Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The 2 Have Become 1



Here are two pics from the wedding. It was amazing to watch God perform a miracle right in front of our eyes - a miracle of making 2 become 1 flesh! I will post more pics once I have some, but let's just say that God was in our midst and we all knew it! Marriage was His idea and never ours...and praise God for His good ideas that are always full His love, hope, and care for us!

"AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH;
so they are no longer two, but one flesh." - Jesus

Monday, February 27, 2012

Jesus Burgers


This is the name of the park that Jesus Burgers began at over 10 years ago...the heart behind JB's has always been the same: see a city come to know Christ and experience the love of God.

Once the church secured a home to rent in 2002, on the infamous party street Del Playa, we moved the hamburgers to the front lines...please pray for us this Friday as we cook up seeds of God's love and sow them into hearts of those He gave His life for...our God reigns!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Our Daugher is Getting Married

Holly and I view Krissy (the gal to the far right) as a spiritual daughter that God has given us...over the last few years we have been through a lot together (love is patient & love is kind) with her and we could not be more excited to watch God make her one flesh with Erik Mason this Saturday!

Holly is coordinating the wedding and in it, and I am officiating it...I think our kids are in it too, but I don't really know. Anyways, it is going to be an amazing weekend watching God bring two people into the covenant of marriage!

Our Father is so faithful & good...we could not be more thankful to watch God bring such an honorable man, like Erik, into Krissy's life!

 


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Jesus Burger House


This is the view from the Jesus Burger home on Del Playa...and yes that is the ocean that it overlooks. God is so good to have given us this home over 10 years ago to server hamburgers from and to be a beacon of light to Isla Vista. We are in the process of making a video on the home that should be done in the next week or so.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Jesus Burgers

Here are a few pictures from last Friday night @ JB's...it's amazing how much love God has for people! We are currently in the process of beginning a book on the ministry Jesus Burgers - it will consist mostly of testimonies of how His love has been manifested over the years. More information on the book in the months to come, but in the meantime please pray for those contributing to the book.




Friday, February 17, 2012

Tithes & Offerings Box

These pictures are from the IVC tithe box that we have used for the last 3 years...we have decided to move to a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket (pictures of one these days), also known as Kingdom Financial Contributions.

God is good, super thankful for His provision to the IVC family over these years! Being in a college town, with the majority of the church family being college students, makes the life of faith easy live if you know what I mean. Holly and I are convinced that God has called us to live in IV and do what we are doing...we are honored to serve the King of glory in a city that so desperately needs Jesus.

As of this week it's now possible to give to the work of God in IVC and IV online: http://islavistachurch.org/donate/

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Cor. 9:6-8)

* Our friend Alexa Wan made the tithe box




Thursday, February 16, 2012

Del Playa & Jesus Burgers


I found this piece of wood today in my backyard.

Please pray for the street Del Playa & Jesus Burgers on Friday night. DP is the street that is infamous for the parties and now Jesus Burgers...God is doing a great work, we are honored by all of you who are standing with us in the place of prayer.

I like what Nehemiah said about the work that God had given him in
repairing and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Pray for the church in IV that they don't grow weary of doing good and remain single eye on Jesus alone.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Hope & Joanna


Hope does not have dolls, her sister Joanna is her obsession. She absolutely loves her, almost to death (hence the picture) - thanks for the pic Jessica

Monday, February 13, 2012

Friday Night in IV

Here is a picture of the house across from where we serve the Jesus Burgers every Friday night...picture the loudest sound system you can imagine, now picture a louder one. That is what is going on here, not to mentioned the biggest party on the street. Every Friday night this is pretty much the look, fortunately the DJ plays music that brings a happy party vibe to the street. After the music goes off at midnight, which is a law in IV (crazy you can play music as loud as you want till then), some of the people flood into our house to hang with us and have a Jesus Burger.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Why We Live in IV - LOL

The Word (Jesus) became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. (John 1:14)

Saturday, February 11, 2012

IVC FAMILY HOME GROUPS



Here is a pic from the Wednesday night Family Home Group in SB...we just finished reading the book above together...I love learning, growing, and discovering more of Jesus as a family!


Friday, February 10, 2012

A Longing Fulfilled | Jesus Loves IV

A Longing Fulfilled | Jesus Loves IV

This is from our friend Dani, she use to live at the Jesus Burger House about 2 years ago...super stoked for how God is using her life to love the poor and those who have not heard about Jesus!

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and freedom to prisoners;
to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn,
to grant those who mourn in Zion,
giving them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
(Isaiah 61:1-3)

IVC Sunday Gathering



Here are a few pictures of the church we meet at each Sunday...the IVC Family Gatherings have been amazing this year! It has been such a blessing worshiping God together, encouraging one another, and teaching each week. We usually meet from 4pm to 7pm every Sunday, which often is still not long enough...I guess we love Jesus and one another a lot!

Deeper


This is part of an email that my (Jason) dad sent me yesterday about this album, "I listened to entire cd again today & really like it. Although, I am not familiar with the songs, they are very strong worship songs that bring you into God's presence. I feel best to listen where you can close your eyes & meditate on Him & His presence."

Amen, I couldn't say it better dad!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Your Love is So Big


Mac Montgomery & The Family Band

Get it on iTunes 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Anchor of Hope


Here is the video Anchor of Hope - it was recorded
last Friday night at the Upper Room

Mac Montgomery's new album comes out 3/3/12

Brotherly Love



One of the main things that impacted my journey of coming to Christ over 10 years ago was spending time with my sister and her Christian friends for 8 months...in 2001 I moved into a home with three Christian guys and I remember being tripped out by how much they loved one another - hugging one another and loving on each other, and they were sober! I mean my friends and I would hug from time to time, but usually after a few beers or so. This new kind of love confused me, as it was so sincere and heartfelt. Later after coming to Christ I cam across this verse, which made more and more sense to me.

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - Jesus

The love of God changes the entire person...Christianity is not about trying to be a better person, it's about becoming an entirely new person by faith in Christ - sharing in the both the death and resurrection of Jesus!

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Love Your Neighbor

This picture is from our street...and no we did not do this or anyone we know. The city of Isla Vista thrives when it comes to community - mostly centered around the party scene. Overall, we feel safe in IV - besides a few incidents where random people have come to our door at 3am in the morning drunk trying to get in we have not had any problems. Due to 20,000 people in a one mile square radius it kind of builds a safety into the city where people are looking out for one another.

We love IV and we love the words of Jesus, "Love Thy Neighbor."

Monday, February 6, 2012

Prayer Before Jesus Burgers

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This a picture from last Friday night at the Upper Room...we broke into groups of 5 or so to pray for the IV and for His will to be done...it was a powerful night, as I personally saw God answer a lot of our prayers!

Thank you Jesus and thank you for the great love you have
for the city of Isla Vista!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Lion


"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverb 28:1)

Friday, February 3, 2012

Samuel Turns 7


This last Tuesday Samuel turned 7 years old...CRAZY that we have a 7 year old now! Wow times flies, as he was just one month old when we moved into the community house called Shiloh with 20+ people for 2 1/2 years.

As I dad I could not be more proud and thankful for the son that God has given Holly and me...he has such a caring and compassionate heart, and is doing such a great job as the big brother of the family. We love Samuel - it is an honor being your father!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A Blog About Jesus Burgers

A blog about Jesus Burgers from our good friend Derika Sims:
http://www.derikabrendsel.blogspot.com/

Jesus Burgers


These are a few pictures from last week at Jesus Burgers...every week God does amazing stuff with these hamburgers of love...this last week I got in several conversations that had a powerful impact on those that I was sharing with. One was with this gal who was trying to get me to go out with her friends to party. Once I shared that I have been married for almost 10 years she was so shocked...I then waited for her to calm down from the initial shock before I shocked her again by sharing how I also have 4 children. It was hilarious and awesome to watch her react the way she did...God used it to open up a great conversation about Him and life.

Please continue to pray for us on Friday nights - the harvest is plentiful, but the labors are few.