrection is so important.  Jesus was not abandoned, He has risen to give us eternal life.  this is also sad because God has given this band amazing talent.  For those of you who are into the Band Tool or A perfect circle, rather than investing in their music, you might want to pray for there eternal souls.

Judith

You're such an inspiration for the ways
That I'll never ever choose to be
Oh so many ways for me to show you
How the savior has abandoned you
Fuck your God
Your Lord and your Christ
He did this
Took all you had and
Left you this way
Still you pray, you never stray
Never taste of the fruit
You never thought to question why

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you
Broken down and paralyzed
He did it all for you
He did it all for you

Oh so many many ways for me to show you
How your dogma has abandoned you
Pray to your Christ, to your god
Never taste of the fruit
Never stray, never break
Never---choke on a lie
Even though he's the one who did this to you
You never thought to question why

Not like you killed someone
It's Not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side
Talk to Jesus Christ
As if he knows the reasons why
He did it all for you
Did it all for you
He did it all for you..

It's crazy that the lyrisist understands major parts of the gospel like, jesus never tasting the friut (sinless) He did it for you (grace) The ability to chose (love) and yet he choses to deny. 

Dont give up

Don’t Give Up
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Hebrews 10:36

Effective leaders accomplish seemingly impossible tasks because they never give up. They never buckle under. Despite mounting criticism, intense opposition, and overwhelming obstacles, they persevere with determined resolve. They refuse to throw in the towel.

Often, the easiest thing would be to quit. Just give up. Forget about one’s dream and return to the comfort and convenience of mediocrity. Give in to the words of the critics, give up to the opposition, and give way to the obstacles. Simply tuck tail and run away.

Great power is embodied in persistence. The race is not always won by the fastest, nor the game by the strongest, but rather by the one who keeps on keeping on, who refuses to give up. Consider the postage stamp. Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Race car driver Rick Mears said, “To finish first you must first finish.”

It is always too soon to quit. One of the most powerful and destructive tools that Satan has in his arsenal is discouragement, the subtle but dangerous compulsion to give up, to quit, saying, “What’s the use?”

When you are tempted to quit: resist. We must endure in the battle until the evil day is over. We must press on in the face of the temptation to quit. Until the war is over, we must fight to the end. Until the race is finished, we must keep running. Until the wall is built, we must keep stacking bricks. Never give up. Never. The promises of God are always at the end.

I can completely identify with this. I hope you can too. For you leaders out there. Stay strong... hardcore for Jesus..

I think I still got it

It's been over ten years and I can still do it.  This use to be an old tattoo that was completley unrecognizable.  I went ahead and relined and shaded it.  You can tell what it is now!  "its a pitbull"! ruff...ruff... anyhow I really enjoyed fixing my buddies arm.  I have to be honest though,  it's definatley not what I use to be able to do.  I bet a couple more though and I'll be back.  It's really not that easy to do.  Next........

this is a cool little personality test.  Which kind of car are you? 

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all.  Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental.  Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

tattoo shop

What would you say if I told you I was thinking about opening a tattoo shop?  If I made an attempt to change the face of the typical tattoo parlor into a place were you would not be ashamed to take  your own kids.  A place were the 777 could hang out and build relationships with non believers.  A place were if as a christian you wanted to get tattooed by a christian owned shop and not have to drive all the way to sid's in santa ana, you could come to our shop in corona.  would you come?  give me some feedback.

A reason to be humble

I cant tell you how humbled I have been in the last couple of weeks.  Not only have I had to accept being under someone elses leadership, other than the senior Pastor, but I have had to turn over several ministries that God used me to pioneer over to someone else.

One of the hardest lessons to learn as a leader in the kingdom of God is that You don't get the glory.  It belongs to God.  You have only been given the blessing to be involved in something He  is doing.  That being the case, I have many blessings to boast about.  I have seen hundreds of lives changed by the power of God.  I have been involved in pioneering many effective ministries that have had an impact on the local and global levels.  God has used me to lead hundreds of people to Christ and only continues to manifest greater and greater opportunities. 

I'm learning to find fulfillment in these blessings rather than getting recognition. I said learning....MAN IS IT HARD!!!!  Even though I know God is the only one that deserves the recognition,  I am so motivated when I get it.  How tweaked we are !!!   How  do we get around this great evil?  I think the answer is, "true love for God".  I have to be more motivated by my love for God or rather, accepting His love for me.  His love is the only thing completely fulfilling.  Recognition is very temporary and something we don't deserve.  So I have to say goodbye compassion, Pasos, uganda, greeters and world missions.  I will miss you.  I know pastor nate will do a great job. 

I am exited to invest more time into our key evangelists and outreach groups," especially 777 soles" .  lets reach thousands for Christ!!!!

Pastors Ink.

Many people know that before I gave my life to Christ I was a tattoo artist.  Throughout the years people would ask, "why did you stop tattooing when you became a Christian"?  To be honest with you, Initially I thought it was a sin.  Why, I don't know I just had a conviction not to do it. Within the last couple of years I began to lose the conviction and I thought to myself,  "am I backsliding"?  What the heck is going on here?  So I began to search this out through God's word and History.  I can honestly say after writing a 10 page paper on the subject of "Tattoos and Biblical ethics, I came to the conclusion that it is not a sin.  However if your conscience tells you it is and you go against your conscience than it is a sin. allow me to explain

Before Christ I found my identity in Tattoo's, fighting, partying, and Playing music.  The strange thing is that when you give your life to God all that changes.  Your identity is now found in God.   My conviction was not because the act of tattooing is a sin, but because I had to learn and develop how to find my identity in Christ.  So I listened to the conviction and learned that nothing can or will change my identity in Christ.  If I would have gone against my conscience I would have been in sin and never learned this most valuable principle.  I obviously use to enjoy Tattooing, Playing music, Partying, and fighting.  So now can these things be part of my life?  Don't Trip, but the answer is yes!! 
Tattooing, because their is nothing in the Bible that  commands us not to practice body art.  The only  passage concerning tattoo's, is in Leviticus 19:28 and the context suggest the command is directed towards the pagan practice  of cutting or tattooing the body in connection with the mourning for the dead.  I just have to be selective on what the art represents.

Playing music, because I now play instruments to worship and glorify God.

Partying, Because I love to have a good time with my family and friends, high on the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

fighting,  Because if you don't mind a few bumps and bruises and can keep your cool,  kick boxing is a great sport.  And spiritually I fight every day of my life.... Bring it on!!!!

I love the fact that I don't need to be afraid of these things anymore.  I can live that abundant life that Jesus talked about in John 10:10.   I'm not doing them to fill some void or have an identity,  That's when these actions become a sin.  I am simply using the good in these things to enjoy living my life for God.

OK.... so.... ANYONE WANT A NEW TATTOO?? !!!  I came up on some equipment

With God all things are possible.....

Man, just a couple more weeks to go and a major part of  my bachelors degree will be done.   Of course just like everything else in my life I kinda did things backwards.  This semester I will finish my major course work for my christian studies degree.  The only bummer is now I have to go back and take all my general ed.  Oh well, at least in a couple months I will have a Bible cert. from Cal Baptist University, then I will worry about my G.E.
Who would have ever thought  that an ex convict, drug addict, tattoo artist, would now have a Bachelors degree in Christian Studies, Own a home, Have a great wife, three beautiful kids, become a Pastor at the coolest church in the world, not to mention one of the biggest churches in Riverside, and have led over a thousand people to Christ........No on could have predicted this.  If this is not enough evidence of  the existence of God, I dont know what is.  There is a scripture in the Bible that reminds us that with God anything is possible.  This is evidence that the scripture is true.  I love God so much.... I have experienced alot of hurts in life and Christ has mended them all.  NO WOUNDER I'M A FREAKEN ZEALOT FOR JESUS!!!!   Trust Him!!!!!!

my little baby girl

Today I held back tears as I woke up my little baby girl on her 5th birthday.  I know my love for her will continue to grow, it's just that as a little girl she is so dang cute. It's really kinda strange that as she grows, the little girl I know right now will soon be gone.  I will always cherish my little girl, she is the apple of my eye.  My son is my pride and joy.  And my wife is my life.  I love my family.  I am so thankful to God that he has blessed me this way.  Thanks Lord....

Mac Daddy...

I just cant believe that about 2 years ago I could barely even turn a computer on.  Now I'm doing things like blogging, myspace, email ect.... However, my biggest accomplishment yet comes by way of a new Mac laptop.   One of my very best friends (raggamuffin soul) has been preaching to me about how awesome macs are.

                                              ( Sorry, I ran out of battery and didnt finish this post last night.. thanks for the comments though)

As I was saying, Los gave a training session yesterday on the mac and I have to tell you, I think it is so much funner to use than the pc.   I have to admit I was a little scared to make the change, but after Los ran it down yesterday I am stoked...In two days I will officially be a mac daddy!  Don't be haten!!!