Spring Break Trip - Redding CA

21 of us went about 10 hrs. north this last week during the UCSB spring break.  It was such an epic time of being together and encountering God!

God did some incredible stuff in each of our hearts and binding us closer together as a family. Over the last few years the IV Church has really turned into a family, a family that has grown closer together by being in the battle of winning souls to Christ. There is a bond of doing life together, which is sweet; however, there is a greater bond of doing life together and going to battle together...a bond through battle.

We are excited for this final quarter before summer; may God bring many sons and daughters to glory!

"This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Baptisms - Heaven on Earth

Honestly, two of the most amazing things I get to do in life are baptisms and officiating wedding ceremonies. Both are extremely similar and both welcome heaven into earth like nothing I have ever experienced!

This last Sunday 7 beautiful people got baptized and experienced the resurrection of Jesus - buried with Him in baptism and raised to the newness of life. (Rom 6)

The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to set men and women free, completely free - free from sin, self, and death and "alive God in Christ Jesus." (Rom 6:11)

Jesus Burgers

This last Saturday was our final Jesus Burgers for the Winter Quarter...it was sweet to have some Westmont "Warriors" join us for their first time in partnering with God & us for His glory in Isla Vista.

Over the last 10 yrs. of passing these hamburgers out week-in and week-out I have come to see them as seeds for the kingdom of God...seeds of faith, hope, and love...seeds that God uses to bring people to His Son and others back to their first love.

The amount of prodigals in Isla Vista alone is stunning, but after witnessing 7 baptisms yesterday, several of whom where prodigals coming home, I know that God uses every kind of seed and prayer for His eternal purposes.

We are super stoked for the Jesus Burgers to begin again in early April. Finals are this week and UCSB spring break is the following week.

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Gal 6:9)

Big Bear Retreat

There were close to 25 of us packed into a cabin last weekend in Big Bear and enjoying Jesus and one another! The weather was incredible...blue skies and snow everywhere, which made for some fun outdoor activities. The weekend can be summed up by saying one big thank you to our Father in Heaven..thank you for family, friends, food, & tons fun!

"Then it was said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.' The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."  - Psalm 126

Spring Break

About 15 people from the IVC family went north to a city called Redding over Presidents Weekend...there is a church up there that God is doing great things with, plus it's such a sweet time of being together for several days...family!

I was not able to go on this trip due to work and other things, but I plan on taking another crew of about 20 people over Spring Break. It's such an incredible privilege for Holly and I to be in the lives of so many amazing young people...we are in awe of Christ in them and how He is working through them!

"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (3 John 1:4)

Wednesday Nights - "Organic Family Dinner"

Every Wednesday we are gathering as a church at the dp house from 5pm-7pm to eat together...it's called "organic family dinner night," as everyone is asked to bring some kind of organic food to contribute to the night.

This Wednesday marks doing a month of them, and each one seems to bring a few more people...Psalm 133 articulates my heart for why we are doing these dinners, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!"

I love the family God and seeing His family do life together...if you live in SB/IV join us one of these Wednesdays!

Children Are A Blessing

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." - Psalm 127



The mandate from heaven found in the 1st chapter of the Bible was for God's children to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth with His glory...I have not found a verse yet that indicates that God has changed His mind or thinks differently about family and having babies. God is a "family man," hence from eternity past He has always been a Father - a Father whose heart is to have many sons and daughters.

I am so thankful that God has brought Holly and I to a place of trusting Him with the size of our family...so stoked for Joanna Joy in early May and all the blessings she will bring to our home! It's amazes me how much love I have for my kids, a glimpse of God's love for His children.

Thank you Jesus for ambushing me with Your love 10 yrs. ago and setting me free from sin, self, and the the ways of the world...Your love has set me free Jesus and I am honored to be called by Your name, I love you God!

Love Walks - Isla Vista

Jesus walked around and loved people; so we are doing the same thing in IV.

Every Monday and Friday people from IVC are meeting at the DP House at 4pm and cruising the streets of IV to love people - going out 2 by 2, biblical style.

The three-fold vision is to: greet, meet, and get prayer requests.

Like Jesus, amazing things happen when we make ourselves available and go on walks of love. There is no pressure to do anything besides walk and pray...however, like always when we make ourselves available God does more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20).

On Monday Andy Do and I went out and got several prayer requests, prayed over a few people, and said hi to many...ah, God is good - honored to be used by the King of kings.

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work." (John 4:34)

Jeremiah

Here is a pic of Jeremiah last weekend, he is such a great little guy...it's incredible how much I have learned about the Father heart of God by spending time with my children. Over the years each of them have taught Holly and I more and more what it means to love, live, and laugh. I am honored to be a father of 4, we can't wait to meet Joanna Joy in early May.

Daniel & Samuel

Here are some pictures of Daniel playing with Samuel...Daniel lives at the DP House.

Holly and are thankful and blessed to have so many incredible people around our kids to love them, play with them, and teach them about life...raising your kids in a college town was never something I thought I would be doing, but now that we are I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

Thank you Jesus for Daniel and so many other incredible guys and gals that love your Name and your glory in Isla Vista!

Glory

Here is a picture of a few of the brothers outside the DP House worshiping the King of kings and enjoying His creation!


"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jer 29:7)

Acts 2:42

Ever since IVC was birthed in 2002 we have always had a heart for what we read in the book of Acts...lately God has been speaking to me a ton about us sowing more into what we see in Acts 2:42, in addition to what was happening in the early church as the result of them going out - "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Here is something I passed out to the family yesterday at the gathering:

"The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)

* More Word - faith comes by hearing
* More Fellowship - family time & retreats
* More Break Bread - eating together
* More Prayer - prayer walks, mon night, upper room, etc

Monday

4 to 5ish (love walks: greet, meet, & prayer
request)......meet at dp house

5:30 to 6:30 (prayer for iv, ivc, and beyond)...prayer shed


Tuesday

4 to 5ish (read the Word together).....6737 Sueno Rd


Wednesday

5 to 7 (organic dinner night: fruits & veggies)...6686 DP


Thursday

4 to 5:30 (cornhole, chill, & family time)....6737 Sueno Rd


Friday

4 to 5ish (love walks: greet, meet, & prayer
request)......6686 dp house

-------
Saturday

8 to 10ish (Upper Room)

11 to late (Jesus Burgers)

Sunday

4 - 6 (worship gathering)

6 - late (dinner & family time) 



* Lord willing more retreats

My Boyz

This weekend I had the kids while Holly went down to the OC for a momma conference...Lord willing she will return by 8pm so I can get out to Jesus Burgers tonight!

One of the guys in the ivc family took these pictures on Friday when we went for a walk - thanks An, you're a champ!

Samuel Turns 6

Samuel turned 6 on Sunday! Holly and I could not be more proud and thankful for him, he is such an incredible kid! On Saturday we had a birthday party at our house with the majority of those there being his college-age buddies...you can imagine what the most popular gift among college guys would be (just look at the pictures, he only got 6 of them).

Engagement

Our beloved brother and friend, along with worship leader for the IVC family, got engaged on Friday! His fiance Braelyn just moved up here from Orange County a few weeks ago...this is such an exciting time for the IVC family as couples are starting to get engaged and Lord willing we will have multiple wedding celebrations this year!

More heaven in 2011!

Worship Team

With the growth in IVC this year we had a worship team meeting the other week with some of the musicians in the family...it was good for us to get on the same page and begin to think about how to raise other people up to lead and help out with worship.

Church to me is a family, which is why these kind of meetings are nothing more then a "family meeting" taking care of "family business." I am honored to do life with some incredible and loving people, future history makers of their generation!

* the bottom picture is a bookshelf in one of the guys rooms at the dp house, you've got to appreciate their ingenuity

Jesus Burgers

Jesus Burgers this Saturday night was amazing! The love of God was evident, as it is every Saturday, at 6686 Del Playa...so many testimonies over the years! 2011 marks the 10 year anniversary of seeing these love hamburgers soften hearts and change lives!

On a funny note, this Saturday, Joseph Granado (the grill master and pastor of this night) was home with his wife who was not feeling good...so Justin, one of the guys who lives at the DP House, went to start up the grill with his face kind of close to it. As he dropped a match into it in order to ignite it, the biggest fireball ever came out of the grill practically engulfing him. At the time this was not funny, but now it's hilarious...knowing Justin's personality makes this a lot funnier, but immediately he was like, "Is my beard still there?  Are my eyebrows okay?"...poor guy, he for sure lost some hair by getting a little trim in the front.

Ah, so many stories of love, humor, and the goodness of God from all my years being in IV cooking up these hamburgers.

“A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.” (Prov 18:16)





* Kyle took over for Justin after the episode, helmet and all.

IVC Worship - Jesus, How You Shine

Our friend Josh Morton recorded about 6 minutes of worship on Sunday:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150389460485122&comments

Family Time

The new quarter has begun and we are so stoked that a lot of the iv family is back, minus some of our SBCC students...more heaven in 2011!

Baby J

Our little man went to the dentist the other day, these pictures crack me up...I love this guy so much!

Family Photos

Our friend Rob Wang took our annual family photos for us this last month, here are a few shots - check out his website: http://robwang.com/2010/12/lomelino/

Derika's Blog - Jesus Burgers, IV, & More

Our really good friend Derika, who has helped plant the church in Isla Vista with us and others, blogs about Jesus Burger's, IV, and her life...she is a good writer, I always look forward to reading her latest entries:

Check her blog out from time to time:

http://derikabrendsel.blogspot.com/

Isla Vista - Winter Break

We returned home from visiting friends in Palm Springs and then family in San Diego Christmas night...I took this picture Sunday morning. If you have visited IV or live in IV you know how rare of a sighting this is, as the streets are almost always lined with cars making it difficult at times to find a spot anywhere on our street.

The majority of the students return back this weekend, we are stoked for another quarter - God is making Jesus more and more famous in our city!

God looks like Jesus

Ever wonder what God acts like, talks like, or thinks like...the answer is simple = Jesus

Hebrew 1:3 says this of Jesus, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature..." Jesus wasn't kind of a representation of God, He was exactly like God, an imprint of God - this is why the more we get to know Jesus the more we get to know the Father.

I read this today and it reminder me that Jesus is like God and that God is like Jesus:

Jesus spent his ministry freeing people from evil and misery.
This is what God seeks to do.

Jesus wars against spiritual forces that oppress people and resist God's good purposes.
This is what God does.

Jesus loved people others rejected - even people who rejected him.
This is how God loves.

Jesus had nothing but compassion for people who were afflicted by sin, disease, and tragedy.
This is how God feels.

And Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, suffering in the place of sinful humanity, defeating sin and the devil, because he passionately loved people and wants to reconcile them to God.
This is how God saves.

By Greg Boyd, Is God to Blame? Moving Beyond Pat Answers to the Problem of Suffering