Broken Down

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

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

pic

Instructions from DI

done with breakfast

time for some grub

Video of AJ's Platoon

Can you find my son, AJ, here?

The Countdown Begins