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Better things

It's conforting to know better things are yet to come and exciting that these better things are nigh.

Day One: It All Starts With God

I recently finished reading Breakout Churches by Thom S. Rainer, which by the way it's an incredible book you should pick up. Only $18 on Amazon.

I actually finished reading it last night around 12 midnight. As soon as I finished I craved for more literature (which seldom happens...), I actually to read Essential Church also by Thom S. Rainer but Pastor Eddie hasn't finished reading it..... jajajaja take your time, soak it all in.

Son in my desperation I decided to go on a journey probably every Christian has gone though... except me (and Esteban). The journey I speak to you about is non other than Pastor Rick Warren's 40 Days of Purpose. I discovered I had a copy of the Purpose Driven Life which the book on which the 40 Days of Purpose is based on (...but you already know that).

The book encourages you, well not the book but Pastor Rick Warren (Author), to read a chapter daily; nothing more and definitely nothing less. So I embarked on that journey alongside Esteban and we have not looked back, backpacks are on, hiking shoes nicely tied, Gatorade bottles packed, Nintendo DS fully charged, and bibles wide open. We are just finished with chapter one and we are already pumped up!

What's funny is that the world doesn't even see it coming.

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and
invisible... everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.
Colossians 1:16b MSG

Point to Ponder: It's not about me.

Questions to Consider: How can I remind myself today that
life is really about living for God, not myself?

Father, As I begin this journey, help me to realize that building my
life around myself instead of You will only lead to emptiness and meaningless. I
was made by You and for You, and I want to discover my purpose in
You.

Oh if you want in don't hesitate to join just pick up a book, it's only like $10 on Amazon.

Wedding Weekend Wreck!!!

It wasn't a wreck, I'm sorry I lied to you. My reasons are two-fold: 1, all words start with a "W" which I thought was pretty cool, I didn't know when would be the next time I would write about weddings and 2, it's getting harder and harder to get your attention, so I have to come out with creative ways of catching it, and a dramatic title seem logical.... at the moment.... sorry. I know you have forgiven me already so.. read on!


I love this photo, especially the blurry bubbles all around.

Weddings are very tiring, at least for a photographer. Always up and down, picture with mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, from either side, best friends, uncle 1, uncle 2, uncle 3, uncle 4, from both sides. Take a picture with the neighbor, with their kids, now individually with each kid. Group shot, crazy group shot, another group shot 'cause there was people in the bathroom. I might hire someone to JUST do the group shots and I'll do the creative shots jejeje.

But... the reward comes, not with the money because I'm not getting paid for this one (c'mon she's my cousin you heartless people!!), but it comes when I see the photos on my Cinema display :) (huh, Raelene). I look at them while I level them, and color-balance, adjust the exposure, remove green and add some magenta, and I enjoy them, I think stuff like, "Good thing I laid on the floor for that Shot!" or "I thought I was too close but I got it just right" sometimes "Ughhh!! Misa that photo was too straight on, what happened to your creativity-ness!?!?" I honestly believe I'm not THAT good, but my computer screen tells me something else and my God says it even better.

I may hate the group shots but I love photos, so here's to a long-lasting relationship with me and my camera (it's illegal to marry but we decided to be the best of friends)


By the way, those are not the Newly Weds, I have not ask permission from them to upload their photos to my Flick (btw just click on the photo and it'll take you straight to my Flick), those are my uncles. Very cool people. He's technically our uncle but life's shown it different at times, older cousin best defines our relationship, a good one at that.

Always remember the old mantra: "Say Cheese!!"

An Open Letter to Christian Creatives (Collide Magazine)

I found this article/letter online and would to share it with the world, and the closest thing I got to a world-wide publication is this humble blog available to everyone to read as they please. :)

An Open Letter to Christian Creatives
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about creatives who exist in the church—people who create their church’s videos, design and maintain their church’s websites, lighting and stage directors and artists, and musicians. There are so many things I want to say to you, but haven’t.

Until now.

I guess I want to make this simple statement first and foremost: After watching people like you for years and years, I want you to know that the stuff you create doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. After years of experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that the artistic designs you engage in may only marginally impact someone’s life. I know that’s a very blunt statement, but someone needs to say what everyone else is already thinking.

I wonder if it all starts at the top of the food chain? I wonder if the lead pastor and executive staff team have sold creatives (like us) a bogus bill of goods? They’ve told us that the stuff we create every week has the potential to change lives. But just be honest for a minute. Can you actually name someone whose life has been changed as a result of your craft? I doubt it.

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You awake in the middle of the night with creative ideas, mixed with the stress of deadlines you can’t possibly meet. You’ve ignored, or even dropped the most important relationships in your life. You stay late at the church office, and no one knows, or even really cares. And all for what? All to create and maintain art in the desperate hope that someone’s life will be impacted?

Really?

And what about this obsession with beauty? You uphold beauty like it’s the gateway to God Himself. God only communicates His presence through His written Word. He has chosen never to communicate through any other means - His Word even says so. Again, my greatest fear is that you’ve been sold a bill of goods that simply doesn’t produce over the long term.

And so here’s what I really want you to hear and meditate on: Easter is coming. It’s the biggest day of the church year. Over the next few days, your schedule will be taken with creative meetings that you don’t want to be a part of; with pastoral conflict at the highest levels; and with late nights away from the people you love. You are preparing for something that will come and go in a heartbeat. By the time you’re Easter services are over, most of the people will be at brunch, arguing about the choice of music, or the pastor’s sermon.

And I’ve just gotta ask this most obvious question: Why labor in vain?

Wouldn’t you be a better steward of your church’s financial resources if you didn’t put as much time and effort into one weekend? There’s a time to know when “good enough” is “good enough,” and it might be a good time for you to back off of any unrealistic expectations you have of creative beauty, and to simply declare “good enough.”

Will this Easter change lives? Probably. But do you need to take any of the responsibility for setting up an environment for that to occur? In my experience, the answer is a resounding “no.” Let God be God. He will do whatever He wants.

I openly invite this conversation to continue.







Yours truly.

Satan

The link to this article and many others are found at Collide Magazine

US Solutions

I got the answer for the Economy :)
What is it you ask?

The Government should pay their Tithes ;)

I also have the answer for Health Care
What is it you inquire?

America should Eat healthy

:)

My new little cousin

This is a little cousin I just met this weekend
Pretty chill guy, until I aimed my camera... he got scared