SEPT 1 IS COMING

i am so excited that football season is on its way. i like baseball, but football is great and the trojans are locked and loaded and ready to go. i have my tickets for the first game, but am waiting for my soccer schedule with my two little rugrats to see what other games i can go to. the trojans have a huge target on their backs, as a preseason #1 and most are saying they can only beat themselves. so care bears enjoy your win last year and i hope you have recovered from your beat down by florida state in your little bowl game. we cannot wait to play you in december.

house church part 1... assuming i will write about it again

i was at our house church last night in alhambra. we had a few visitors, a few old faces show up and the regulars. i usually get asked about church, because of my position working at a non profit that supports the local church in working with young people in urban areas around are country. i also get asked... what church do you go to? i am always proud to say that i attend a house church in alhambra with a few people. we have no building... we dont plan on moving into a building someday... we just meet in a living room and hope that we may inspire other to do the same. i am not against the traditional structure that most americans choose to gather in and call church. but i do think that the house church movement is better... for me at least or why would i do it. here are a few reasons that i believe that there is great value in meeting as a house church.

• you are never just a number... if you show up than you were probably invited and you already now a few people and they will introduce you to the other few.
  
• you get to ask questions and dialogue with people in regards to the reading from the scripture
• you are able to stay engaged each others life on a regular basis... our house church had been breaking off at the end of the evening to pray for each other in small groups. we have not done this the last few times... i hope we get that part back soon.
  
• it is not based on the leadership of an individual.
  
• you have the flexibility to start one with your own group of friends... i have a group of guys that i am very close with that i have met a few times on my back porch.
  

i have more reasons that i love house church, but i am not in the writing mood. my last thoughts on this post are that i think the small aspect of church is the most important than any large gathering. it is where true community is built that is why when i ran a youth group i would tell students if you had one thing to go to each week... i would encourage them to go to their small group over going to a large service. it is where true discipleship and growth and evangelism can take place. that is it for now.

vegas with the kids

natalia (my friend chris' daughter) and kade listen in to the details at the shark reef at mandalay bay. kids love to see sharks!

evan looking for the lions at mgm grand hotel.

the lewis boys chillin at the valet service outside 'THE Hotel" at Mandalay Bay hotel. we had a great time with pillow fights, late nights, video games, lots of food and some cool pools.

Field Trip with Kade's Class

kade, anthony, kyle and jonathan got to hang out with kade's day all day. i was the most popular chaperone and a few kids cried becuz they were not allowed to be in my group. we went tp pacific park in santa monica... a little board walk with rides and games (i hate those games that rob you of money and are impossible for a 6 year old to win)

you have to love the ability of kade to throw his peace symbol so well at the age of 6!

the bus ride home had jonathan and kade knocked out as we slowly drove back on the beautiful 10 freeway that is always ridiculous. i feel for pablo that use to drive it everyday for work, so many years ago. when i may it home... i crashed out also