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Just got home last night from an awesome D-Now weekend in New Mexico.  I always love going to the Aspendale Retreat Center in Cloudcroft, but this was the first time I was invited to speak at a winter event. I've never seen so much snow. They've had a record amount of snow fall this year and a few weeks ago the roof of the cafeteria collapsed. Despite a few challenges, God showed up and showed off in the lives of the students and their leaders. I don't know exactly how many made first-time decisions for Christ, but I think at least 15 did. The weekend was truly a spiritual awakening for many of us. It was awesome!


Standing in the snow with "The Odyssey" behind me


Students playing in the snow at Aspendale


Cafeteria roof collapse

I'm really looking forward to teaming up with my friend Jimmy Edward for some ministry next weekend in Pecos, Texas. Believing that God will make the 7 hour drive worthwhile. God is awesome!

My mother in law is in the ICU on a ventilator. She is in the exact situation she was in 11 years ago. She is in stable condition, but has a long road ahead of her. It has been a challenging time for our entire family, but we know God is faithful. He is good and we can trust Him to once again do what only He can.

I recently began helping lead Castle Hills en Español, the new Spanish service at our home church. CH en E is now the third service of our church's Sunday morning schedule and has the potential to grow tremendously. It has called for my family and I to take a huge step of faith, but it's the kind of step that God honors. We're having our first Friend Day this Sunday and we're praying for God to move in a powerful way. I will continue to speak at other churches and other events, but when not traveling I'll be at  Castle Hills en Español. I really believe that God wants to use this service to give life to many in San Antonio.

We have missed all the snow that has recently fallen in Texas. I'm scheduled to speak at a D-Now in New Mexico the last weekend of February and there should be snow there. The amount of snow they have gotten up there even caused the roof of the dining hall to collapse. I go every year to the Aspendale Retreat Center in July, but have never been in the winter. Hopefully, Lisa's mom will be doing better so she can go with me.

I'm excited about helping lead the new Spanish service at our home church Castle Hills First Baptist. We held the first Castle Hills en Español service yesterday with 43 in attendance. I love that the vision is not to start a church within a church, but to add a service completely in Spanish to our Sunday morning schedule. Castle Hills now has three services to choose from. Celebration, Mosaic and Castle Hills en Español. I'm very excited.

Of course, my priority will continue to be to travel and speak in other churches as the Lord allows. We have an outstanding team which brings incredible comfort and encouragement to my heart. Great things are ahead. God is moving. I'm glad that I can come along for the ride.

with Lisa and one of the Reptile Man's friends  |  the Triple A's at Seaworld  |  with Amanda and her favorite animals on her birthday in Leonard, Texas  |  with Andrew on his birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's  |  with Amanda on her birthday  |  Andrew with our dog Rocky  |  Our latest family picture  |  with my dog Rocky  |  Baptizing Adriana at Youth Week @ Alto Frio last July

2010 has been great. God is so good. I'll never understand how God can be so faithful and good to us when we are so unfaithful and bad. I know it's grace. I know it's mercy. I know it's love. I know that God's ways are way above mine. I also know and am confident that I will know and understand all truth one day.

I'm really having a blast speaking at e-kids. It has really become our ministry at Castle Hills. In the past it has been rare for me to speak to kids on a regular basis. All of a sudden I'm speaking to kids at least once a month. This Sunday I'll speak at e-kids for the third week in a row.

I've got three OBEY Regional Rallies scheduled so far for this year. The OBEY Conference is coming up in April and I'm praying for the largest crowd we have ever had. Last year we hit 500 and this year I'm praying for 700. More than anything I want God to be there and to move in a powerful and life-changing way.


Our family picture taken in December of 2009. I'm blessed with a great family.


Tried to find this dog a good home when he showed up in my yard. Came to the conclusion that
we were suppose to keep him and make him our family dog. I love "Rocky". He's a great dog.


Andrew also loves "Rocky".

I don't get how so many of us can go days without opening our Bibles and having some one on one time with God. I have preached and taught that prayer and Bible study go hand in hand, but in my life that hasn't always been true. Many of my prayers have become weak and routine. A quick meaningless prayer before a meal had the power of a wet mop. In spite of my personal devotional life or lack of, God still used me by his grace. I wonder what more he wanted to do and could have done if only I had been more focused on connecting with Him. If I struggle like this, how many more are out there struggling? Worst of all, how many are out there that don't realize there is a problem?

God is good! In the last few weeks God has gotten a hold of me. He has captured my attention like never before in my life and has revealed great and mighty truth. He's led me back to my Bible not just for sermon preparation but for my personal growth. Lisa and I are having prayer and Bible study with the Triple A's every night and are enjoying a devotional time together. I'm studying my Bible because I want to not because I feel I have to. I'm encouraged and excited about what is ahead and especially about what God will show me and do in and through me.

The Bible is God's gift to us. The answer to every question and situation is found in the Word of God. It strengthens, encourages, guides, convicts and builds. The Bible is designed to better our lives and families. Why not make time for it in our lives? Don't have time? Make time! We can't afford not to.

I would estimate that over 700 people attended the homegoing service of Pastor Jerry Salinas last Thursday evening. I met Pastor Jerry back in 1993 and had been encouraged by his life and ministry ever since. He always had a smile on his face that I believe was a direct result of his love for God and for people. He loved his Lord and was passionate about introducing everyone he came in contact with to him. One of my favorite memories of him is when he prayed for me at my ordination service back in 1995. Pastor Jerry's service felt more like a revival service than a funeral service. It was filled with powerful praise and worship, testimonies and a life-changing message from the Word of God. One of the best parts of the evening was getting to see so many friends that I hadn't seen in years. There were people greeting and hugging each other all around. I couldn't help but think that even at his homegoing service God was using Pastor Jerry to bring others together for encouragement. It was truly a night that honored Pastor Jerry and that brought glory to God just as he would have wanted.

Pastor Jerry was 53 years old and as I'm sure everyone agrees was way too young to go home to heaven. He leaves a legacy of many things behind, but for some reason the one that stands out to me the most as I type is faithfulness. Pastor Jerry was faithful. He was faithful to his Lord, his family and to God's ministry. Just like the rest of us he was not perfect, but he was faithful. He had his stumbles and his weaknesses. He didn't always get it right, but what he did get right was faithfulness. When Pastor Jerry breathed his last breath in his earthsuit, he saw his Lord face to face and heard the words we should all live to hear "well done good and faithful servant".

I want to be faithful. I want to honor my Lord and the legacy of Pastor Jerry Salinas by being faithful.

I spent last weekend in Alabama. It was my first trip to that state and I really enjoyed what God did. My friend Emilio pastors a church in Russellville which meets in a former Kingdom Hall. It was amazing to see how they have transformed this facility and how God is using it to draw others to Himself. I loved how the people were so receptive to the Word of God. They were so excited. It was very encouraging and really fired me up. I especially love the way God spoke at our final service on Sunday morning. Almost every person present asked God to work powerfully in and through their lives.

There were a couple of other highlights of my trip to Alabama. First, I was blessed to enjoy lunch with my favorite evangelist Junior Hill. Since 2000, Junior Hill has been a friend and an encourager to me. I was so blessed to spend some time with him.



The other highlight took place as I was preparing to board my flight from Huntsville to Houston. I looked up and Kirk Cameron was standing next to me. He was a super nice guy and we spent a few minutes chatting both on the plane before takeoff and once we arrived in Houston. I gave him a super thin New Testament and he gave me a DVD and a "Faithfold" wallet. The wallet is genuine leather and has a New Testament inside. It was quite a gift. I appreciate guys like him that may be well-known but don't act like it.



I spoke at e-kids this morning which is the kids worship service at our home church. Speaking to kids ages 6 to 11 is the toughest crowd I have ever had to speak to, but God was awesome and the kids were awesome. I'm speaking again on October 18th and maybe doing a whole month in the winter. The best part was getting to watch Adriana leading with the praise team and Amanda in the "first grade" section having a blast.

Things are slow right now. God has never let us down so I'm trusting in Him. He knows how much I love to speak. He knows I would love to be busy. I'm trusting Him.

Some pics from yesterday. Andrew had a fun day turning 4. Church then Chuck E. Cheese's then cake and presents then Seaworld!

 

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