Ojai Work Day

Our Ojai Work Day was a smashing success. Click here for the slideshow, or you can always check the links on the right side. We worked really hard that day. We arrived around 9am and got straight to work. We started in the Sanctuary and listened to a pep talk from the church's pastor, Pastor Dan. We then started by picking up trash and vacuuming. We then slowly progressed to weeding the outside area and just cleaning up some areas. In my opinion the hardest part was the shoveling of the gravel. We had to disperse a truck load of rocks to different planters around the church.
While delivering the truck load shovel by shovel, we heard that the local Christian Hip Hop Band, the Reinforcements, was playing at the local Oak View Day celebration. They were a really great band and we had a great time listening to them. Once they finished we started posting flyers all over the city, one of my favorite parts was the boys hanging all the signs by driving around in the van. We got back to the church and the girls started to paint promotional signs for the church's VBS and the boys painted a staircase. It was a really great day and no one wanted to leave when the time had come. If you couldn't make it, sign-up for our other summer events so you can join us in the fun and ministry.

Don't be a Yap Yap Dog

Wow the Summer Calendar is filling faster than i thought! Currently we are completely full for our Summer Camp this year. I called this morning to get more spots, but i don't know. So if you still want to go to Summer Camp we have have a waiting list we can put you on. But our other events still have spaces so sign-up quick before those might run out as well. This Saturday is Ojai (pronouced Oh-Hi) and I am really jazzed about that trip, its going to be a blast. So if you havent got a Summer registration card get one quick, quick you can download it on this page on the links section and fill it out. As a side note, you do not need to fill out a card for the World Record Days and can just sign up the day of, but if you preregister you can skip all the lines and go striaght in a whole lot quicker. So make sure to sign up people to those major outreaching events.

So last night we talked about the difference of faith and works. To get into Heaven all we need is faith. But what James is telling us is that if we have a genuine faith, and if we really believe what God tells us, then our life will reflect that. Actions speak louder than words, and we shouldn't be yap yap dogs. (The dog on the left) Those little dogs that bark all the time but can't even bite their own food. We should model our lives after the dogs that don't have to bark all the time, because they can back up their bark with thier actions, a big old dog bite. (See dog on right) My favorite part of the passage was when James simply said, "I will show you my faith by my works" Can you make that same claim, telling someone that if they looked at every part of your life they would come to the conclusion that you love Jesus?

We are continuing our posting contest, so be one of the first people to respond to this post and win a prize next week. Just make sure that I can read your name so I know who to give the prize to!

Esther

So i got a haircut this week. No i didnt go to some fancy hairstylist, no i didnt go to super cuts. I figured i can cut paper, i can probably cut hair too. Some come this week and check out my new hairdo, i made it myself. Nothing but me and a pair of scissors.

This past weekend, I cant say this past Sunday cause we have an awesome Saturday night service now. But this weekend we looked at the book of Esther. It's one story of a woman named Esther, her cousin Mordecai, the King Xerxes, and the evil villain Haman. It is actually one of my favorite stories in the Bible. i have actually thought of writing a modern day adaptaion screen play to sell to Hollywood. Think about it, it would take place at a high school. Esther is the transfer student from another district and every loves her. The King is played by the Football Quarterback. The head cheerleader doesnt come to his victory party so he dumps her. Haman is played by the Quarterback's righthand man who is really the school bully. It would be awesome.

And finally I leave you with a new concept, what if Ferrari's could float? And in case your wondering, that is a real car, wait I mean a real boat. It can hold 4 people and tow a wakeboarder.

Don't Play Favorites

1st person to post and a random poster gets a free prize next Wednesday!!! So on Wednesday night we talked about not playing favorites. James calls us to treat everyone as equals, just as God sees everyone. I mean we shouldnt judge people on how they look if we don't want them to judge us just on how we look.

To the left you may notice a new pair of shoes that was released early this week. They claim it's just like being barefoot, but i know something that feels more like you are barefoot, its actually being bearfoot.

Nehemiah

Well we went through an entire Sunday without using the classic Nehemiah joke. Knock, Knock. Actaully it goes, "Who is the shortest guy in the Bible?, Nehemiah, cause he was only knee high. But we did learn some serious stuff too. Nehemiah was not a complainer, he didn't see a problem and then just whine about it and cry like a baby, he decieded he was going to do something about, and that is what he did. After praying he went before the king and the king made him a governor of Jerusalem so that Nehemiah could rebuilt the walls around his beloved city. We should most defineitly follow Nehemiah's example, when we see a problem, instead of complaining we should pray for God's strength and see how He uses us to work through the difficulties.

Cool Cell Phone Attachment

There are many fancy cell phones out there that can do many fancy things. Magical ringtones, pretty lights, even complete calendars. But I present to you the coolest cell phone attachment I have ever seen. Is it difficult for you to hold your cell phone between your ear and your shoulder. Do you miss the days of a comfortable handset resting there. Well all your promblems are solved, with this new headset. Better than an earpiece, this is the shoulder piece. And in case you were wondering, it only costs 30 bucks.

More than just listening

Have you ever heard that phrase in one ear, out the other? I always got confused, I imagined noise coming in one hear, traveling through an empty head and then out the others. I always saw it as an insult, like "You ain't got no brain cause when i talk the noise goes in your left ear travel right where your brain should be, but since you ain't got no brain it goes out your right ear. " But we learn this isnt the case. As Mark shared Wednesday night, we need to do more than just listen, to have stuff go from one ear to the other. We need to be "Do'ers". People that listen and hear what God is speaking and then go do something about it. Different ways to do something is to share your faith with a friend, invite them to church, show love to your brother or sister. Remember we are judge on how we act and what we do, not just how we listen.