A Piece of Heaven on Earth

Good Day

Living in the border region of west Texas and southern New Mexico provides a positive environment to grow and learn. We are blessed with beautiful weather, delicious food, kind people and unlimited opportunity. Many of the regions population are financially challenged or living in poverty however the transformative power of Jesus is alive and well and his blessings in the region are evident and flowing.

In 1992 my mother moved my 2 sisters and me with her to El Paso's west side when I was approximately 12 yrs old. I welcomed the new form of city life and access to large schools that I was not accustomed to in Sierra County NM. Unfortunately, rebellion and poor judgment was a constant embarrassment to my family, friends and my friends parents. El Paso didn't experience the financial success and economic growth much of the rest of the US experienced during the 90's and has been a regularly overlooked destination for middle class incomes when relocating.

As soon as I saved up enough money for a plane ticket, I moved to Kauai HI, with my brother, to flea what I saw as an impossible financial situation in El Paso. I came to find out finances are much more difficult to manage in Hawaii than I could have possible imagined in El Paso. Eventually I went without food for several days due to limited opportunity and I called out for help. My mom sent me enough money for a plane ticket and I unceremoniously left back to El Paso after about a year of struggling on the island.

Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". I force my spirit to utter this verse when I notice doubt is creeping into my mind. Doubt is so difficult to identify, many times it enters our minds as something logical or normal and we then accept a lie from the enemy without actually acknowledging it. This is why the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;". 

A majority of the El Paso locals are generational immigrants to the region; recent census estimates are close to 90% Mexican/American population. Mexico, just a few miles from my doorstep, has a tumultuous past of large scale financial hardships and elitist corruption that leads many of the Mexico's poorest population to seek relief by traveling north and finding work in the USA. Historically El Paso has been a primary passage for millions of immigrants into America. The name El Paso is translated: the pass. 

Nowhere else, besides California's San Joaquin Valley, is Gods laws of seed time and harvest more evident than right here in the Rio Grande Valley. All the way from Albuquerque down to Presidio, TX and eventually the gulf of Mexico, we unwittingly rely on the agricultural systems of farming and ranching to supplement the food and sustenance for millions of border dwellers. While I do find myself in awe of and appreciative of the vast amounts of resources and capabilities of modern agriculture, I place my faith in our savior Jesus and his ability to provide for his sheep as our Shepherd.

Dealing with Doubt

   Twitter has become a personal fascination, I find myself combing through vast amounts of tweets, it can be a great tool for sharing the good news and keeping current on everything from local events to global politics. Occasionally, I am challenged by opposing personalities who's world views differ from mine. I am fairly outspoken and I always welcome different perspectives in an effort to sharpen my own philosophy and rebuttals though I haven't always been this way.

   I started my twitter profile in early 2009 mostly because I was not pleased with Facebook and wanted a more "intelligent" platform to spew my opinions. Eventually I caught on to what twitter was really about: Be a pseudo celebrity by remaking your own worldview to emulate those of the celebrities and artists who commanded large numbers of followers. I followed suit and eventually made a small niche for myself among other like-minded.

   By 2011 I was regularly, verbally assaulting strangers. I would go off on someone or everyone. I was losing my sanity in 140 characters: on occasion, I posted pic of cash and another post was of my handgun. During this time I was very unstable, both financially and psychologically. Thank God my redeemer Jesus welcomed me back into his Kingdom and gave me the free gift of salvation.

   If you are unaware, the majority of the twitter landscape is a propaganda machine that supplants an illusion of free speech to the users but only broadcasts a very limited perspective. It seems, when someone disagrees with any number of specific promoted ideologies, they will in turn be attacked by groups of roving, combative, trolls and possibly relegated to obscurity; it's akin to being forced to leave the cool kids lunch table in high school.

   The "trends" is a method employed by the service that logically displays the most often tweeted words, phrases or "hashtags" and lists them in an order of popularity on the dashboard for the users "convenience". This could be an attempt to create key words and introduce them into the psyche of the user as a term of elevated importance. #KONY became one of the first publicized dramas to play out on social media that eventually reached the majority of mainstream media outlets. On the surface it seemed to be a good social cause: help eliminate genocide in Africa by tweeting and it very well could have done good in raising awareness. However, recently, we witness twitter behind the promotion of hate and violence being spread surrounding #furguson: In my opinion, a mechanism to promote a victimized culture of civic disobedience and social chaos.

  Currently, there are several varying iterations of the micro blogging platform littering the digital landscape, providing "safe" outlets for the frustrations of humanity. The philosophy of atheism, hedonism and sexual debauchery is on full display and offered for interaction with anyone and everyone in the general public. Almost everyone who gains traction on Twitter or Instagram falls into one of following categories: rapper, stripper, promoter, model, artist, feminist, shirtless wonder, lgbt activist or a lewd pervert. Mark my words: the twitter deception is a very real and powerful attempt by the enemy to dissuade believers and non-believers from the Fathers Kingdom.

  Thank God for Jesus, my life has changed for the better and so has my twitter profile. Before, I would spend hours preparing vulgar language to insult others, now I use my God given ability to debate with based tweets in agreement with Biblical doctrine. On occasion I have been attacked by atheist twitter gangs and ended up spending days debating, thankfully the Holy Spirit gives me insight and provides the answers to the really tough questions. I pray for the lost souls who would dissuade another from belief in the true God of the Bible.

Work and Home Life

  Work and home life balance is generally a struggle and difficult to define. Our home partners can feel unappreciated if there are not constant reminders of just how appreciated they are while our work partners want a sense of approval through recommendations and achievements.  While some partners may feel he or she is meeting the expectations of the other parties, there remains conflicts and disappointments regardless of how much time you spend at home versus time at work. Work partners are generally less emotionally distraught when we show up late or forget an appointment.

 My role as an enabler with the power to delegate is exactly where I want to be at both work and home. I am learning, more now than I ever have, being a devoted husband is very demanding. The elusive balance can be achieved in imaginations, whether or not we ever actually achieve this ideal is highly subjective. Currently, if I was to time myself at home vs work and compare the quality of my life on those measurements there would be some evidence in favor of my home life. However if you asked my wife she would probably ask for more attention.

 The thought of becoming obsolete becomes quite a frustrating issue for many newly minted fathers and businessmen. Eventually an individual resolves to behave and base his image on the manner of livelihood he actually lives versus how he wants to view himself or wishes to be represented. The results can be quite different, hence maturity is always quite elusive with aggressive entrepreneurial men. Mature too quickly and you risk losing your creative drive and ambition, while your team members carry on like drunken frat boys enjoying the fruits of their labor in appropriate, and inappropriate manners.

  With the assistance of the wonderful individuals God has placed by my side we can achieve what millions of Americans and billions of others only dream about. A good balanced home and work life.


  God Bless

How to Navigate

Good Day

  Humans navigate the obstacles of life and eventually reach the destinations we have set before us. The destinations are defined by our worldview and the people we include in our travel. Some destinations have notable edifying characteristics while others are vain and lack intrinsic value. The character and personality of the traveler will be shaped and formed by the experiences and lessons learned throughout the journey until the sojourners physical life ends at death.

   Sometimes we rely on GPS enabled navigation in our hi-tech world. Before GPS humans relied on hand made maps and the constellations for direction. The term "navigator" was used to describe a person educated in the science of directions and telemetry used to formulate routes to destinations. If a navigator was dishonest concerning his experiences or expertise the life of the traveler and his family could be put in considerable risk. Consider Jesus Christ as our heavenly navigator, the Word (Bible) or Holy Ghost our heavenly map or GPS. John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." 

According to the Christian Biblical faith there is a final destination for our spirit that is not independent of our travels within the known physical realm. Matthew 25:46 (AKJV) "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Our spirit will spend eternity in the destination we chose for it based on the decisions we make and the words we speak. There is no proof or fact, scientific or otherwise, proving the "spirit" can die or end, for all intended purposes, the spirit is eternal

  

  We use "vehicles" to assist in traveling to our destinations. In the Biblical era humans used chariots as the vehicle of choice for navigating to plotted destinations by following the course. Today we predominantly use cars and trucks, I prefer fast and agile automobiles while others prefer bicycles and airplanes. The vehicles we use to reach our destinations are important to us in the physical, how much more important are the vehicles we use to reach our spiritual destination? 

  I believe the spiritual vehicles we use to reach our spiritual destinations are the thoughts we think and meditate on and physical words we speak (words require movement and are based on the thoughts we think) and finally the actions we take based on those thoughts and words. James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.", 1 John 4:2 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God"

  There is always much more to a journey than what we initially plan for, many times we must adjust our plans when unseen circumstances are encountered. Thank God, the destination, the map and the navigator, for Christians, never changes Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Who and what are you letting navigate your spirit?

God Bless

The Refinery

Good Day

  

   Engineers, scientists and vast numbers of professionals are employed around the globe by the largest and most powerful organizations on the planet. They are tasked with refining petroleum and other products for use in the global economy. Oil refineries and pump stations are a familiar sight here in El Paso and most of Texas. Oil is still the lifeblood of the economy, large scale mining is another a source of immense power and wealth on earth. There are a few striking similarities and parallels between the kingdoms of the earth and our fathers Heavenly Kingdom.

  

  Human souls, for the sake of making my point, can be equated to crude petrol or unrefined precious metals and minerals. There are vast amounts of us, several billions of us on earth and many of us are literally crude in our behavior and attitudes. 1st Peter 2:5 Peter refers to us as "living stones": Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Coincidentally oil shale is a form of rock that can be processed to reveal petroleum.

  

  So how do we go from being crude minerals and hidden gems to becoming well lit lamps and solid rocks in the foundation of His Holy Temple? Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Amen, we must be refined!

  

  Peter refers to the "spiritual sacrifices" and in Zachariah the context is in relation to end times and references the book of Revelations. God has been speaking to my inner man over the past few weeks regarding the refining going on in my heart and in my own life. There is coming a great purification by fire, there are several biblical references to this coinciding with the return of the our Messiah Y'shua Hamashiach.

  What are spiritual sacrifices? Here's a fairly succinct explanation: http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/treasure-digest-qa-what-are-spiritual-sacrifices/. So what does this all mean in relation to current events? In my opinion and many experts will agree; The greatest test we have yet to experience is one involving, what we perceive, as our own physical life and when it is threatened by an outside force. Truthfully, the only way God can know we will choose him over our own self is a test of life and death.

  When we are tested it will be the real deal. There is no avoiding the test either, everyone will be tested by fire and according to his word only a 1/3 will make the grade. We are left to wonder whether the statistic is based on humanity as a whole or if it is only 1/3 of those who claim to be followers of "The Way". I am led to believe the latter given humanities current situation. Let us use our short time we have left in this realm to help others become aware of the coming tests. Let us use this short time we have left to reaffirm our dedication to our Holy God the Father, his Son, Jesus and The Comforter the Holy Ghost.

 

 

Amen

Family Time

Good day

   I am blessed to have been raised by a wonderful and loving family. I am always reminded of how blessed I have been to be born into this family. We have a plethora of challenges, many would categorize as dilemmas. I see it this way myself sometimes and need some reminding of just how fallen of a creation we are no matter how much we like ourselves.

  My mother attended an all girl catholic school in El Paso, she was raised by an Irishman from Brooklyn and a teacher from Aguas Calientes, MX along with her brother and 2 sisters. Her childhood was challenging but she was extremely intelligent and graduated high school early and registered for college at only 16 years old. My mom currently spends much of her time raising my nephew, hopefully he will turn out like a better version of me. My mother has acquired an undying devotion to God and his son Jesus, through the impartation of studying the Word and the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

  My father has so many stories to tell, I wish there was a way to document them all, somebody really should do a biography on the man. His early years of "sheep camp" sound like the most miserable existence one could imagine especially for a child of his young age. Those years consisted of spending summers in the northern New Mexico wilderness, along with a random immigrant charged with shepherding several heads of sheep. They would stay out at "camp" for a few months or until the sheep were fat enough to be sold, sheered or slaughtered. My father was just a child and this could be considered neglect in todays climate. 

  Later in life, my father experienced a series of life changing events that would challenge anyone to question the direction his life was headed, thank God, he came out a new man in Jesus. He was always talented and capable, and has long been a born-agian Christian. Now he is a well known expert in construction consultation in southern New Mexico. He is remarried now, he and Cathy compliment each other very well. He was contracted by Ted Turner (TNT, Braves, Hawks) to manage the Ladder Ranch renovation project for the homes and cabins on the billionaires property.

  My siblings are both interesting and talented, each in their own right. The eldest, half-sister, Laura is the most technically accomplished individual in our family. Laura is a practicing doctor of family medicine in southern New Mexico. Her daughter Jade is a beautiful and intelligent. Sean is my eldest half-brother. Sean is busy in Denver creating a name for himself in music, art and metal fabrication.  I whole -heartedly hope and pray for Sean to come back into the fold of the faith in our father God.

  Myself along with my half-brother Brendan make up the middle segment of siblings. Brendan is who I aspired to be as a teenager, he was 4 years older, skateboarded, surfed and lived in Santa Barbara California for much of his adolescence. Brendan is a much cooler, better looking version of me. He chooses to live on the island of Kauai, HI with his girlfriend. Earlier this year, along with my dad, I went to Kauai to see Brendan. We had a great time, obviously, but we were also able to pray with Brendan and help him commit his life to our savior, Jesus

  The 2 younger sisters are Bonnie and Christian. On a side-note; Brendan, myself, Bonnie and Christian were each born within a 4 year sequence of the previous. Bonnie is the most head-strong and confident of the 2. Bonnie is the mother of Michael. Christian  is an independent free-spirit looking for success in Seattle. Bonnie is climbing the social ladder in El Paso. Both Chrissy and Bonnie are exceedingly capable individuals with glowing personalities and beautiful features. I consistently pray for both; for the redemption of their souls and for loving relationships with our savior, Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, it is a rarity to have the entire family completely assembled for any events or gatherings. Mostly, we do our best to keep in touch and keep each other up to date on any family drama. I hope and pray; In the future my family is able to congregate and enjoy family time with increased inclusion, regularity and happiness.

  God Bless

Weird Week

Good Day

What a weird week, it started off normal enough, but quickly descended into controversy. Thank God my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is by my side and through him I am more than a conqueror.

Since quitting drinking my social life has suffered immeasurably. There is a documented socio-economic link between socially active alcoholics and success in business, especially sales. I find it very difficult to strike up friendships with strangers without a drink in my hand and I'm sure there are many others who experience this frustration. I just pray that God directs my steps and introduces me to the correct people.

Just yesterday, my professional character was attacked by a person whom shall remain nameless. Thank God I have supernatural favor and grace because the enemy was setting me up to be fired. The enemy will use every weapon against us, even our own confidence. My spirit man has been pushing me to be bold. I've been hearing Proverbs 28 over and over "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."

I will continue to fight the good fight and pursue my heavenly and earthly responsibilities, God has blessed me, I am aware of how blessed I am, God practically spoils me like I am one of his favorite children, at least that's how I feel. When others attack me I must remember to love my enemies and forgive them.

Just this morning I read about the passing of Jason Rabedeux; Jason was the UTEP basketball coach who took over for Don Haskins. He was responsible for kicking me off of the UTEP practice squad and firing G Ray Johnson (the family friend who had assisted me in my foray into college hoops as a young athlete). He was only 49, his wife left him 2 years after he got the job at UTEP and he was replaced at Utep after 4 unsuccessful years. Later he was forced to migrate to Asia in order to coach, where he died. I am deeply saddened by this news, I remember meeting with Jason in his office he seemed like a depressed man, he had no love, life or light in his eyes. He dismissed me without a second thought, I hope and pray God forgives him and accepts him into his kingdom.

God Bless