Where's Waldo?

Broken Down

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:09:00 +0000

My first car was a small Toyota pick up. It was brand new and it lasted me for a very long time. But when I began to have a family, I discoverd that I needed something that would transportate us around easily.

My dad traded with me for a used car. It was big big car. It was as solid as a tank and got the same gas mileage as a tank. It had power windows and red red interior on the inside. The roof lining was falling down, touching my head and blocking the rearview mirror. It was old, it was broken down. At one point, the gas pedal was stuck on the freeway and I had to shift gears while it was idling to get us home.

When I was young things were working well. I was healthy, I made good money and I did it well for a very long time. But as life continued on, I became more and more like a used car. I had some dents, some of my body parts seemed to be falling apart, and the engine seemed to be idling high, but in reality it was not working. I was broken down.

When your car or life breaks down, it is our nature to fix it. We start fixing it from the inside, so that our outside can be improved. Recently, I have come to some break downs. Some disappoint in myself, others, and the tasks that we have failed. I am broken down, because I have caused myself to be apart from Chirst.

I need to start over, I need to have a NEW LIFE. I need to challenge myself, others, my church, my community and all those that I have an impact on. I need to live, digest, and tell the message no matter what my circumstances are the Message needs to get out so we can conquer being broken down.

And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have
the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all,
the
Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting
out. Ephesians 6:19-20 (The Message)

Do you want to broken down or do you want to know how to be new?

13

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:41:00 +0000

We are in October and the time where haunted houses, ghosts, witches and superstitions are predominate in our community. People invest a lot in the "mystery" of some things they do not understand. The most common fear is of the number "13"called Triskaidekaphobia.

But for me and my wife, that number is a blessing. You see, it had been 13 weeks since we last saw our son on July 12, 2009. He went to join the United States Marine Corps. While we could not speak to him (except for 30 seconds in the very beginning) during boot camp, we constantly wrote letters. We could not wait to hear from him. The stories on how he was doing, how he was adjusting to military life, the making of new friends, was warmly welcomed as we checked the mailbox daily.

Finally, the day arrived. The 13 weeks was over on October 8th and 9th. We got to see our son. It was something I had been secretly longing for. To see my son...my one and only son. On October 9, he was able to come home and share the stories. Share his experiences and finally not be told what to do.

When you wait to see someone you love, the number 13 is insignificant. it is just another number. It hold no superstition, it holds no bad luck. Because when you love someone you will wait and anticipate their return.

Jesus said, You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
One day, Jesus is coming back. I wait for him. I love Him now. If he comes back in 13 hours, days, or centuries those who follow, believe and love Him need to not worry about the world's superstition. We have no superstition in Christ, because we know He will come back...just like my son did.

AJ pics

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:31:00 +0000

pic

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:54:00 +0000

Instructions from DI

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 +0000

done with breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:12:00 +0000

time for some grub

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Video of AJ's Platoon

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Can you find my son, AJ, here?

The Countdown Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:51:00 +0000

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.7is7.com/otto/countdown.html?year=2009&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;month=10&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;date=09&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;hrs=0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ts=24&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;min=0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sec=0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;tz=local&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lang=en&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show=dhms&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;mode=t&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;cdir=down&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;bgcolor=%23CCFFFF&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;fgcolor=%23000000&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;title=Countdown%20To%20See%20AJ%27s%20Graduation%20from%20Boot%20Camp"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Countdown To See AJ's Graduation from Boot Camp&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Some people look cool in shades

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Wife preps tomorrow's illustration

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Basic Human Need

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Do you struggle with relationships? Forming relationships? Suriving relationships? There is a basic human need "to be loved". I learned that this week in our study on The Five Love Languages. We have desire for attention...yes...but what we really have is a desire to be loved. To love some one is intentional. You can't fake it. If you do, it is not a real relationship. It is built up on fantasy.

If I want to improve my relationship with my wife, daughters, son, friends, coworkers, I must learn to love them. It is the basic human need.

Who do you need to love?

Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:04:00 +0000

Today I got on the treadmill. It was my first step in exercising daily. My doctor has told me to exercise for at least 30 minutes. He told me I need to lose weight and that my sugar is too high. If I don't exercises my health will detoriate.

If I am to have a healthy spirtual life, I too must exercise my faith (Bible study, prayer, actions, attitudes). I need to build up my strength so I can last longer in my journey with Jesus.

A commentary on Hebrews 10:36 says, "Spiritual strength doesn"t come without exercise. There is a price to pay for having an intimate walk with God." I have to go now and begin my exercise with God.

"You need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised."~Hebrews 10:36

My Dad's Business

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:51:00 +0000

My Dad has a very successful business. Despite these down times in America, his housing business is still on the increase! He tried to get me to join, but I refused his offers. I neglected the opportunity.

Despite my rejections, he always seemed to have others invest in his home building business. He made outrageous promises to homeowners such as the building would never fall so long as people remembered who built it.

He started off with building over 11 homes at one point, but now he has grown to millions of homes worldwide. He started his business in a desert town. No it wasn't Las Vegas, but it did have some people whose values were against His. It wasn't the ideal town in those days.

He also said that his building were built on the BEST foundation. He spoke many times to me about how His foundations withstood the test of time. Yet I would still resist. I couldn't believe his business was booming. I thought, "There must be some trick to this! How could my dad profit in bad times." He told me, "Son, my home building business is good. But I want you to join my company. You will be my employer and I will be the boss of everything you do." Huh? Dad wants to boss me around? He wants to tell me what to do?

Again, I went years on other jobs. I worked selling tools using my carefully crafted words to make a sale. From there, I moved on into the furniture business. I visited homes that were built by the best. But as I looked at those homes filled with artwork, decorations, and furniture galore, they were nothing compared to Dad's homes. In fact my Dad's house had many rooms. He was constantly adding rooms as our family grew and grew and grew. It was an ongoing building project.

As I got older, I better understood this business. I joined my Dad's business. I was happy to call him boss. I learned and listened from everything he taught me. It seems that every day, he always had something new for me. In fact, he left me a Book for me to read. A book about building my life. A book about how I can tell others of the many rooms he had built.

My Dad always said that if I came to him, listened to him and followed him that, "It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the flood waters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built."

Thank you Dad for teaching how to live and how to invest in the eternal home business.

Love always,

Your son

Afraid of church?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Are you afraid of church? Perhaps you are not familiar with church culture, traditions or just have a bunch of questions about God and Jesus. North Point Community Church is launching an online church.

I would invite and encourage you to get connected. Just watch this video for the launch date and please let me know if you connected with them. ~Pastor Waldo

North Point Online - Promo 1 from North Point Media on Vimeo.

The Church that hurts

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:05:00 +0000

It is amazing when churches lose perspective. When I say "church", I really mean the people. After all, church would not exist without people. It has been said that, "Church would be perfect if it did not have people in it."

God has created a community of believers to exist in a local setting to carryout his mission, purpose and plan. But one of the first things we need to be reminded of is "love". Not just any kind of love, but the love that comes from someone who is far greater than anyone on this earth. A love that extends beyond human reasoning, beyond any love we can see today demonstrated. Even when people don't deserve it, God's love extends to them as the sun's rays extend to our faces.

The church that hurts is the one that has lost it's love. John talks about the church of Ephesus. In it he writes (from the words of Jesus) from Rev. 2:3-4:

and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

This sounds like a great church. A church that has undergone great trials and works so hard in the name of Christ. It is not tired, but strong. It sounds like a church you and I should be a part of. It sounds like a church that would welcome visitors, people who do not know Christ, but are searching for him. But watch this next verse. Verse 4.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Vers 5 tells us what we (the church aka people) should do:

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

This morning, I repent. I have lost my first love. I have lost HIS LOVE. I must labor now, I must lead now, I must go now. Church...will you join me?

waiting for my son to graduate

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:28:00 +0000

hearing the word of God

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:18:00 +0000

shirtd

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:16:00 +0000

free concert...join us!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:03:00 +0000

gym

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:14:00 +0000

i wish our church could look like this sometimes.

Granddaughter with grandpa

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:07:00 +0000

my grandsons showing love to grandpa

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:17:00 +0000

The boys

Health, School, Church and Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:08:00 +0000

It has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I apologize to the vast number of followers. Here is what has been on my mind lately, so please bear with me.

HEALTH
Since the beginning of the year, I am getting close to having used my sick time for a total of three weeks. I am glad I was healthy when I was younger and so I have accumulated alot of sick time. But that is not the point! I have had acid reflux, sinus/congestion and most recently back problems. I left work early yesterday, because my stomach was not functioning well (you know what I mean) and I felt sort of anxious. The doctor's office said to stop taking the Motrin. I know have to do something. I am not the healthiest person. I am going in for regular blood work today, hopefully there will not be any further health issues. (UPDATE: I couldn't find my insurance card, so now I can't get my lab work done! UGH!)

SCHOOL
I am almost done with second semester Greek. It has been fun and interesting learning new words and help me better appreciate the writers of the New Testament. I have my take home final due on Monday and my project due by next Monday. I am taking this Monday off to complete my final. I have really appreciated eveyone who is in the class. Each one brings a great talent to the class. If I don't see any of them anymore, I know I will see them in heaven.

CHURCH
This is the heart and soul of what I want to do. We have started off a new series called Marriage 101. I would like to invite all of you to attend (www.csbcfamily.net). We have had our ups and downs this year. I am preparing to compile a purpose statement after we have had a series of meetings. I am going to work, pray and ask God to help me to present it. Our leadership team has to be on board with this. The church has to get pumped. We have struggled with our finances and are going to have to address this area soon.

GRADUATION My son is graduating soon and then heading off to boot camp a month later. He is anxious, worried and a bit stressed and so are we.

Somehow, God is in the midst of all this. Sometimes I can't see him, fell him, or hear him. But that is not His fault, it is mine.

So how is your day?

3 happy ladies

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Waldo) — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:05:00 +0000