RoBlog

The Power of God, Relationships, and Social Media, Pt.1

2010-06-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

When I first learned that my wife and I were no longer going to be employed by my church, one of my first reactions was to ask my network of friends for help. To be honest, I didn’t know exactly how to go about it, but I knew I needed their prayers and financial support. Knowing how God had used many of my friends in my life before, I was certain he would use them in extraordinary ways once again.

About two weeks after we had been laid off, I came to the realization that I also had to return the MacBook Pro which had been on loan to me since 2007. Immediately, I launched a four-day fundraising campaign via Facebook and Twitter. Of course, I playfully titled the campaign, “Help Rob & Mj Get Their Mac On”.

At the time, my goal was to raise $600 so that I would be able to make a down payment and begin to finance a new computer. I asked people to pitch-in by simply sending $5 to my mailing address or depositing their gift into my Paypal account.

But…the unexpected happened. Within a few days, my wife and I had received well above $1,500. People were sacrificially and generously giving an average of $40 each. In fact, not one person gave the suggested amount. The memos on the checks, email messages, and notes on Paypal said things like “use this money for whatever”. Some preferred to be more direct and declared, “NO PC’s” or said things like "use these funds to date your mate”. Others were a bit light hearted and said to use it for “booze and Cheetos” or for “life, food, h2o, and shelter”. One friend even referenced “Acts 2”, while a few others reminded me to “get my Mac on”.

On top of that, we received several links to refurbished machines on eBay and Craigslist, offers to old Dell’s/PowerMacs, and employee discounts to the Apple Store.

I even had friends who flew down from Thousand Oaks to encourage me, others who asked me to work on some of their personal projects, got references to job postings, and was asked out on lunch dates, etc.

Man, did we feel the love.

But then another strange thing happen…

A few days after I had blasted my Facebook and Twitter network with emails and messages, I received an email from my church stating that I could keep the computer, but with the condition that I would return the software. While I am sure this gift was a result of having nearly a thousand people praying, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with what had transpired.

Fast-forward to present day and our friends and family members have now blessed us with nearly $5,000 in financial gifts. That’s excluding a $1,000 I told some people to keep. Cleary, God intervened, friends came together, and social media got the word out. Thank you so much! The Lord certainly provided!

Part II of this post will explain what we plan to do next! Stay tuned!

Cody & Jen: A Wedding Invitation

2010-05-17T13:15:00.001-07:00

A few years ago I told myself that I would never design wedding invitations again. The explanation for my frustrated declaration was twofold--clients were generally too demanding and generally wanting the same ol same ol. My distaste eventually led to a year and a half break from the format.

Funny thing---since I made that statement I have designed at least a dozen more invitations, including my own.

So what changed? What motivated me to try again? Well first, my engaged friends kept asking me to help them. And secondly, I began to brand wedding invitations around the personality or unique story of the couple. Understanding that new found freedom allowed me to suddenly grow excited about designing these things again.

Here's a recent wedding invitation I designed for my good friends Cody & Jen. My inspiration for this piece came out of their love for missions and the arts.

Above: Exterior (Photography by Aurora McKeehan)

Above: Interior

Above: A sampling of illustrations I created for the invitation.

Above: Hand written notes of their story. The couple had no idea I was going to use their chicken scratch for the real deal.

Please, enjoy the fruits of my labor!

I Heart Designing

2010-04-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've designed a lot over the years. Here are a few of those pieces clustered together in thumbnail format. Find my complete portfolio here.

Man, I forgot how much I love designing.

Rob & Mj Say Thank You!

2010-02-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

Mj and I found ourselves very grateful for what God did for us through many of you in 2009. This is our "thank you letter" to you in coffee table book form. Enjoy thirty pages of photos and stories from our class reunions, wedding, church, and more. We love you!

Click, zoom in or expand to full-screen view here.

Rob's End of the Year Wrap-Up

2009-12-28T10:09:00.001-08:00

As promised, I will be posting an "End of the Year Wrap-Up" very soon. For now, I'll leave you with the Abominable Snowman. Isn't he scary?

Connect. Grow. Serve at Seven SD.

2009-10-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

This Fall, don't miss your opportunity to connect with other believers in your local church. In just a couple of months, my church will celebrate it's two year anniversary. Here's a snapshot of what has happened so far. Enjoy!

Let Us Play With Your Look at Camp Yearbook

2009-08-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

For 13 years now, I have had the privilege of working for a Jostens camp. At this camp, high school students from all over SoCal come to learn how to make a better Yearbook. Each summer we teach our students everything from layout design, theme packaging, copy writing to leadership and business marketing. Our goals are always to educate and motivate campers to go back to their homes and have them meet with their staffs in hopes that they would create a remarkable history book for their student body.

And although we think teaching them those things are very important, we also think that showing them how to have fun should rank high on their value system. We try to model an attitude of "silly" throughout their stay. This year, when it finally came down for us to act like complete fools, my friends, Ryan Hinkle and Marcos Clark and I, turned to "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" for our inspiration. Check out the clip below. I'm the one in the blond wig. Weird, I know.

Here's a photo and short Twitvid of our team herding the groups into relay games. Man, don't you just want to jump in and play?

Celebrating Two Years on Twitter

2009-07-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Exactly two years ago today I joined Twitter. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it really is. Although the tool bends heavily on the side of fostering narcissistic behavior, it can also weigh on the side of nurturing a heart for mankind.

Twitter is NOT your enemy. In fact, I have used it to educate, appropriately inform, and celebrate all that is good of life. It has allowed me to journal publicly about the things that have mattered most to me. I have even used it to direct people to links, videos, ideas, artwork, and resources. I have also used it to direct people to personal photos, personal videos, and even some not-so-personal inspirational audio clips.

Over the years, it has worked as an outlet to emote, plea, and promote. I could go on, but for the sake of bite-sized enlightenment, I will stop here.

Below you will see a poll I created. Please feel free and evaluate my use of this tool. Have I helped you?

Yes, even before it was cool, I was on Twitter. Will you roll your eyes at me now? Please, follow my feed here bertoway

Questions I've Wanted to Ask God

2009-06-09T22:03:00.000-07:00

In just a few weeks my church will be answering your questions to God about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Do you have one? If so, post it right here; right now!

Make sure to visit the Seven San Diego Church website beginning July 12th to see if we answered your question. Messages will be available for download.

Conan O'Brien Is Back!

2009-06-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

My favorite late night personality is back! And this time, as the new host of the Tonight Show. With him he brings his old pal, Andy Richter, Max Weinberg, and of course, a "Twitter Tracker" (make sure to watch the clip below).

Although, Conan returns to NBC a bit more calculated and a whole lot more polished, he also appears to be somewhat nervous, and a bit less playful in his first week back on late night television. I must say though, I do find his current shtick on the Tonight Show very entertaining, partly due to the fact that he is now working with a bigger budget, bigger studio, and a much bigger audience.

While it's too early to tell if Conan and crew will continue to balloon all their old comedy bits into beefed-up Hollywood backlot versions, I will say this--I am still a fan. Cheers to many more years of laughs, Conan! I'm rooting for you.

What I Hope They Won't Say At My Funeral, Pt. 2

2009-04-21T12:07:00.001-07:00

Imagine your funeral. Do you picture a sea of mourning faces? Do you picture a group of musicians chanting songs? Do you imagine a priest or pastor speaking words of comfort? While all of those scenarios are likely to be seen or heard at your funeral, have you ever considered what someone might say on your behalf?

The Bible is clear in reminding us that we should be spending more time at funerals than festivals. "For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time" (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

Would your eulogy be packed with praise regarding your great party life? Would people shout to the rooftops regarding your excellent career choices? Would they express great admiration for your academic accolades? Although there is nothing wrong in pursuit of hosting a good party, having great work ethic, or doing well in school, it is important that we always keep the main thing, the main thing. Christ should be at the center of our influence.

Concerning human understanding, King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7: 15-18, "In this meaningless life, I have seen everything, including the fact that some good people die young and some wicked people live on and on. So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don't be too wicked either--don't be a fool! Why should you die before your time? So try to walk a middle course--but those who fear God will succeed either way."

In this passage we find King Solomon pressing our faces into the depths of where we should find meaning to our existence. In his reflections and confessions, Solomon points us back to the God of the Universe. After testing science, philosophy, materialism, and even political power for meaning, he points us back to the God who breathes meaning into our lives. He reminds us that finding purpose in ourselves, rules, or causing people pain only brings pleasure, and not success. In other words he says, "Live a balanced life. Don't be stupid. And seek something bigger and more powerful than yourself--God."

When I die, I hope that people would simply say two things about me at my funeral. I would hope that they would say that my life was 1) in pursuit of loving God and 2) loving other people. Day in and day out, we should reorient our entire lives to making those two things our most important pursuits. In this way, God will help you bring meaning to the meaningless.

Twouble With Twitter

2009-03-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

There's always two sides to every story. Here's one side of the Twitter story that most of us find quite amusing.

My Creative Portfolio Now Online

2009-03-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

My creative portfolio is finally ready for your viewing pleasure. Thanks to the good people at Krop.com, creative professionals now have an uncluttered space to display their work on the web. Scroll down memory lane and check out some of my work here.

The Saints & The Ain'ts: Revisited

2009-03-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

We all have demons. C'mon, don't front. I read your blogs, status updates, Tweets, etc. Every one of you struggle with either a hurt, an illness, a misconception, a regret, an addiction, and most depressing of all--a past. Ladies and gentleman did you forget that life on earth is a spiritual battle that is being fought by angels and Jesus Christ on your behalf every day?

That settled...remember the saint--YOU. If you believe in Him, He believes in you. Jesus didn't give up his life so that you would become an ain't. He didn't give up his life so that you would be chained by the regrets of yesterday and feel like an outcast or a reluctant tag-along. If you say you follow Him, let Him influence you. Stop reaching for "stuuupid".

The Apostle Paul reminds believers in 2 Corinthians 10:4 that human beings are capable of using "divine power to demolish strongholds." Wow, maybe Superman isn't such a fictional character after all. The books of Deuteronomy through 2 Kings are also filled with accounts of God's provision on His children. Do you remember the story of little guy named David and the big bully named Goliath? That too was a battle fought in heaven. Read 1 Samuel 17.

Okay, so why is it that so many of us walk around with frowns and saggy shoulders every day? The victory is ours! You may be fighting a demon right now that is telling you that you have no friends. Hello...has that demon not looked at your extensive social network (Facebook/ Myspace).

The demons that haunt me often try and tell me that I can't make a difference. My demons like to tell me that I am not capable of living an abundant life. In fact, my demons often paralyze me in thought and sometimes tell me to jump off a bridge and fade into oblivion. Yup, those are the lies fed by an army of demons that have allegiance to Satan.

"I will live my life to the full!" If you believe those words, then you should stop focusing on what you can't do and haven't done and start dreaming of what you will do!

Original Myspace post and comments here.

My Highlights & Lowlights of 2008

2008-12-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

2008 was a very rough year for me. It was the kind of year that left me chewed up and then spat out. It was the kind of year that often had me asking silly, yet important questions like: Does God really exist? Does He really care about my needs? Does He really know what I'm going through?

(Above) My old stomping grounds. This is where the ice-cream truck was parked.

In 2008, some of my worst nightmares became realities. I lost my Uncle Martin to a gunshot wound in February, a friend to cancer in September, a friend to suicide in October, and as most of you already know, I almost lost my parents to a car wreck back in May. Although there were times when I just couldn't muster up enough courage to face those giants, I made sure to call on God's help during those dark hours.

So, what did I learn in 2008? Well, I learned that God doesn't always package "His will" in cute little boxes. Although "His will" sometimes hurts, I will tell you this, it's always PERFECT.

Here is a not-so short list of some significant highlights in not-so chronological order:

* Birthday celebration in Orange County
* Birthed a new church from scratch (Learn more about Seven San Diego Church here).
* Trip to Orlando, Florida (Attended the Exponential Conference for Church Planters)
* Met Rick Warren, author of the book titled, A Purpose Driven Life and Pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA.
* Met Dustin Stearman, Ben Otero, and Andrew Bradshaw of Church Plant Media (After a year of coaching me through production on a website via phone conferences, I finally got to meet these guys in Orlando, FL, face-to-face. It was pretty neat).
* Met Cameron Strang and Team of Relevant Magazine
* Met Mark Batterson, author of the book titled, In a Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day, and Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC.
* Met Dan Smith, star of Baby Got Book, and Pastor of Momentum Christian Church in Cleveland, OH.
* Met up with out of state friends (Josh Shannon/ Lee & Alissa Van Meeteren/ Mike & Lucinda Reeves)
* Attended Live Shows by Coldplay, Sigur Rios, Greg Laswell, and Smashing Pumpkins (I thank Ricky & Brandi Huff, Nathan Baldwin, and Jeff Block for treating me to these great shows. I owe them BIG).
* Met Greg Laswell, musician and ex-boyfriend to Mandy Moore (His video for, "How the Day Sounds," also features Elijah Wood).
* Received a phone call from Eric Suarez (A young 19 year old college kid from SDSU who landed in a coma after a bad injury to the head. I visited him in the hospital a few times over the summer. He is now walking and talking! Yes)!
* Grew a whole lot closer to my step-father (Our best laughs together came when we were hurting the most).
* Loved on my family more (We have always been a tight unit, but now we are even tighter).
* Birth of niece, Audrey Hooper (She is sooo beautiful).
* Directed a music video for Coldplay alongside my girlfriend, and some very good friends (Check out my entry here/ currently at 5,113 views).
* Grew closer to my girlfriend, Maryjo Moore.
* Provoked our local community through an "Easter Doesn't Suck" radio/ and print campaign (Although I apologize for offending some, I still don't regret the direction we took).
* Trained 20 Small Group/ Bible Study Leaders for Seven San Diego Church (I'm so proud of this team).
* Produced and marketed over 20 brands or people (At least 200,000 print pieces with my design work were mailed or distributed to the masses this year).
* Assimilated over 97 people into 15 successful Small Groups/ Bible Study Groups
* Climbed 16.5 miles to and from Half Dome in Yosemite, CA (Man, I had some killer blisters).
* Diversified Skill Set (Photography, Painting, Design, Illustration, Film, Web, etc.)
* Directed a few more ads for Seven San Diego Church (Watch the "iNeed a Life" and "Wonderland" clips on my YouTube Channel here. I thank Aaron Bjork, BORN, and SP Media for their gifts, tools, and time).
* My little sister got married! Yay!
* Witnessed over 20 people get baptized at Seven San Diego Church
* Held our first Easter and Christmas Eve Services for Seven San Diego Church
* Taught/ Consulted high school kids at Camp Yearbook in Palm Springs, CA.
* Spoke/ Taught at Seven San Diego Church
* Attended a Pastors Lunch meeting with Jerry Sanders, Mayor of San Diego
* Visited/ Photographed my old stomping grounds (Home of the ice-truck and trailer I onced lived in).
* And finally, growing closer to old friends and meeting sooo many new ones! Words can never fully express how YOU have blessed me this year. I thank God for all your prayers, encouragement, and support! Please, take some time to meditate on this passage, Galatians 6:9 says, "So don't grow tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."

(Above) My niece, Audrey Hooper. Born a week and a half after my parent's almost fatal car wreck.

In conclusion, I dedicate 2008 to the letter "C". Christ (my great Comforter), capital "C" Church (every Christian around the world who prayed for my family), Crises, and Coldplay. Cheers to you! Thanks for giving me a good kick in the _______! C-ya!

Okay, soooo, what does your list look like?

The Winning Entry & Making the Video: Coldplay's Lost?

2008-12-09T19:01:00.000-08:00

...and the Lost? video winner is... Paul O'Brien. You can watch his entry here. It's a claymation piece that's rather, how do I say... Um, I'll just keep my mouth shut.

The Winning Entry (Below):

Okay, so after some delay, Coldplay finally announced the winner on Monday, December 8th. Although Phillip Bosco and I didn't win the official competition, I will admit, we still felt like winners. That sounds like typical "loser talk", but we can honestly say that. Thanks to you, our video quickly became one of the most relevant videos in the competition, nearing 4,000 views just after one week of going live. We know that doesn't seem like much in comparison to many videos on YouTube, but when you compare it to well over 700 entries in the competition, it really does matter. In fact, as I write, most of the entries are still crawling to reach 100 views even after being online for a month.

I must also note that our competition was very gracious. People in countries like Mexico, Canada, the Ukraine, and in territories like Norway, and Australia were rooting for our video. So yes, our message got out! Hats off to you for blogging, posting, commenting, texting, emailing, and Twittering about it. We strongly believe that the word of mouth was mostly due to it's connection with Luke 15:11-31 (Jesus' parable of the Lost Son), found in the New Testament, which served as the main source of inspiration for the project.

We learned a lot through this whole experience. After spending well over 40 hours on storyboarding, 25 hours on costuming/ searching for props, 20 hours on traveling and scouting locations, at least 26 hours on shooting, and a staggering 100+ hours on editing and rendering, we felt much more educated about making music videos. With a bare-bones budget, borrowed equipment, and helpful volunteers, we still managed to pull off telling a story that we remain proud of. After totaling our costs for travel, props, and passports, we have no regrets of the risk we took. I prayed for this opportunity, and well, I got it. The bands choice for the winner on the other hand, is something I will never fully understand. But I still believe God's hand crafted this piece for one reason or another.

Of course we certainly made mistakes. But our victories far outweighed the things that we didn't get right. Below is a snapshot of us on the set and location (San Diego) of our video. Enjoy!

(Above) Phillip Bosco and I direct, Cody Vermillion, the Prodigal Son, while Louis Cooper and Jose roll camera. In case you couldn't tell, the day was hot and the hill was steep. (Below) Camera operator, Louis Cooper gets a close shot of the bag, crafted by my girlfriend, Maryjo Moore. The bag was assembled using a shirt and rope.

(Above) Our crew returned to the hill to shoot the father/ son "reunion" scene just after dinner and moments before the sun set. We were losing light so fast, it actually made us a bit nervous. (Below) On the set of our "table" scene. Did you recognize the centerpiece? It was inspired by the Frida Kahlo painting that gave birth to the name of Coldplay's album title, Viva La Vida.

(Below) Inside the "numb room". Our demons, played by Chris Root and Maryjo Moore, pour grape juice into a wine glass. This shot was never used and left on the cutting room floor.

Our Entry (Below): Watch here.

Watch My Video for Coldplay

2008-12-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hello world! Phillip and I proudly present Lost?, our video for Coldplay! Watch it NOW and tell us what you think. Also, make sure you view it in High Quality.

The winner is announced this Friday, December 5th. Please pray that this story leaves an impression on the band as well as all the viewers watching this all around the world. It is our hope that God would be glorified through this whole experience. If you didn't already guess it, Luke 15, found in the New Testament, was our inspiration for this video.

In closing, Phillip and I would also like to say a special thanks to Cody Vermillion, Louis Cooper, Wes Van Fleet, Maryjo Moore, Chris Root and Aaron Bjork for helping us get this idea off the ground. We thank them for their patience, wisdom, time, and of course, support.

Hello Chris Martin! My Name is Rrrrroberto!

2008-11-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

"Hello Chris! My name is Rrrrroberto Comparan!" Yes, that is how I will introduce myself to Mr. Martin when Phillip Bosco and I win the Coldplay video competition next month. Alright, alright, maybe I'm being a little presumptuous, but I honestly can't see us losing to a walking desk lamp or even worse, a pair of sock puppets. Although both interpretations are cute and clever, they still represent a category of culture or art that Japanese artist Takashi Murakami has labeled Superflat. Superflat is "a sort of cute, cuddly and naïve hell" (Mark Sayers, Superflat Faith Pt. 1).

According to Mark Sayers, an author and speaker who specializes in interpreting popular culture from a Christian viewpoint, our Western Culture has been "flattened". Sayers admits that, "As a culture our spiritual muscles have atrophied due to lack of use. We are offered a culture that is a million miles wide in terms of opportunities, freedoms and consumer choice, yet that is spiritually an inch deep. Our spiritual voice is being strangled."

In other words, people's need for "mystery, transcendence, revelation, and a sense of the other is repressed" (Sayers, Superflat Faith Pt. 1). So is there any hope for persons? Of course there is! I really don't want to sound like Obama here, but "change can happen." And that kind of change will happen when we allow God to rule over our culture, creations, and world. I'm not declaring a destructive rebellion on what we currently call ART. I'm just announcing a quite assault on the legion of demons that plague our culture from generating anything worthy of note.

Next week, Phillip and I will wrap up production on our video for Coldplay. Please pray for us as we intend to use this opportunity to feed Biblical truth to the world at large. For years, I have been praying that God would give me an opportunity like this...and well, here it is. After finally blogging about it in my obituary back in January, I can't help but believe that God's hand is in all this. Will we win? I can only hope.

Grief: The Mourning After...

2008-10-13T01:13:00.000-07:00

Some of you have never had an encounter with Grief. That's fine and actually okay, but please--don't be fooled. You are not invincible. Grief will come. And when she comes knocking at your door, I guarantee, you won't be ready for the confusion she will stir in your heart.

She will take shape in the form of unanswerable questions or unexplainable experiences (Batterson, 95). If you're not careful, she will gradually reorient your entire life. She will make you angry, enslave you in self-pity, plague you with unavoidable fretfulness, coax you towards shameful behavior and even infect you with feelings of worthlessness.

Let me repeat, if you're not careful, Grief will reorient your life. She is dangerous, folks.

Although Grief is never welcomed, she has a way of making herself very comfortable with her host. Like Death, Grief lurks in the shadows, ready to take the life of someone who has experienced incredible loss. She awaits a broken marriage. She flirts with the tormented addict. She opens her arms to the abused and molested. And of course, berates the widowed.

In his book, A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis chronicles his journey toward understanding this inevitable encounter. The death of his wife lead Lewis down "a cycle of restlessness, rage, grasping, surrender and serenity, followed by fresh tears and disbelief" (Schroedel, Boundless.org). This truth is further evidence that even some of the most respected and well versed in Bible are able to fall prey to the demons that Grief brings along.

Please, please, I advice anyone who may be communing with Grief right now. Watch her ways. You must release her; not isolate her. In other words, if you are hurting, you will need to talk it out or express it. You can not hold onto those hurts. You will need to invite Jesus Christ to fight on your behalf. You will need to invite others to fight for you. Please understand, you can not afford to NOT do this.

When someone loses something or someone, there is a lot of mourning that takes place after that loss. Healing takes place when we invite others along the journey. If talking about it makes you uncomfortable now. Fine, that too is okay, but please, know that you can't hold back for long. Ultimately, you must unleashed Grief. Let go of her in the way of an email to a friend, some paint on a canvas, or a letter to yourself.

Why do I say all this? Well, it's because I've learned it. In fact, I've encountered Grief several times this year. While I know there is more morning for me ahead, I suspect God will soon allow me to get reacquainted with Joy. I can't wait to see her again.

Excuse My Absence...I've Been Designing

2008-08-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Summer is usually that time of the year I take a few breaks. Unfortunately, that often means fewer blog entries on my end. Again, my apologies. It's been very, very busy.

Here are a few design pieces I have completed this season. Of course, I give the Lord all the credit.

(Above) In May, I completed a graduation announcement for my lovely girlfriend, Maryjo Moore. A fews weeks later, I was contacted by my dear friends, Wes Van Fleet and Brittany De Anda to do work on their wedding invitation. The project was completed in June.

(Above) Here is work I produced for my church. This is from a teaching series titled, "Wasting Time With God". The rest are miscellaneous projects, also for my church.

(Above) For a summer teaching series, my church wanted to wrap a few ideas around the works of Jesus found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The concepts evolved and "Tabloid Jesus" was born. Considering Jesus was the most controversial man that ever walked this earth, it was fitting to package the series using the language and sensationalism of our tabloid culture. Check out our "paparazzi" clips below.

(Above) Here is a t-shirt design I completed for Jostens Camp Yearbook in Palm Springs. In between that, I also had a chance to help my friend Christian Turner throw together a cover for a piece promoting his security systems.

(Below) This Fall my church will kick off a new teaching series titled, "Fuse". Yo, preview the artwork.

Whew! Did I mention I've been busy.

Do You Hate Your Job? Johnny Bunko Can Help...

2008-06-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

You might be asking yourself, "Who's Johnny Bunko? And what kind of help can he offer me anyway?" Well, he's a fictional character created by Dan Pink, author of a New York Times bestselling book, who's trapped in a job he hates. Secondly, he and his genie offer excellent career advise through six lessons. Pink's proverbs are delivered in the form of Japanese Manga (pronounced Mahn-ga).

AdvertisingAge claims that, "...the book lives up to its promise as 'The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need.'"

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need, is simple, intelligent, and of course, entertaining. I read this book in an hour. Although not necessarily written from a Christ-centered point of view, it still offers plenty of advice worthy of note. You might even say Pink draws his inspiration from various Biblical teachings. The book's conclusion suggests that Dan Pink was aiming to write a book about "what it means to be alive", rather than simply giving career advice. If you are looking for a book that will help you formulate a resume, this is NOT the book for you. This is a book about perspective and not systematic orderliness. There is some objectionable content though. The d-word and the acronym "WTF" are sprinkled about.

Learn more at johnnybunko.com. Or simply watch the trailer. Yes, I know. It is an unconventional way to promote a book. Keep in mind that this animated trailer does not in any way represent my personal views or the views of my church, Seven San Diego. There is use of some crude language.

Coldplay Go to Church

2008-06-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Coldplay's forthcoming album will hit our retail outlets next Tuesday, June 17th. So why should we care? Well, we should care because it will be the biggest album of 2008. And anything that phenomenal, whether we love it or hate it, deserves our attention. Listen to the entire album NOW at iheartmusic.com.

Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, much of which was recorded in churches all across Latin America, explores many of the same themes touched on A Rush of Blood to the Head. This time life and death are the main subjects of lyrical content. Like the book of Ecclesiastes, it reflects on the vanity of human life.

The ethereal sounds of Viva are carefully packed into a nice forty-five minute session. "The atmospheric, haunting Cemeteries Of London...is one of the songs clearly blessed by holy water," says Gordon Smart of the Sun.

On the title track, Chris Martin sings about a dethroned ruler, King Louis XVI? Jesus perhaps? The chorus even soars with lyrics about "Jerusalem bells a ringing/Roman Cavalry choirs are singing", all while echoing themes found in Exodus 14 and Matthew 14. The seas part. A beheading is alluded to.

Violet Hill is an anti-war cry about a lonely soldier who "future's architectured/By a carnival of idiots on show." Again, Martin's optimism turns to cathedrals, God, priests, Bibles, and the cross.

Martin has confessed that his religious upbringing resurfaces on several tracks from time to time, referring to the inspiration behind X&Y's hidden track. "We'd say 'kingdom come' every week in the Lord's Prayer." Singing at Mass is the reason why he's "obsessed with [everyone singing] along at [their] shows. It makes me feel like I'm a part of something," he says.

My favorite tracks are Cemeteries of London, 42, and Strawberry Swing. I could go on and on, but I won't. So here's the ubiquitous Apple iTunes Ad to say the rest. Enjoy!

My Injured Parents Need Your Prayers: Update

2008-05-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

My parents were in an accident on Friday, May 9th. If you would like to read more about the Lord's hand in our lives, please follow my Twitter feed. I have been micro-blogging our faith journey from my cell phone. If you are a Facebook user, you can find the update via my status.

In brief, my parents are doing much better. My mother is still sore, but very mobile. My step-father on the other hand is still not. Doctors tell us he has a 1% chance of walking again, but of course, we remain hopeful. He has undergone two surgeries to the spine and is gaining a lot more strength in his upper body each day.

Three days ago, he was transfered to a small rehab center in the High Desert. Three weeks from now he will be moved to Loma Linda in Redlands, CA for more intensive care.

On behalf of my family, we thank you for all your prayers.

Personal Tragedy: It Is Well With My Soul

2008-05-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

When life gives you lemons, can you really make lemonade? In other words, if we are faced with one of life's cruel disappointments, are we still able to turn it into something good? Well, whatever your conclusion, I'd like to think the answer falls somewhere between yes and no.

To those that love God, the answer is YES. The Apostle Paul says in Roman 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

On the contrary, to those that do not love God, the answer is NO. To simply put it, if you don't love God, you can't claim this promise. Notice that the Bible verse only says that this promise is for "those who love God". The promise that God will turn all things for good is not true for everybody.

In time of personal tragedy, I find rest in that promise. Whether my love for God is strong or weak, I can rest assure that he is causing everything to work together for the good.

As a result of my parents accident two weeks ago, I spent well over two hundred hours in the hospital. Over the course of two weeks, I've witnessed how the Lord made things good. I saw how he made things well.

Over and over, I heard the Lord sing these words from an old hymn to me, "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul."

Horatio G. Spafford, writer of the old hymn titled, "It Is Well With My Soul", penned the words on the evening he sailed a ship that passed the approximate place where his four daughters died.

Spafford wrote the words to that hymn when he had no words to say at all. Perhaps, you could say that his despair eventually materialized onto the pages of hymnal books all across the world due to his real prayers with God. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:26 that the "Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words."

In other words, seek God's comfort even when you don't feel like you have anything to say to him. Pray to him even when you feel like he has dealt you the wrong life cards. If you love Him with everything you've got, he will take those lemons and make lemonade. And that my friends, will have you singing, "it is well with my soul."

My Injured Parents Need Your Prayers

2008-05-10T01:28:00.000-07:00

My parents were in a severe car accident yesterday on their way back from a month long mission/vacation trip in Mexico. At impact, they swerved, flipped several times, and totaled their car.

As I write, my mother and father are still in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. As of a few hours ago, we paid a staggering $24,000 to get them care in the States. While three of my sisters were ready to fly out to Mexico last night, they were advised not to. Instead, we made arrangements to fly my parents into Scripps Hospital in San Diego tonight.

My mother is doing much better. She is walking, talking, and thankfully, has no broken bones. On the other hand, doctors have been saying that my step-father my have spinal injury. In fact, he has been unable to move his legs within the last twenty-four hours.

I read a Psalm last night that said, "Bless the Lord, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me" (144:1-2).

As I began to learn more about the accident, I found myself preparing for a war of fear, worry and doubt. I found myself in need of an army of friends and family.

I called to God and He listened. I called to you and you prayed. You are the warriors we need for this battle! Please continue to pray.

Watch Now: LifeChurch.tv

2008-04-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

From time to time, I like to sit down and catch a video sermon/message from Craig Groeshel. Groeshel is the Senior Pastor of a multi-site church called Life Covenant Church or now simply Life Church.

The church reaches thousands of people online and now has several campuses in six states.

Hey, if you didn't get a chance to visit your local church this weekend, feel free to stream a messages online at LifeChurch.tv. Watch Warrior, the current teaching series or simply browse through the archives. Learn about good sex, how to deal with difficult people, the origins of the Bible, and well, a whole lot more.

Why Don't You Cry About It?

2008-04-02T23:57:00.000-07:00

Have you cried lately? I know I have. In fact, about a month and a half ago I found myself weeping like a four year old boy who had just been robbed of his sucker.

I found myself alone. I was in my car. It was dark. I couldn't hold it anymore. I had to cry. If I was out on the street, I could have found myself in this Kleenex commercial.

Two questions raced through my mind that night. Why was I angry with myself? and why was I angry with God?

You see, I had just returned from my uncle's funeral service. Although, I hadn't seen him since he went to prison almost twenty years ago, it still broke my heart to see my grandparents agonize over his death. In truth, my grandparents looked hopeless. They looked desperate. They looked lifeless. And all that combined made me feel helpless.

Although my cousins appointed me to pray over the chapel service in the morning and then asked me to give a brief message at the burial site that afternoon, I still felt incompetent and unable to give any of them any understanding. They all seemed inconsolable. What was I to say or do? I only knew my uncle for a brief moment.

Of course, that didn't matter, I knew Jesus. Which meant that I could tell them about how he was going to bring them comfort in such a time like this.

So, why was I angry? Well, for starters, I felt like I had ignored my responsibility of being a caretaker to my grandparents. The last time I had seen my grandmother, she was not in a wheelchair and my grandpa was not walking around in a cane. I felt as if God had fast-forward life and robbed me of spending time with them. Of course, I realized God had given me many opportunities before, I just didn't take them.

The Bible records at least three accounts where Jesus wept. One account is found in John 11:35. Here, Jesus cries out of compassion over the death of his friend Lazarus. Another is found in Luke 19:41. In this passage, we find Jesus crying over Jerusalem, for Israel and its failure. Finally, we see Jesus cry for himself. In Matthew 27:46, we find Jesus on the cross. Their in His darkest hour he cries, "My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?"

That night, I cried over the death of my uncle. I cried for my Jerusalem (family). And of course, myself.

In his book The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis reminds us that, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. Pain is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

Who is God calling you to care for right now? Go ahead, cry about it. Let it out. That's one way to find out.

The Return of the Office, Indy, Coldplay, and other Pop Cultural Phenomena

2008-03-13T01:22:00.000-07:00

In 1939, C.S. Lewis observed that Biblical teachings, themes, and ideas could be secretly planted into all forms of art for the sake of awakening deep longings for transcendence. In a letter to a nun, Lewis wrote “any amount of theology can now be smuggled into people’s minds under cover of romance without their knowing it.”

In other words, a fraction of TV shows or movies you watch, music you listen to, and books you read, may be drawing you closer to God.

Over the next quarter, my attention will be diverted to the following pop cultural phenomena. Translation, I will be studying these shows, films, books, and music selections in search of remnants of truth and spiritual content. Expect a blog on each of these studies in the months to come. I will confess though, I won't always have the desire to study. I will only want to be entertained.

The Office (Spoiler Alert)
The final six episodes of season four will begin airing on Thursday, April 10th. Writers are toying with the idea of a possible pregnancy (Angela maybe?) or even a possible fake documentary production crew strike. While all of that is uncertain, the first new episode is being called the "Dinner Party".

Pop Goes the Church
Tim Stevens, Pastor at Granger Community Church, has written a guidebook that explains why and how Christians should use pop culture to reach out to people in the language of their lives. Sounds like my cup of tea! Books ship mid-April.

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko
Dan Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, writes leadership or career advice in the form of Japanese Manga. If you are looking for a book to help you write a better resume, this is not the book for you. The book hits your local B&N sometime in April.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The writings of C.S. Lewis remain quite relevant many years after he died. Why? Well, I'll save that for a later entry. For now, be sure to catch the next film adaption of his chronicles in theaters on May 16th.

Coldplay
The highly anticipated new album, tentatively titled "Prospekt", will hit music outlets across the nation on May 19th. I really, really can't wait!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
I was only a one year old when the first film came out. Fortunately, I have seen the world create a legend in my lifetime. For that reason alone, I will watch this movie on May 22nd, opening day.

Get Smart
Someone told me that this film is based off of a Mel Brooks spy comedy. I guess the TV series was quite a hit in the 60's. I never saw an episode, but I get the feeling it was funny. The film adaptation stars Steve Carell. I'm already a fan. The film opens on June 20th.

Batman: The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger stars as the Joker... Christian Bale returns as Batman. Need I say more? This will be the highest grossing blockbuster this summer. Mark your calendar for July 18th.

Wall-E
I'm a fan of anything Pixar. I'm almost 100% sure that this film about a lonely robot will be great. The film opens mid-summer.

Church Doesn't Suck

2008-02-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

Many of you don't go to church. I understand. You think it's boring, stuffy, and for the lack of a better word, you think it SUCKS! I believed that same lie until I visited High Desert Church in Victorville, CA almost seven years ago. Boy, was I surprised. HDC was actually relevant and truly enjoyable.

Now, I will warn you. Some churches do suck, but don't let those few stop you from following Jesus Christ. Here's a sign I just created to help people in San Diego find our church. It doesn't suck.

I credit Dan Pink, author of A Whole New Mind for inspiration on the creation of this sign.

If you are in search of a good church in your area, please feel free to email me at roberto@sevensdchurch.com. I would love to help you find a church that fits your personality. Heck, if you know of a good church, feel free to let me know.

I'm Not Together, But I'm Getting There

2008-02-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

I think it's safe to assume that you hope to be perfect someday. In fact, inside every one of us there is a desire to find better versions of ourselves. Don't believe it? Try questioning that feeling of failure you get when you can't meet someone's standard. Where does it come from? Where did your boss, coworker, spouse, friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, child, mom, dad, or sibling get the idea of perfection? As you and I both know, their idea of perfection is still far from perfect. So why is it that you and I can imagine something that we have never seen before? Well, I suspect that it's because we were created by someone that is perfect.

Inside of us there is a longing to have our entire lives in order. There is an enthusiasm to master everything we try to do. We want peace, equal rights, and justice for all. The reality is that the world we live in is no Utopia like the one John Lennon once protested for in 1971. In fact, did you know that Adam and Eve where the only humans to ever see what perfection on Earth looked like?

On Earth, we live under the serpent's rule. Which also means that on Earth, we will forever be "wannabes". But, being a wannabe of what? Of whom? Well, you have a choice. As for me, I want to be like Jesus Christ. When I first made the decision to be like him, I found it to be very difficult. How could I ever become perfect? Well, when I learned that Jesus Christ called us to be like Him, not to be Him, it made living that much easier.

Of course, being a wannabe or earthly version of Christ does not give us the liberty to act on every temptation or unwise move in the book. In fact, being a wannabe of Jesus Christ is a high calling. Although we find our hearts wondering each day into dark underworlds, we are called to make every attempt to illuminate those worlds with God's love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

I was listening to a favorite song of mine this week that reminded me of how broken and imperfect I am. As I heard the lyrics, I couldn't help but think of my state of being. I'm a work in progress. I will always be a work in progress.

"I'm in repair.../I'm not together, but I'm getting there" laments John Mayer on his 2006 album titled, Continuum. These lyrics appear on the song "In Repair".

Contrary to popular belief, I don't have it all together. I work for a church, but that still doesn't make me perfect. I make plenty of mistakes everyday. Believe me, just ask my family, my girlfriend, and friends. Can you empathize? I'm sure you can.

Aren't you glad that Jesus Christ called us to be like Him, not to be Him? Photo by Stefan Brinkley.

The Post Super Bowl Online Attraction

2008-02-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

According to AdAge, the Super Bowl ad with the most online views to date is Pepsi's, "Magnetic Attraction". The ad stars Justin Timberlake, his BFF (Trace Ayala), Tony Romo and Andy Samberg. Here's the extended version you probably haven't seen yet.

Although the Pepsi Stuff Super Bowl ad is stuffed with cliches, it is still a great example of multi-brand integration. JT, Ayala, Romo, and Samberg are all brands of their own. Throw in Pepsi, Amazon, and some SNL references, and well, you have a good ad people want to keep watching.

R.I.P. Roberto: February 22nd, 1980- May 18th, 2016

2008-01-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

Roberto Comparan, the music video director of Coldplay's Cemeteries of London, creative, and pastor who helped launch six new churches across the south westerly states of the United States, passed away Wednesday morning, May 18th, 2016, at his residence. Comparan, who lived in San Diego, C.A., was 36.

His career was short, but busy and varied. He worked as a Communications Director for High Desert Church in Victorville, C.A. for 5 years, and Seven San Diego Church in Chula Vista, C.A. for 9 years. He was once a Yearbook Adviser for Apple Valley Christian School in Apple Valley, C.A. and worked for Jostens Yearbook Camps for 17 years. He authored two books, WTF!: A Guide To Living An Awe-Inspiring "What The" kind of "Faith" In Christ, and The Making of You: Rediscovering The Basic Elements Of The Human Condition.

His work was featured in the High Desert's Daily Press, on MTV's TRL, spawned an album single cover for Mariah Carey, was showcased on local city billboards, mounted to high school gym walls, used for Yearbook covers, and was on numerous print pieces and publications for several churches.

He enjoyed reading, painting, illustrating, listening to music, and studying popular culture. He also enjoyed preaching about the benefits of social networking, and most importantly, introducing people to Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Maryjo Moore; one son, Orion Daniel; and one daughter, Dalia Fiona; seven nieces and nephews; two brothers; seven sisters; and parents.

I don't know where I will be 5, 6 or 7 years from now...I just hope I'm not dead. If I am, I hope my obituary would read something like this. I haven't written any books, directed a music video, or married. So, it looks like I have a lot to look forward to. How do you hope your obituary would read?

What Satan Said To You Five Minutes Ago: Revisited

2007-12-26T19:28:00.000-08:00

Ten minutes ago you felt like you were on top of the world. Five minutes later you found yourself in the deepest, darkest corner of the earth. I bet Satan just told you that living on this earth wasn't worth it anymore. I bet he just told you that nobody cared if you kept on living today or died tomorrow. The truth is...he's WRONG. Your life on this planet still matters. In fact, your life still matters to your family, friends, coworkers, enemies...you name it. It matters! Trust me, I know.

Like everything created on this earth, your life was created to have purpose. According to Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy, "our human job description" is found in verses 28-29 of Genesis 1. To simply put it, we were created to take charge of the world. Well, with God's direction, of course.

Please, take a minute. Think about it. Even an everyday housefly has purpose. The purpose of a fly is to feed off things that are dead. Our world would really stink if we didn't have those vomit-eating, blood-thirsty scavengers. Believe it or not, flies are essential to our ecosystem. I repeat, flies are essential to our survival.

Now, if a fly has purpose, shouldn't you believe that your life has purpose? You might be asking, "does my life really matter that much more"? You bet! Those struggles, hurts, and pains that may be driving you to believe that you don't matter anymore are just the ramifications of man's disobedience many, many years ago. Listen, you weren't born perfect.

The accounts recorded after the fall of man in the third chapter of Genesis tell us that a curse was placed on humanity from that day forward. In other words, things on earth began to be less and less of what God originally meant for them to be. All life was forever perverted. Furthermore, we must now deal with our imperfect lives and the imperfect lives of others while we live in this imperfect world. Our lives will never be perfect here on earth. If we hold on to the idealistic view that someday they will be perfect on earth, it will only cause us great despair and more disappointment in the future.

Sooo, what do you do when life doesn't go your way? Do you run from God or do you turn to God. Do you say things like it's "my way or the Yahweh"? Or do you simply wait on God for a solution?

Jesus never promised us happiness here on earth, but he did promise us abundant joy if we followed him. He says in John 16:24, "ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy."

Original Myspace post and comments here.

A Night With Travis!

2007-11-28T00:27:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, my girlfriend treated me to go see one of my top ten favorite bands... Travis. Considering Travis sells out arena tours across the world, it was quite a big deal to see them in such an intimate venue like the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Glasgow, Scotland's best didn't disappoint. One of the highlights of the night for me was giving frontman, Fran Healey, lead guitarist, Andy Dunlop, and drummer, Neil Primose pats on the back during their "Rocky-esque" entrance (yeah, I know, I'm a dork). Oh, and I can't forget to mention the high five I gave bass player, Dougie Payne (again, a dorky move). To say that we had fun would be understating the whole affair. In fact, we had a blast! Below are some photos I secretly snapped with our cameras during their twenty-something song set list.

Since I moved to San Diego, my girlfriend and I have been working like crazy to get our church off the ground. Thanks to our family, friends and a slew of many more supporters, we have succeeded in doing so. Yet, while we find this work gratifying, we have learned that getting away from all of that work is very rejuvenating. We have been in great need of a break. Seeing Travis was a great bookend to a joyful Thanksgiving week with those we love.

Below, I have included some more photos of Mj and I around Downtown Disney. And if you are curious, I have also included a video of the band (shameless plug... I told you I was a dork).

I Know I'm Ugly, But...

2007-11-16T00:19:00.000-08:00

My friend James and I saw a homeless man holding a cardboard sign just outside a fast food restaurant this week that read, "I know I'm ugly, but I still get hungry." Puzzled, we looked at each other, sighed, then laughed. Unlike most signs that homeless people hold up, this sign was emotionally intelligent. To simply put it, he allowed me to take him seriously without taking him too seriously. Unfortunately, we had no cash, so the man never received our offering.

Alright, I'll stop there. I could continue to yap about emotionally intelligent signage, or giving to homeless people for that matter, but I'll save those subjects for future blog entries. For now, I want to blog about my struggle with giving money to every homeless man or woman that I meet. See, when you live minutes away from a metropolis, it’s not unusual to have more than one person ask you for money on any given day.

Of course, just moments before we ran into that man with the cardboard sign, we encountered another man who needed money as well. Again, no cash, no charity.

Three days prior to running into the two men at the fast-food restaurant, I ran into a woman at the grocery store. In Spanish, she asked if I could pull forty dollars out of my account to help her fly up to Fresno, CA to see her hungry children. I was dumbfounded. Her request was no like no other I had encountered before. I was expecting her to ask for a few bucks, not forty.

Immediately, I said a quick prayer and asked God to give me the words. The cynic in me wanted to simply ignore her request. The Christ follower in me wanted to do something about it. It seemed like everything that I had learned about Jesus’ compassion towards those less fortunate, was suddenly thrown into question. The stakes we’re now much higher. Bible verses like Matthew 5:14-16 and James 2:27 kept racing through my head. I asked myself, "How could I show compassion to someone who may be wanting to take advantage of me?"

When I told her that I could not afford to give her what she had requested, she than asked me to walk with her inside to buy her groceries for her hungry children. Hey, didn't she just tell me that they were in Fresno? Again, I was stunned. I told her that I could not afford to do that either. She asked for a gallon of milk, some beans, rice and even eggs. I told her that I would see what I could do when I went inside the grocery store. She said, “great, I’ll wait for you out here.” While I walked around the store, I wondered why God would put me in such a situation. Was it to make me less naive? No, I don’t think so. Was it to challenge me to give more to the homeless? No, I don’t think so either. Was it to test how I would respond? Yes, that was it.

So I brought her the gallon of milk. She looked at me with disappointment and claimed she couldn't drink it because she had diabetes. Uh, I guess milk was a bad choice. I apologized and proceeded to tell her that maybe her kids would appreciate the milk. I tried, I really tried...

My Chronicles of Seven San Diego: Part 4/By the way...

2007-11-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't been following our journey, I wanted to take this opportunity to inform you that our second of four church preview services will take place this Sunday, November 4th at 10 AM. If you would like to participate, please visit our website to learn more.

Also, I just completed some revisions to our program. Check it out! It is two sided, folds into three parts and has two tear outs. If you attend, you may submit your welcome form to win a free iPod. Yes, I know that is gimmicky, but what else can you expect from a marketer.

Below is the second installment of our series titled, "iNeed A Life". This Sunday, Jeremy McGarity will teach on "What to do when iThink I've been wronged". Check out the teaser! By the way, those are my "manly" hands.

The Wildfire Report: An Update from Ground Zero

2007-10-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is what my backyard looks like right now. As of just a few minutes ago, residents of South Bay communities in Chula Vista, CA have been asked to evacuate immediately. The communities are as follows: Rolling Hills Ranch, Eastlake, San Miguel Ranch, Paseo Los Gatos, and Paseo Vera Cruz. To put this in perspective, I live about ten to twelve miles south of the Eastlake community in San Diego. The Harris Fire is the one nearest to us. As of this morning, we were in a voluntary evacuation state. No new news yet...

As parts of San Diego County are being evacuated due to the fires, we ask that you would continue to pray for our entire region. Many people are in desperate need of help. Del Mar Faigrounds, and Qualcomm Stadium are no longer taking evacuees, but are still accepting donations.

Food, blankets, and water are their greatest need right now. Chula Vista High School, San Diego High School, Casa Familar & Recreational Center, and the Rock Church are just a few of the new places where people can now take shelter. If you would like to help or would like to learn more, please visit the following...

HELPFUL LINKS:
Sign On San Diego
Red Cross
San Diego Emergency
NBC San Diego
CBS 8
10 News

Also, please note that all San Diego counties schools will be closed for the remainder of the week. As I receive additional information I will keep you posted regarding our situation. Check out this photo from space! I live near the smoke plumage closest to Mexico.

By the way, thank you to everyone who has called, emailed or text! Your words are very comforting during this time. For those of you affected by the fires, you are in our prayers. In God we take refuge!

My Chronicles of Seven San Diego: Part 3

2007-10-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Wow! Our first of four church preview services came and went faster than you can spell Seven San Diego. Uh, we can't believe it's over. October 7th is now only a memory. Two-hundred and sixty-one people attended.

But before I continue, let me tell you about some things that happened the night before. Unlike most churches in America where people can congregate in an office, we on the other hand, had no option but to gather around apartment 134 (my place) for last minute occupations. We printed volunteer packets, stuffed and made incisions on over five hundred programs, made phone calls, and of course, watched an episode or two of the Office. It was passed mid-night and we needed to go to bed. The girls went to their place. The guys stayed at my place.

Okay, so here's the official story of how things took place that exciting first day. First, we rallied our army of volunteers (known to us as tour guides). By 6:30 AM most had arrived, picked up a white or orange t-shirt, grabbed a lanyard, and began to transform a vacant auditorium at Olympian High School into a worship venue. Our leaders, Maryjo Moore, Marcos Clark, Wes Van Fleet, Brandy Messenger, Taylor Gilliam, and Jules Sneddon took charge of making sure our teams had all the equipment unloaded from our portable trailer as well as gave direction of the morning's agenda.

By 8 AM most of our technical equipment such as the lights, sound, video, and instrument cables were set. We thank our friends at High Desert Church for helping us get more familar with this side of things. Whew, that was a lot of work.

But our work wasn't done just yet... Chairs needed to be placed. Stations for food and refreshments needed to be propped up front. Kid zones needed to be marked. It was now 9:15 and we were up against the clock!

10 AM was here! And now both kids and adults were ready to start singing. Cody Vermillion and Jen Laduc jammed with our children while Matt Coulombe (Seven HD Music Leader) lead our adults.

11:15 AM surprised us. Our first service was over. We watched a few videos, sang a few songs, took an offering, said a few announcements, passed out some pumpkins, and walked out encouraged. Jeremy McGarity had given his first lesson at Seven San Diego. Mission accomplished! Thank you Jesus!

Photos by Christian Turner and Maryjo Moore.

Play-Doh Bunnies Invade New York City

2007-10-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

The Sony Bravia ad campaign titled "Color Like No Other" has become a favorite of mine. In less than two years, Sony has created three beautiful commercials that have been both pleasing to the eye and soothing to the soul. The ads have also measured well in terms of both creative scope and scale. Unlike most ads you see today, these ads don't divert to computer generated imagery (CGI) to get attention. They plainly capture the subject in action. The first being the thousands of rubber, bouncy Balls rolled out in San Francisco, the second being the colorful Paint explosion in Glasgow and now, the army of Play-Doh bunnies that invade New York City. Before you watch Play-doh, make sure to check out the behind the scenes clip below.

By the way, there is something rather therapeutic about watching bunnies sweep the streets of a once very broken, terrorized city.

The long awaited Sony Bravia Play-Doh ad directed by Frank Budgen and Darren Walsh was officially released last Wednesday. Check it out! You may have noticed that they borrowed from Kozydan's panoramic piece titled "USA-Chan". Did they steal or simply borrow? You be the judge. I say it was the former. I would also say they took the idea that much further.

Sometimes Beginnings Aren't So Simple

2007-10-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! I have returned to the blogosphere! After a busy summer of graduation parties, weddings, birthday events, farewell parties, concert-going, camping, more farewell parties, and of course, micro-blogging on Twitter, I come home to the RoBlog. Since July, much has changed in my world. I now live in San Diego (less than seven miles from the Mexican border). I no longer work for High Desert Church, but for Seven San Diego. Also, a church.

If you didn't already know, Seven San Diego is the new church that Jeremy McGarity (former professional baseball player turned pastor) and I will be leading in Chula Vista, CA. In fact, we will officially launch our first preview service this Sunday, October 7th.

If I have seemed unavailable for conversation these last three months, please forgive me. My life over the last year has been consumed with getting this church off the ground. I'll be frank, it hasn't been easy. I have certainly been overwhelmed.

If you are interested in reading about our journey to launch, I also invite you to read all about it on our blog at www.sevensd.blogspot.com.

After many hours of labor, it is time to give birth...to Seven San Diego that is. Please, watch our ad. A special thanks goes out to everyone who has participated in making this mission possible. A very special thanks goes out to my girlfriend for being so supportive. Our new church is here!

Please, please, if you are in the area, come visit. You can treat this as an excuse for you to come say hi to me.

The Purpose Driven Marlboro Man

2007-08-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Last year, the Marlboro Man topped the list of 101 “most influential people that never lived”. In their book, Allan Lazar, Dan Karlan and Jeremy Salter rank characters of myths, legends, television, and films. These men from New Jersey entertain the idea that even people that never existed in the real world have had the ability to “shape our society, change our behavior, and set the course of history”. And…well…they’re right! These characters have changed our thinking, for better or for worse.

While I’m usually excited about reading through list, I found this list to be alarming. Don’t get me wrong, this list was fun to read, but it also made me uneasy. The influence these “nobodies” have had on our culture is substantial. As a marketer, I get excited when “brands” pervade so deeply, but I certainly don’t jump out of my skin when the “brand” promotes unhealthy habits, poor dietary behaviors, inflated alter egos, or mindless consumption.

Ladies and gentleman, when are we really going to start raging against the machine? When are we really going to start getting real? I find that the “nobodies” these days are making a difference only because the “somebodies” have stopped believing in what they could do to change the world. The “somebodies” have taken a backseat to fabricated truths about sex, drugs, and yes, even rock and roll.

If you want to start making a difference in people’s lives, you’ve got to start living life. You’ve got to start blogging about things that will help enrich others. You’ve got to stop posting discouraging notes to friends on social networking sites. You’ve got to start uploading videos with good ideas. You’ve got to stop being just another chump on the block! As artists, writers, poets, musicians, or Christ followers for that matter, we bear the responsibility of transforming our cultures for better not worse.

If you desire to make a difference long after you’re dead, you’ve got to stop thinking about your own problems and start helping others with theirs (Phil 2:3-4). If you want to start influencing people, you’ve got to start making better choices about who you want to be. Our attitudes should be the same that Christ Jesus had. The Apostle Paul notes “though he was God, he did demand and cling to his rights as God (Phil 2:5-6).

Unfortunately, under the influence of a “nobody” like the Marlboro Man, people smoke themselves to death. Fortunately, under the influence of a “somebody” like you, people can have a better understanding of a life that is not only physically more enjoyable, but spiritually as well. Photo by Spencer Batcheider.

Attention: Seven SD & Seven HD

2007-07-31T23:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true. We are creating a Yearbook of the Seven Community. In fact, in order to accomplish this, we need you to send us a photograph of yourself to rcomparan@gmail.com. We also want you to send us a one or two sentence praise report of how God delivered you from a situation.

Important: Please include your first and last name. Also, keep in mind all photographs and praise reports are due by midnight (Pacific Standard Time) tomorrow (we will only publish the first 250 photos and praise reports we receive). Some of you may have checked out our Seven San Diego Blog or received the email weeks ago. Make sure to check out the official rules before you submit.

We will be using the Yearbook to help our team introduce Seven to the people of San Diego.

Evan Almighty: More Than Meets The Eye

2007-06-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

You have less than four days to watch “Evan Almighty” before it drowns in the flood of hype surrounding the highly anticipated war epic—“Transformers” (July 4th).

The comic take on the biblical story of Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6-9) is more than just a “feel good” adaptation encouraging “acts of random kindness.” It is the story of Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), a former anchorman turned congressmen who gets the opportunity to change the world. Yes, “Evan Almighty” offers more than meets the eye.

Underneath all the product endorsement, slapstick humor, special effects and Hollywood fanfare is a simple message about faith. Much like the story found in the book of Genesis, Evan Baxter does what God has commanded him to do regardless of the costs.

I suspect that is why director, Tom Shadyac, wanted “Evan Almighty” to camp on Genesis 6:14. The passage is about God telling Noah what to do, or in this case, what to “make.” That’s always step numero uno in “Faith 101.” As we read on, we discover that when we obey, God fills in the gaps. In “Evan Almighty”, God (Morgan Freeman) is quick to remind Evan Baxter of that truth.

This week, as you celebrate patriotism, make sure your consumerism isn’t just another form of escapism. Please exercise your right to be “aware-ism”. And, well, if you need a fix of the Office this summer, this film will suffice.

Nope... Money Can't Buy Me That

2007-06-15T00:55:00.000-07:00

I never grow tired of telling people about joy. I’m not talking about that cute little word that appears on every cookie each Christmas. I’m not talking about that abstract idea of happiness. I’m not talking about that feeling you get when you consume an orange mocha from Starbucks. Uh, I’m not even talking about the happiest place on Earth.

I’m talking about that state of mind where the soul meets body. I’m talking about the perspective that pushes you to endure when you find yourself persecuted. I’m talking about that peace you find from the Lord when becoming overwhelmed with the best and worst of your day. I’m talking about the Spirit of God that encourages and sustains you when everything around you seems unfamiliar.

Awe, yes! I love joy. It does exist! It comes from Jesus Christ. It lives in me. And if you say you believe in Jesus Christ, then it should live in you. The Scriptures remind us that when we dwell in the Holy Spirit, he will produce joy in us (Galatians 5: 22).

If you have faith, joy can’t be taken away from you. It is a gift granted to followers of the New Order. The Prophet, Habakkuk, sings about this truth in a prayer. Habakkuk 3: 17-18 says, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be JOYFUL in the God of my salvation.”

I once thought that joy could be purchased in the form of a plastic wrapped compact disc. Oh, poppycock! I once thought that I could sip it in a cup. Ugh! I once thought that I could find it in the media. Sigh! I’m glad to have learned over the last six and half years that I was sooo wrong. Money can’t buy joy, furthermore, it can’t be earned it either.

These days, I find myself using joy to awaken the living dead; these days, I use joy to help people understand the meaning of life; these days, I use joy to shake me from self-loathing; these days, I use joy to help me press forward in time of transition.

I’m aware. I haven’t been myself lately. In fact, this is my first blog entry in over a month. I’ve been immersed in a sea of change. I’ve been overwhelmed. I’ve felt overjoyed. I’ve been down the roller coaster of emotion. Letting go of twenty years of life in one place has been quite challenging. Yet, while I hold on, I will admit, the Mojave Desert no longer feels like home. Last week, I officially ended five great years of ministry at High Desert Church in Victorville, CA. Yes, my office cubicle is now empty.

On July 10th, I will officially be a resident of Imperial Beach, CA in San Diego County. God has prepared me to move. I’m ready to launch a new church. Thank you for your prayers.

A, B, C, or D? Please Vote!

2007-05-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

I need your help! I've designed four different versions of the magazine cover for HDConnections and can't decide which one is best. If you comment, make sure to note which of the four gets your attention first. Also, keep in mind that this is the last cover I will be producing for HDConnections. Issue forty-three will be going to press in twelve days. It's crunch time, baby!

We all know that creativity can't be force... So, in the meantime, I'll simply stop working (pause for laugh). Please vote responsibly.

By the way, our theme is "Forgiveness".

Planet Earth: My New BF

2007-05-01T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Discovery Channel and I have become very good friends this past month. You might even say were BF’s now. Uh, you get the idea.

Since Planet Earth began airing on Sunday nights, I have come to understand God a whole lot more. Each episode I have watched has left me stunned. Unlike the National Geographic clips we grew up watching, this nature documentary tells a big story. It dares the viewer to follow the drama of our planet. It hints at a future worth learning about.

The footage is tasteful, the camera angles are ambitious, and the narration by Sigourney Weaver is, well, very, very insightful. The Planet Earth series captures “the wild” as it has never before been seen. It is not preachy about preserving the planet. It does not seek to hide a political agenda. It simply wants you to fall in love with the created. King David once wrote, “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship…” (Psalm 19:1). And indeed, the heavens and whole earth do.

Through the lens of this new presentation of our Earth, we witness animal behaviors that are complex, climate patterns that are unpredictable, plant life that is elaborate, and environments that are majestic. This series magnifies a creative Creator.

Folks, if you didn't already know, our Lord is fierce. He's big, powerful, and untamed. Yet, while we can become intimidated by all His glory, mystery, and craftsmanship, we can still get a sense that this is also a God who is also gentle, kind, and overflows with love for His created. We can get a sense that if He cares for pandas, He cares for us even more. The book of Genesis reminds us that human beings were the climax of the creation story.

I’m not an “outdoors” kind of guy, but I have certainly learned to appreciate his creation. Here are a few photographs of my friends, my girlfriend and I in Yosemite last week. Wow! God is GREAT!

Let's Be Real! Most Christians Are Lazy

2007-04-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Admit it! Many Christians have become lazy. Okay, that statement might be a generalization, but here’s what I mean. It seems like Christians today have gotten too comfortable living in their bubbles, often excluding the very people that they need to influence the most— those that don't know Jesus Christ. We no longer want to plant seeds or work towards the harvest.

We protect our Bible studies from the “outsider” that can disrupt the group dynamic. We accessories with such things like self-help books, t-shirts, statement bands, and necklaces that proclaim Bible verses and the name of Jesus (that’s all good, but not always right). We saturate our entire lives with church event after church event, often ignoring the purpose for the event in the first place. We hang out with Christian friends day after day and never once consider that someone who is not a Christian needs this fellowship more than we do.

If you are a Christian and have slugged about life in this manner, you are probably bored with your Christian walk. You see, Jesus never intended for his followers to be so predictable. Life is supposed to be rich with risk. Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 5:46-47, “If you love only those that love you, what good is that? Even the corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the pagans do that.” As followers of Christ, we are commanded to love and interact with the pot smoking, meth-using, skirt chasing Hell-bounders.

Well, you might be asking, “How do you live a life on purpose?” Easy…invite your unchurched friends to your next game night. Invite your unchurched friends to your next day at the beach. Invite your unchurched friend to lunch. We’ve got all the tools to do the inviting at our fingertips…literally! You have a MySpace account don’t you? Alright, then you have no excuse.

God Likes To See Us Naked

2007-04-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Originally posted on MySpace on Monday, November 28th, 2005

While the feeling of vulnerability always gives me a feeling of incredible freedom and excitement, it still challenges me. Last Sunday, I was given the privilege of speaking and even singing to a church community of 1,000 people. A few days after sharing my life with family, many friends, and even strangers, I felt very exposed. I really felt naked. I wanted to run… I felt like God was rejoicing in the fact that I had allowed people into a life He had crafted. With that in mind, I came to the realization that exercising that privilege was one of the most liberating experiences of my life. I've learned that the best way to handle the fear of keeping things from view was to face it head on and throw it into plain view. The trick that night was remembering that it wasn’t about me, but God’s larger story of adopting those He loves into His family. I was exposed, but felt fully clothed in God’s presence. It was a holy moment like no other and I LOVE IT!

Knowing that family and friends were praying for me, made me aware that God was going to use them to make me comfortable enough to embrace my story to tell His-story.

My brothers, sisters, and I didn’t ask to be born into a family who would go through so many growing pains, but that was and still is my reality. My family didn’t ask to be thrown into a whirlwind of financial struggle, but that is the way God allowed it. I didn’t asked to live a life where my parents would hurt each other and then to end up in divorce, but that’s the way it happened. We couldn’t always afford real groceries and so my dad and I would rummage through trash containers for recyclables and even unspoiled food items. Although my family and I thought we would never overcome, the truth is, we did. And we are a much stronger family for it.

Submission certainly challenges our natural inclination of keeping ourselves private and protected. If God has transformed our minds, our hearts, and our lives…what’s to be ashamed of? Let’s not hold back…our worlds are dieing to see you naked. Isn’t that the way God originally intended it to be…

Download the complete message on iTunes. The keyword is: High Desert Church.

Backstreet Berto

2007-03-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

In 1999, the Backstreet Boys dominated the pop charts with a little diddy titled, “I Want It That Way.” At the height of the band’s career, girls went to great lengths to get a piece of the Max Martin produced, hit-making machine.

That very same year, our Jostens’ Camp Yearbook team would mimic the boy band, capitalize on the band’s success and victimize a congregate of pubescent teens with a spoof performance.

I must apologize in advance. The moves you are about to see might leave you feeling nauseous. They are over-the-top and simply, silly. Keep in mind this clip is almost eight years old. Hey, I bet you never seen me gyrate like this before. By the way, you might need to TURN IT UP.

Crystal, Tony, Rob and Shawn, I am aware that this is a bit incriminating. Thank you for comprising your integrity alongside me. Ha, ha! Enjoy!

My Chronicles of Seven San Diego: Part 2

2007-03-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

As I prepare to move to San Diego to launch a new church alongside many of my life-long friends, I find myself suspended between two worlds. Strangely so, I seem to be in the middle of a lot of uncertainty and a lot of security. In fact, it's quite the dichotomy! I have security knowing where I need to go and what I need to be, but I'm still a LITTLE uncertain on how it will become.

I've got two and a half months to figure out a whole lot in my life. My last day of being employed as a Communications Director at High Desert Church will come to an end soon. With that change, comes even more change. First, I will need to reconfigure my finances, scout some new living spaces, and get acquainted with design firms in SD. Secondly, I will then need to plan when I will pack my things and say my good-byes. Yes, the grieving process has begun.

Let me take this opportunity to say thank you for your words. I have been very blessed to be surrounded by such a strong community of love and support. A few weeks ago, my friend Mindy reminded me of a Bible verse that has been a source of encouragement to me along this journey. The writer of Hebrews once shared the following words with weary Jewish Christians:

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By Faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10).

Jeremy McGarity and I have a projected launch date for the new church in San Diego of January 13th, 2008. Below, you will watch Jeremy McGarity as he considers the Otay Ranch Plaza Theater in Chula Vista a prospective venue for Seven San Diego's worship gatherings.

My Chronicles of Seven San Diego: Part 1

2007-03-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is true. In less than four and a half months, I will be moving to San Diego, CA. After some anguish, heartbreak, and a lot of discussion with God, it is clear that He has called me to join Jeremy McGarity, the lead Pastor of Seven High Desert, to plant a new church that we will call Seven San Diego.

At the moment, I am afraid, anxious, excited, and humbled. In the last few months, I have experienced the full range of emotions. Truly, my mind has been going a million miles a minute.

Inasmuch as I know I don't deserve this opportunity, God has insisted to give me that kick in rear to go forth and make students of Jesus Christ. It was only six and a half years ago that I committed my life to the Lord. Now, God has me launching a new church. Has He gone mad? God's way of getting me through the fast track of spiritual growth is now more obvious in my life than ever before. This kind of change is invigorating and yet extremely frightening.

With all the preparation needed in launching a new church and relocating in San Diego, I am aware that the next season of my life will be an uncomfortable one… Please pray for my health and wellness.

If you are interested in being a part of this journey, consider three options. Watch Jeremy McGarity as he proposes methods by which you can be a part of Seven San Diego.

My First Big Announcement of 2007

2007-02-25T02:06:00.000-08:00

In less than 17 hours my life will change dramatically. If you attend Seven at High Desert Church, your life will change dramatically. God is telling a story bigger than any of us ever wanted to tell and we want to reveal it. Please do everything you can to attend. We need your prayers! We need your support! This is big! This is scary! This is good! This is soooo God! I promise... this will all make sense SOON! Believe it! God has already prepared you for the next step... Go ahead catch a preview!

Waiting For Jesus...

2007-02-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

Mark 5:21-43 tells the story of a Jewish synagogue leader named Jairus whom sought the help of Jesus. Jairus wanted his daughter healed. In fact, the miracle story is interrupted by another miracle story of a woman whom is also healed of her suffering. This small unit of testimony or pericope, sandwiches the second miracle story, allowing us to find more meaning in the word “faith”.

Indeed, Jesus paid a price for saving people, but in Mark 5:21-43 we discover that Jesus also paid a price for healing people. Verse 29 tells us that when the woman touched Jesus she immediately stopped bleeding and “felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” Immediately, verse 30 explains that “at once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him” (Merrill C. Tenney, The Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible 85). Although Jesus had not seen the woman, He was fully aware of what had occurred. The tenacious faith of the bleeding women led Jesus to heal her.

Jairus had cried out to Jesus many times before, but because of the delay in Jesus’ response to his plea (in saving the life of his daughter), he had to be reminded by Jesus to “just believe.” Jairus’ emotions had blinded him from believing. The story of Jairus and his daughter captures the spirit of a broken man in desperate need of help. As readers, we can identify with the anguish of the Jewish synagogue leader. Here, Jairus is very doubtful and desperate.

The book of Mark seems to be contrasting two different approaches to faith in Christ. While both Jairus’ daughter and the woman are in desperate need of Jesus’ help, they both seem to approach Jesus in different ways. In Mark 5:23, Jairus runs to the feet of Jesus and pleas for him to come into his house and heal his daughter while in Mark 5:28-33 we discover a different sequence of events taking place. Verse 5:28-33 says that the woman came from behind Jesus, touched his clothes in belief that she would be healed, and then later ran to Jesus’ feet in praise.

Most react to Jesus in the manner that Jairus did. Others just come to Jesus with the assurance that they will be healed. This episode in the Gospel of Mark teaches us that no matter how urgent Jesus’ help may be needed, we are to still depend on Him to get the job when He wants to get it done. We are to simply wait in faith no matter how long it takes for Him to get back to us. So, relax and enjoy some time on the bench. Photo by Slight Clutter.

Tell People You're Rich!

2007-02-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

A period of my life was spent in poverty. Despite those six long years of living on Salvation Army canned goods/ gifts, digging through trash bins behind grocery stores for recyclables, receiving the annual turkey giveaways from my Dad's employment, and living in a small trailer attached to an ice cream truck, I still remember being rich. Rich in love. My parents made sure that we were rich in getting attention and affection. They also made sure we had what we needed even if it meant they couldn't have what they wanted. They made these sacrifices because it made them happier to see their child alive in having something that met a need. Receiving a new pair of socks each year was exciting!

Today, I can say that God has lifted my entire family out of financial struggle. Today, those experiences have allowed us to draw closer to one another. They have also allowed us to connect with the people that remain in such a state of deprivation.

As people who walk in the steps of the Lord, we are called to remember the poor, show them love, and make them feel rich in spirit. Go ahead tell people you're rich. Scriptures such as Psalm 113:7 tell us that when we share these things, God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. In addition, Deuteronomy 15:11 and Psalm 35:10 vividly portray the Lord's heart and passion for the poor and downtrodden. In Matthew 5:13 He even reminds us that Christians are to be the salt and light of the world.

Twice over the last year, I have had the opportunity to share that salt and light with the poor at the Fred Jordan Mission in Downtown L.A. Those friends, small group members, and former Yearbook students that have joined me along the way could tell you how rewarding it is to tell others of God's rich love. I'm glad I could say that I was once poor because I know I have been lifted from the ash heap.

I Don't Want To Be A Good Person

2007-01-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

I really do mean it when I say that I don’t like being a good person. Heck, I don’t even like doing good things. In other words, I hate mediocrity. In my short twenty-six years, I have come to an understanding that I need to be in pursuit of being a GREAT person. I need to be in pursuit of doing GREAT things. Let me rephrase that—I need to be doing GREAT things that will have a GREAT impact because I serve a GREAT, GREAT God. Did you catch that? GOD is GREAT! GREAT is GOD!

Great ideas, visions, dreams, things, etc always give us a better understanding of who God really is. Have you seen the new iPhone? Yes, God is a GENIUS! In fact, he’s the real creative, we’re just the tools. If we want to stand tall and make a real dent in our culture, we need to believe he is GREATER than us! When it comes to our futures, we’ve got to believe God can make them GREAT or else we will fall flat to good.

Jesus once gave an illustration of a pearl merchant on the lookout for a choice pearl. Jesus continued by saying that “when [the merchant] discovered a pearl of GREAT value, he sold everything he owned and bought it” (Mat. 13:45-46). In this illustration, Jesus was provoking his followers to give up all their hang-ups and follow him. He was mindful of motivating them to believe that living in unison with him brought GREATER value to their life NOW. To paraphrase Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven was not to be enjoyed tomorrow, but today. He was and is worth taking the risk! He is the PEARL!

Our current state of pop culture imitates this human longing. We root for Jack Bauer on 24 because he’s fighting for the salvation of millions of Americans. That’s GREAT! We can relate to the conflicted Peter Petrelli or Claire Bennett of Heroes because they are ORDINARY people with extraordinary abilities. That’s OUT OF THIS WORLD! We vote for our American Idols because they are often guaranteed to be better off as well-known vocalist. That’s HUGE!

I know this is TV, but how could we ignore these phenomena when over 35 million Americans are tuning in week-to-week to watch each story unfold. These shows tap at the heart of the human spirit. They tell us that people like to root for the underdog who longs to be transformed into something GREAT. It’s the same old Cinderella story repackaged and reformatted for your viewing pleasure.

The same is true in our lives right now. God is rooting for you! Yes, you too can have a BIG future if you choose to accept it. Stop wasting your time trying to be good…it will never be GREAT!

Last One Picked

2007-01-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

If you ever get to see me play any sport, you will come to discover that I'm terrible at swinging a bat, throwing a ball, or bouncing anything for that matter. In simple terms--I suck.

Let me take you back to my younger years of P.E. in jr. high. Picture this: You're a popular kid, you have your game face on, and the P.E. teacher announces, "We're going to play a game of tackle football!" Knowing that you have no athletic bone in your body, you curl up into the fetal position because in less than five minutes you will be the last one picked. Yup, that was me. According to the athletic types, I wasn't worth being a part of "their" team. That rejection often made me believe that I was truly inadequate. I'm so glad I don't believe that now. See, if I died tomorrow, I would hope that no one ever had any feelings of me making them feel "worth-less." Loving those that others often ignore should be a huge priority for us. In the book of Zechariah, God outlines a few prerequisites.

Don't Forget Your Community (Zechariah 7:8-14)

The direct product of true mourning and true fasting is a cleansed heart that is free from self-will and ill behavior. Demonstrating that their hearts had not met the requirement to true fasting, the Lord had Zechariah point out their abuse of the less fortunate (7:8-10). The people of Jersusalem had become selfish and so programed to routine that they were forgetting to care for those that were less fortunate. Zechariah sought to correct their behavior. He first needed to make them recognize that the fruit of their worship practices was barren. God was not pleased with a community of individuals who ignored the widows, orphans, foreigners, or poor (7:10). Zechariah’s intent was to bring attention to their cold formalism and contrite hearts (What the Bible is all About, Mears 212).

The passage reminds the ancient people that their ancestors had “turned stubbornly away and put their fingers in their ear…” This disobedience to God’s commands allowed the suffering of Babylonian Captivity (7:11-14). Here, Zechariah prompts his followers to seek God’s will or else they would face God’s wrath. Yup, rejection... Did I mention it sucks?

Learn from Your Teacher

2007-01-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

Discipleship is an ongoing process. I have to remind myself daily that Jesus is who I follow and who I should reflect. According to Dallas Willard, in his book titled Divine Conspiracy, everyone is a disciple to something or someone. Like a child to a school teacher, an athlete to a coach, Willard suggests that Jesus’ followers are to be students and “co-laborers” of his. As taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), followers of Christ must work alongside Jesus or as Willard puts it, “if I am Jesus’ disciple that means I am with him to learn from him now to be more like him.”

If you are like me, you probably find this difficult to do on a daily basis. We are individuals stained by sin, but who have been given the freedom to choose a better life. A life of love, discipline and obedience to the will of a higher power-God.

Willard stresses the teacher/student relationship in order to bring attention to the ongoing learning that takes place when one is under the masterful apprenticeship of Christ. According to Willard, one should “note that being a disciple, or apprentice of Jesus is a quite definite and obvious kind of thing.” Jesus teaching in his discourse of non-retaliation, refusal of advantage over another, and helping those in need, are direct and obvious fruits of the Spirit. Willard says that individuals who seek for themselves can be identified by simply observing what they do, and paying little attention to what they say. According to Willard, the problem with Christians today is “their failure to be constantly learning how to live their lives in the Kingdom Among Us.” A Kingdom that isn’t just in Heaven, but here on earth.

Note to student of Christ: Pay attention to your teacher and do what He says. Life is much less complicated this way...I promise.

The Year of Welebrities

2006-12-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

Painter, graphic artist, and moviemaker, Andy Warhol, once said that most people would get their fifteen minutes of fame before their expiration date. Well, it's official, viral video on the web has proven to make unknowns into celebrities. For those who uploaded video online in the last twelve months, Time magazine says this year is dedicated to YOU!

Here's a look at one of many videos that had us clicking away in 2006:

"In March, British Simpsons fans were treated to a promo featuring a real-life version of the show's famous intro. If it had been made 10 years ago, it might have taken quite a while to be seen outside the United Kingdom, but the ad's developers saw the potential of the clip and released it on the web. It certainly wasn't the only viral ad to get attention on the internet in 2006, but it was one of the most entertaining." -wired.com

For more, visit: wired.com

Ice Cream Truck Livin' Part Deux

2006-12-27T01:12:00.000-08:00

In part one I shared about the time when my family and I use to live in an ice cream truck attached to a trailer and a small shack. The shack was bulit along the way to accomodate the needs of our family. Yes, our family was poor. I remember being so poor that recieving gifts from the Salvation Army was a huge luxury for us. Can foods, plush toys, stationary, and many other items normally made up the gift packages we recieved from our visits to the Salvation Army during the holiday season.

Of all the things we went through I also remember that taking baths in the morning was a huge chore. We would first need to get up early enough to boil water. Next, we would pour the hot water into a large bucket (this allowed the water to settle into a decent temperature). And lastly, we would jump into a barrel where we would then use a cup to pour the water over ourselves. You would think that we were living in the middle ages or something. Nope, we were living in this kind of poverty from 1987-1992 (the world of today).

Like most of the Psalms found in the Bible, we should continually praise God for the things we have now and the things we had then. Although it wasn't much, I remember being thankful for the little our family had at that point. Even though our family lives a healthier and wealthier life now, what I have now is just more to be thankful for.

Psalm 92:1-4 says "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the harp and lute and the harmony of the lyre. You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done." Notice that King David suggest we give thanks with a "harp" and "lute". Okay, we may not know how to play those instruments, but whatever we do to give thanks to God, let's remember to make a big deal about it.

My Worst Enemy: Me

2006-12-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

Those that know me, know that my greatest strength is encouraging people, but that strength is also coupled with a great weakness--discouragment. I know I control how I let negativity affect me, but sometimes I can't help but replay the words in my head over and over. I allow me to get to me.

The Bible records many stories where people bring value to one another (read Mark 2, the account of the paralyzed man). The Scripture clearly tells us that life is much more rewarding when we live selflessly.

When you face discomfort, turn to Hebrews 10:19-39. Here, we're reminded that God is still in control. For one to understand why the writer chose to not write Hebrews as a letter, but as a Word of exhortation, one must first understand the time it was written in. First century Jewish Christians felt like sheep without a shepherd, and so, faced a traumatic identity struggle. The encouraging words of this epistle to the Hebrews seems to clearly push them to hold on to their faith in Christ. The Jewish Christians at this time allowed themselves to feel discouraged because of what they kept repeating to themselves.

Hebrews 11 gives multiple accounts of faithful servants like Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Gideon, and David. The purpose of retelling these accounts of faith were told in order to give counsel to weary Christians who needed reinforcement in knowing how God had once delivered others through their turmoil. A flashback to their heritage was one effort to prompt them to persevere. Jewish Christians thought that they had lost everything because of their new found faith in Christ. The writer sought to change their challenged perspective. Early Jewish believers were in danger of giving up on the hope they had found, simply because they were being persecuted by the Romans and fellow Jews. Their self-pity and discouraging attitudes led them to believe that they had lost everything including their altar, priests, and sacrifices.

Hmmm, this identity crisis and struggle for security seems all too familiar. Like the early Jewish Christians I haven't lost anything, I have only thought myself into thinking I have. Silly me. Today, I will make sure to consider what God has already done in my life as a step to help me grow.

Keep It Simple

2006-12-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

American culture is obsessed with developing appetites that concern individuals in radically making themselves over on the outside before reworking the inside. Every advertisement attempts to convince an individual that life could be better by adding one more accessory to their external being. Over the years, through media tools such as the internet, radio, television, newsprint, billboards and even ad spaces on bathroom stalls, corporations have aggressively polluted the visual landscape with marketing campaigns that scream “you need this.”

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ own teaching on radical living. It is a bold call to be different. In Matthew chapter 5 it was a call to be different in our moral conduct. The first half of Matthew chapter 6 is a call to be different in our worship practices: almsgiving, praying, fasting, etc. And now at the end of chapter 6 we have a call to be different in our rejection of materialism. Here, Jesus calls for followers to think in simple terms when it comes to their needs and wants. The moth and the rust (6:19-21), the birds of the air (6:26), and lilies in the field (6:28-30) all point to a carefree lifestyle. No longer is the contrast with the legalistic Pharisee – it is now with the secular materialist (perhaps a little more familiar to individuals today).

Matthew 6:19-30, Jesus is concerned with teaching His followers the importance of looking at life with simplicity. So often we fill life with things that seem important, but in fact remain trivial in the eyes of Jesus.

If you feel you have fallen into a trap, I recommend that you take some time to declutter. I also recommend that you take some time to refocus on what really matters (God and others). Living selfishly and chasing after material possessions does not benefit your present nor your future—it simply destroys it.

All Reality Is Not Created Equal

2005-07-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

Whenever I catch a dose of reality television, I laugh in amusement. I often find myself criticizing the character's actions and poor decisions and say things like, "Man, if I were in that situation I would do it this way." Or I continue and say things like, "Wow, that guys behavior was out of hand, he should have dealt with it this way."

If God allowed you to watch two weeks worth of your life on TV, don't you think you would find yourself giving the same criticisms about your own decision making and questionable behavior? I think so. Think about it... Did you do something last week that you know was unfavorable in the eyes of God? Of course you did... I know I did. But instead of living in regret and guilt, God tells us to move forward and "fight the good fight for what we believe" (1 Tim 6:12).

Our world is filled with weaksauces that have given up too soon and have eventually fallen into a life of self-inflicted misery. In every moment, we have a choice to fight for the right side. We have a choice to make good or make bad. We have a choice to add to someone's life or to take away from their life. Our goal as believers should be to become like the God that is spoken about in the Sciptures...not to become like a god we have invented for ourselves. The serpent lurks in every corner. If your life isn't devoted to reflecting the image of Christ, you are sure to get swallowed whole by the other reality. God's reality is different, and certainly not what we have been told it is on television. Go live life to the full... Big Brother is watching.

My Old Pain Killers

2005-06-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

When I was much younger, I would always purchase stuff compulsively. I would frequent the local electronic stores in search of new toys, movies, and most often, music. Money would burn quickly through my pockets. I couldn't manage having an extra buck in my hand... I would take it and want to spend it immediately on something else.

It took me awhile to understand this compulsive behavior, but I realized I was empty. My teasure (heart) was attracted to the material... Comfort to me use to come in plastic wrapped packages. Matt 6:21 tells us "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I remember popping in that pain killer and still remaining empty...lonely...desserted.

As children of a mighty God, let's not look down for help, but up. Our hearts must remain on the Teacher alone. In his book titled, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us that "if the heart is devoted to the mirage of the world, to the creature instead of the Creator, the disciple [student, learner] is lost" (174).

Ice Cream Truck Livin'

2005-06-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

Most people think I'm joking when I tell them that I once lived in an ice cream truck. They laugh. They chuckle. They simply can't believe it. Unfortunately, that story was very true. Yes, my family and I were once very poor. And yes, we did once live in an ice cream truck. In fact, it was attached to a small trailer, of course. Salvation Army gifts and meal packages were a huge resource for nourishment. Thankfully, those days still gave way to a lot of joy. My parents felt the pressure to provide, but never failed to love on me and my brothers and sisters.

In closing, let me say this... If at any moment you feel like life sucks...remember it could be worse. I often remind myself of my days in poverty because it allows me to increase my appreciation for what I have now. When I get together with my family, we love each other that much more. Since we couldn't afford to go to Disneyland as kids, we did the next best thing--play charades.

Preservatives Added

2005-06-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

As Christians we carry the responsibility of showing others what it takes to remain standing while others are falling- or as Jesus puts it, being the salt (Matt 5:13) and light (Matt 5:14). Why salt? Why light? Well, both have many functions. In fact the Salt Institute in Alexandria, Virginia lists over 14,000 uses for salt. Although not equipped with the technological advances of today, the ancient world had discovered just as many purposes. Salt was used for taste (Job 6:6 ), as a preservative, as medicine, as a form of pay/ taxation, on new born babies (Ezek 16:4), as a symbol of judgment/ destruction (Gen 19:26, Deut 29:23, Jer. 17:6, 48:9), for cattle feed (Isaiah 30:24), as a fertilizer (Luke 14:35), and as a sign of friendship and loyalty (Num 18:19, 2 Chron 13:5).

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus uses salt as a metaphor for the Christian way of life. Here, he brings attention to the use of salt for taste and preservation, reminding believers of their roles on “earth.” Believers are to permeate society and preserve it by extending their good deeds. In his book titled The Divine Conspiracy, Dr. Dallas Willard says that Jesus gives this metaphor of salt to help “the multitudes” (the common people) better understand their role in life (125). In this passage, Jesus highlights not the elite, but expresses that even “the common people, ” whom the sermon is being delivered to, could “make life on earth more manageable as they live from the kingdom” (Willard 125).

According to Dallas, these common people being addressed “are the only ones who can actually make the world work.” Makes you think doesn't it? Are you making the world work?