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

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.

Why We Live in IV - LOL

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

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!

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!

Your Love is So Big

Mac Montgomery & The Family Band

Get it on iTunes 

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)

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."

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!

The Lion

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

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!

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.

Alive to God in Christ Jesus!

This a picture from a baptism earlier this year (school year)...Biblically you never see alter calls, people praying a prayer to accept Jesus, or anything for the matter besides people going to the waters to give their life to Christ.

"Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'What should we do, brothers?' Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:37-38)

Baptism is a powerful act of faith where we declare the old is gone and the new is here - sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus! Dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus. No longer married to the Law or the world, but rather to Christ Jesus Himself (covenant).

"Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God." (Romans 7:4)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." ( 2 Cor 5:17)

A Word On Performance | Jesus Loves IV

A Word On Performance | Jesus Loves IV

This is a word from our brother Masa who goes to Westmont...it was during a testimony time at IVC.

His honesty is refreshing both in the church and in life - God is good, always faithful!

Prayer & Prophecy

Every Monday night from 7pm to 10pm we pray & prophecy over people in the prayer shed...one of the best things about this night, besides people encountering God and being loved and encouraged, is all the people coming from different campus ministries and churches.

Our heart is to be a blessing to IV and to strengthen the greater work that God is doing in this land...we as a church are honored to be able to host this night and speak God's heart over His people.

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy...But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort." (1 Corinthians 14:1-3)

http://jesuslovesiv.com/event/isla-vista-prayer-prophecy-6/

Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest | Jesus Loves IV

God works, you rest...He is so good!

The woman in this video is Marilynn, she is a pillar in the IVC family...her husband Joseph leads the Jesus Burger ministry on Friday nights. Please pray for God's hand of blessing to increase in their lives.

SB Family Home Group

The 2 Family Home Groups are on tonight in
IV & SB...this pic is from last week in SB:

Mac & Braelyn's house
302 Piedmont RD, 93105

The Upper Room - Friday Nights @ 8pm

These are a few pictures from the Upper Room this last weekend...the Upper Room is the time before Jesus Burgers (consisting mostly of worship, teaching, and prayer). Erik & Justin lead the time and have done an awesome job this year preparing the family to go out and love the city. Please pray for these two guys (pic w/the hands up) and the IVC family on Friday nights.

Here is a little video about the Upper Room: http://jesuslovesiv.com/portfolios/upper-room/

IVC FAMILY HOME GROUPS

We began two home groups this week with the IVC family...one in SB and the other at our house in IV. Each of them are around 15 people, and they are open to all!

We are calling them, The Normal Christian Life, since we believe the life of Jesus modeled what normal is for every son and daughter of God - how to live in right relationship with Father God: doing what He is doing and saying what He is saying.


Here is a link for more info on the home group/class: http://www.ivsod.com/the-normal-christian-life.html

Family Lunch

Yesterday Holly and I took the kids to have lunch with our friends without homes...the kids loved serving tacos to their new friends...especially to Pirate (they guy sitting next to Jeremiah) who received his name from the patch over his eye and the way he talks.

God is good, faithful to provide for the least of these both with love and food.

Jesus Tacos

The church Light & Life Goleta is giving away free tacos every Sunday from 11:30-1 at a park right in the middle of IV...it started 2wks ago, I have gone both times...it's a lot like Jesus Burgers, but most people are sober and it attracts more of a homelss/friends without homes group.

Sometimes we all need to get out and serve others, remembering as we do this we are really serving Jesus;

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" (Matt 25)

Epic - UCSB

This is a picture of a Christian campus group called Epic - their heart is to reach out to Asian's at UCSB with the message of Jesus Christ. Please pray for them - there 2 leaders are David & Amanda. David has lived at the DP House the last two years, super thankful for this man and the life he is living!

Mission: EPIC exists to give every Asian American student at UCSB an opportunity to know and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through gathering, growing and going.

IVC Presents: Upper Room

Every Friday night @ 8pm in the Prayer Shed - Jesus Burgers to follow!
IVC Presents: Upper Room | Jesus Loves IV

Jeremiah - LOL

This was during a Christmas musical...Jeremiah forgot 
to stop playing (we love this kid).

Jesus Burgers - Winter Quarter

IVC Presents: Jesus Burgers | Jesus Loves IV

Friday January 13th is when we will begin serving the hamburgers to the city of Isla Vista, as UCSB begins their Winter quarter on the 9th...pray for labors to be sent into the harvest, as God is growing hunger in the city to know Him.

And He (Jesus) was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2)

Merry CHRISTmas

"As we celebrate the Christmas season the greatest gift wasn't placed under a tree but He was hung on a tree."

Merry Christmas everyone! What a joy to celebrate Jesus and His birth!

Holly and I are beyond thankful for all the gifts that God has given us in family, friends, health, love, IVC family, and seeing His kingdom grow more and more in our city.

Here is a picture of our 4 greatest gifts that God has given Holly and I this last year:

Amazing Fall Quarter

The Fall quarter was full of many amazing testimonies of God doing what He does best – saving, healing, and delivering lives. It is my privilege as a pastor to be able to speak to different groups of people at UCSB, including the beloved IVC family. This quarter I was asked to come and share at the Christian Fraternity in IV. One of the guys in the group lives at the DP Home (Larry, the guy to the far right). I ended up sharing on 1 Thes 5:1-11 and we concluded the time by applying verse 11, encouraging and building one another with our words!

God is good, His word is alive!

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Hope & Jeremiah

May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1)

Redefining Cool | Jesus Loves IV

Redefining Cool | Jesus Loves IV

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61)

Merry CHRISTmas

Joanna Joy 7 months old

Raw Worship from the Prayer Shed

http://vimeo.com/33198872

Michelle, David, & An worshiping late one night in the prayer shed...we were made to worship God, to be in awe & in love with Him...enjoy!

"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers."  (Jesus)

Baptism (October 2011) | Jesus Loves IV

Baptism (October 2011) | Jesus Loves IV
I love watching this, God is good...He saves, transforms, and makes all things new!

Mac Montgomery & The Family Band - Holy Spirit Rock Anthem

Isla Vista Church & BSSM: Halloween | Jesus Loves IV

Isla Vista Church & BSSM: Halloween | Jesus Loves IV

DP House Family

Last night we had the DP House over for their once a month dinner and hangout at our house...they decided to do a Secret Santa gift exchange...it was awesome! Tons of laughter and plenty of "special" gifts like David's new pool & backpack or Bryce's outside glowing Jesus that Hope wanted to take a picture with (picture @ the bottom, Hope really loves Jesus).

The home has been such a blessing to so many lives this year! We are beyond thankful for the group that God picked to do life together and bless both the church and the city by who they are in the Him.

"make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." (Phil 2:2)

Live From The Upper Room - Deeper