Devoted to Christ

Leeland is performing tonight at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Irvine, CA. If you like U2 and Coldplay, come down and check them out tonight at 7pm! Address: 2777 McGaw Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614

I will hopefully be in the media room meeting them and helping them prep for their performance.

GRAMMY-nominated progressive rock act Leeland has been known to deliver songwriting beyond its years and worshipful rock so genuine it disarms the honest cynic. Often quoted as one of Christian music’s most gripping live bands, the 2006 debut Sound of Melodies and 2008’s Opposite Way quickly established Leeland as a leader in the worship community and beyond. While both previous albums were GRAMMY nominated and drew a combined eight Dove nominations, Leeland’s measure of success has always been the human heart. And now Leeland’s third album, Love Is On The Move is a landmark in the deepest sense. — www.leelandonline.com

Raul Reis

I’m actually looking forward to seeing Pastor Raul Reis preaching tonight in Thursday bible study! He is a very compassionate person and does not shy away from telling you what happens if you don’t submit yourself to God.

No I don’t believe it this superstition but this post can be scary! Yeah, Jesus can Leave you Alone, if you allow him to. Bible study last night with Levi gives us scripture of Luke 8. I add onto it on the latter parts of this posts.

Luke 8:35-37
35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes[e] asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

The scripture above occurred right after Jesus had commanded demons to depart from this person mentioned in Luke 8 that starts in verse 29. The demons then departed the man and entered into swine (pigs) and then the pigs committed suicide because the demons (Satan’s) mission is SEEK and DESTROY.

BUT THE SCARY PART IS….
The people witnessed the man being healed by Jesus. Were the people excited to see Jesus do so? No. They did not want the presence of Jesus in their city and they asked him to leave. Jesus got on his boat and went away. Jesus left. That’s the scary part (for me personally). Jesus Christ will try to enter your life but if you reject him into your life, he can and wil leave you. He doesn’t force his way into your heart, you have to open up and accept him into your life. Jesus comes at your door knocking, “20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” – Rev. 2:20. But if you close the door on him, he will depart from you. Funny thing is, telemarketers can never leave us alone. But Jesus if you choose to, can leave you alone. Have you rejected Christ? Have you rejected salvation that will not only save you in this periled world, but can also save you from the pits of hell.

Many of you know what I speak about. Being occupied by the things of this world. Going through the weekdays to live for the weekends. Eyes locked in on what the world has to offer drugs, alcohol, partying and sex. Or you are so sucked up in work trying to climb the corporate ladder and lay everything down on the line to become successful in your own little world. You or someone in your family is going through afflictions and you’re trying to solve it, but everyday it gets harder. You’ve tried everything that can satisfy and fill the hole in your life but you haven’t come to God. You’ve rejected God. And God can leave you alone. It is our free will. The bible predicts more and more people will find it harder to accept Christ the world’s last days … Peter said, “that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.” – II Peter 3:3

God loves you my friend. Don’t you forget that.

Just finished another one of Pastor Greg Laurie’s books, Signs of the Times. It is a reality check for me, but for many it may be new news for them. Earthquakes and other natural disasters are happening, the widespread of hatred and division amongst people, political and spiritual warfare, and probably the problematic in my heart, the difficulty of people accepting Christ. It’s all predicted in the bible as it said it would. The signs of the times is that the world as we know it is coming to an end where some will be taken away from this world and Satan, the Antichrist will come and reign on this world. The next event on the calendar of the prophets would be the rapture.

The first half of Laurie’s book talks about what has happened and what is yet to happen from biblical scripture and from observing the world as we know it. The last half of the book talks about what heaven will be like. Now I was more interested on the signs of the times specifically (first half of the book) as I became drawn to it from Laurie’s sermons of November of 2009. Heaven is a place where people accept and believe in God, and are forgiven. Not everyone will accept that, but at least for those interested in movies where explosions and end of the world scenes occurs, maybe they can give Signs of the Times a try.

If you’d like this book to own, I have one fresh copy free and available to you to own. None of my scribbly writing or highlighting on it. If you’re interested just contact me, there are many ways to contact me, tweet me, facebook msg me, or the ol’ fashion e-mail!

My 3rd Day of the Harvest Crusade was themed as “An Evening of Hope.” As in, Hope for Hurting Hearts. What is the answer to sadness, lost, suffering, and is there really a heaven? I think the answer is obvious when you have exhausted all your efforts in trying to make things right for yourself.

But for those who do no wrongs. Whether your Christian or not, why is there suffering? Special guest Dr. James Dobson (who is America’s doctor is finding the biblical answers to everyone’s questions) says it is because of the sin and curse of the world. Romans 8:20 speaks of the whole Creation being made subject to the universal laws of death and decay. Death and bad things has been happening since Eve consumed the forbidden fruit. It was her free will to commit sin that eventually had spread all over the world. And eventually Adam gave in to what woman wanted him to do. We are in this world (temporarily). And quite frankly, a lot of people like it here despite what’s going on. Politics has been trying to fix or improve what’s going on that leads to more doubt and questions. We just live on. With or without Christ. The things of this world is up to us to dwell on. But Jesus said it so, “Verily, verily I say to you, he who does not believe in the son of Man, cannot enter my Father’s kingdom.” A better place than where you are now. And Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” It’s a kingdom we can’t see with our eyes so many of us settle with what seems to be good to man in this world.

I was already tired physically Saturday night after I counseled 3 others to Christ. Sunday morning I was emceeing and broadcasting our service live at my home church. Had about a 1- 2 hour break for lunch after then then reported into Angel Stadium for the last time this year. It was a packed house! People had to stand because no more seats were available. Mercy Me and Steven Curtis Chapman gave an amazing performance. Fast forward to the invitation to accept Christ, I watched as thousands flowed down to the field. I was one of the last counselors to step into the field. And when Pastor Greg led them to prayer, long and behold I was overwhelmed to counsel 10 people. I needed assistance. Luckily a supervisor came to aid me.

I was drained so I and headed to my car. On my way back to my car, 2 students from Biola University came up to me and interviewed me on my thoughts of the Harvest Crusade. 1 question stood out when they asked me what could I learn more about the Crusade. They told me my response was the best out of what everyone else said. My response was that the thing I learned at the Crusade did not happen in the stadium, it’s what happened outside. The protestors who persecuted Jesus and Greg Laurie made me realize I need to be more grounded in scripture. I thought I knew a whole lot of scripture already, but I need … WE all need to be grounded with scripture and use it as the answer to true meaning and life. We do not want to misinterpret the gospel to anyone! After all the Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6

More thoughts on how I feel overall about the Crusade on my next post …

Saturday evening was both exciting and interesting for me. I got to roam around more of the stadium that night. Some spots were hotspots for praise and worship. And some were a bit distracted spots for worship. Either kids really wanted to run around or people were constantly walking around being distractions for some folks. Was pretty disturbing if you ask me.

Revive came out to be a real rock solid praise band. I liked just about all their music. Sanctus Real came out for a brief moment. Real great worship band for the youth. I liked most of Phil Wickam’s music too. It was interesting taste of music for me with the O.C. Supertones. A group brought back together that night was the hype, but the message Pastor Greg brought was about A 2nd Chance in Life. Jonah was the primary example. And many people responded. I helped counseled 3 people who have recommitted their life to Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! But what I found out most throughout that evening was that the protestors came out and I just went and took a sneak peak at what was trying to be proclaimed at those who just accepted Christ. I’m just gonna point a few things out. One said, “Jesus drugged me into becoming a Christian.” Okay …

I gave a scripture today while emceeing at my home church.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- John 3:17-18

And there was one group dancing to some pretty interesting music and none other than Josh Thompson whom is a pretty high up in the Harvest (High School) Ministries really spoke out to some biblical truth and knowledge about the book of Acts and how to really live a satisfying Christian life. Not a life where you pretty much give up and seclude yourself to start your own ways of life and truth. <– Which is what the others were proclaiming.

Jesus is the only way to the truth and the life.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

After a tiring and satisfying evening last night I am ready for Day 2. Hope to see you there! Angel Stadium 7pm.

2000 Gene Autry Way
Anaheim, CA 92806

Last night was just an amazing experience to have counseled people for the first time at a crusade for me. The overall experience since I arrived there was riveting! First I came across a good friend whom I haven’t seen in months! God bless his soul and God is calling him to do great things! Then I saw people whom I haven’t seen in over 20 years! Then I tweeted that I had 2 vacant front row seats and some people responded to that tweet whom I never met that attend Harvest in Orange County! We got to know each other quite well which is an experience I will also never forget! Then I saw some of my church members at the end! I loved the music by the David Crowder Band, “Fly Away” (an old 50′s song I believe), “Praise Him” and “How He Loves Us.” The spirit was definitely filling up in that place despite a few protestors outside blaming God for 9-11. All I can say to that is that God has given us the free will to what we want to do in life. Men decided to hit the towers and Hitler as a man decided to kill of the Jews. Not God. If you let God into your life, He can control and bless your life. But it’s also up to us to reject God. You’re either for Him or against Him.

Everyone knows John 3:16 right? Even many non-believers do! But how about the verse after that? John 3:17 & 18 NKJV:

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Everyone has a longing for something in their life. An emptiness would be a better description. Have you tried filling it up with worldly commodities in your life? I encourage you to attend Angel Stadium tonight at 7pm if you’re in Southern California. Or watch on www.harvest.org if you’re away from Southern Cali. It can definitely get you rethinking about your life.

Tonight begins the Harvest Crusade at Anaheim, CA and I pray and hope to be used magnificently for God’s glory tonight and the next 2 nights! Lord give me the wisdom and knowledge to help those who have accepted you. Give me the right spirit Lord as I help fulfill your kingdom!

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit.”

John 1:12 – “For as many as those who receive Him, gave them the right to become the children of God.”

Very blessed tonight at Harvest.

Good night everyone!

Interesting day with weird temptations and feelings of principalities of the world. But ended with blessing and the spirit of the Lord in my heart and soul.