My Life As a Revolutionary

I am blogging again!

2010-02-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends, Family, & Blog Readers,

I will be honest I have not blogged in a really long time. One reason was I believe God was training me for the next season in my life and I like to blog about experience rather than theory. If you read any of my past blogs you know, I use to blog about reaching out to the poor, needy and outcasts of society. Through those experiences I learned how and why we should love people and try do the things Jesus did . I am not going to tell you what I think is going to happen in my life because I just want to let it happen. But I have this gut feeling, its not going to be boring and so I think I will start blogging again!

God is doing a new thing in my life with my spiritual life, my family and my business. I will probably talk about all of these subjects in up coming blogs. But first I would like to talk about one of the spiritual things that is going on in my life and there are many, but one is miracles. Tonight I went to a meeting and I can honestly and truthfully tell you I experience and saw three different types of miracles. Thats right miracles.

The idea of God and Jesus doing miracles is a nice idea! Right? It is a good feeling to think that our God can do miracles. Many Christians will say with their mouths that they believe in miracles. But let me ask you something, how many Christians or Church Pastors do you know trying to live it out and seeing the results to back it up? Now let me be real, some claim they are trying to live this out and it is weird, a scam or a trick, because it is not of God but of man created.

I right now would like to testify from my experience when its truely God and God heals someone first hand in front of you, it is not weird. Once you wrap your brain around the fact that God healed that person and he used someone you know personally to release this healing. Well my friends when I began to experience this first hand, I began to praise Him and stop to doubt what God is capable of.

Think about it. When a man or woman actually gets healed of a broken limb, or something crazy happens and a foot or arm grows out of their socket, or the deaf can now hear, the blind can see, the dead are raised from the dead. When you hear these stories of Jesus doing those things, you think, thats a great story. But what if I told you that those happen today where God is using ordinary Christians to do all of the above I just mentioned? Now you think I am a weirdo! But what if I were telling the truth? Yes, even raising people from the dead. Now you think I am a looney! But I want to reiterate, its true! Watch these two You Tube videos and maybe this will help you with your doubt or maybe you will keep doubting. Your choice!

or

Same Video Above Just Edited Better

But hearing about miracles and seeing them first hand, well that is two different context experiences. Most people when you hear such stories you think is that really true? Did I just see a magic trick in church or wherever you were or are? Doubts rush in when you hear these things and this is something that I honestly cannot cure or convince you of. All I can say is I have more to lose than gain from telling you that these miracles have happened and continue to happen every week.

When people cannot understand something they sometimes fear it and so that causes them to control it and rational it in their minds. We like reading these stories in the New Testament, but seeing that God can use the children of God to heal the sick and crippled and prophecy over people. Or a person tells another person something about themselves they have never told anyone before. All of these things you might think this is weird because you tried to put Jesus and God in a box. Trying to put God in a box helps us try to understand Him and this for some reason gives us a false peace of mind.

The great thing about God is he is a gentlemen. He will not push His agenda on you. If you want to keep God in a box that you can understand then He will let you do that. But let me tell you something, I know from first hand experience that He does not live in that box. You live in the box! We imprison ourselves in trying to understand God when their is no way we could understand the vastness and powerfulness of God. If we are Christians and we believe in God, then we belive God spoke the heavens and the earth into existence, but yet we have little faith that he can heal a person who has a broken arm today by using someone who is ordinary. What planet do we live on?

I am NOT going to tell you the miracles that I experienced tonight. I may soon though, but I want you to understand that my context is no longer trying to put God in a box. I have now released Him out of my box and now want to continue to see greater things happen than what I read happened in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I want to see God use ordinary people do extraordinary things through the power of the kingdom of God hear on earth. May what I saw and experienced tonight be small comparison to what I believe God has in store for us. I believe God is continuing to look for people who want to truely establish the fullness power of His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

Where pro-lifer's and pro-choicers go wrong?

2008-01-06T13:42:00.050-08:00

Dear Blog Readers,

Election season is interesting! We find out who we like the best and then elect them as our representative of our nation and trust them to govern our nation by defending our laws and rights.

Many church types want to know who is pro life and who is pro choice. This is one of the factors that many base their vote on. Many pro lifers, like myself, want to defend innocent life. The likely arguement of the pro-lifers is you would never throw away a brand new porche, or destroy a 3 carot diamond earings, then why on earth would you destroy human life.

But there is a flaw that I believe is enrooted in every political and non political stance I know within the evangelistic movement. The church loves to hate sin because it says its wrong in the Bible. But the church has a tendancy to always forget about loving the person commiting the sin.

I think of a 14 year old girl, who comes from a broken home. The girl is then raped by a cerial rappist and she later finds out she is having his baby. All she wants to do is forget about this horrific moment in her life and she does not want to remember it every day when she looks at her child. She wants to abort!

This is a pretty good case on the pro-choice side of why we should have the option of abortion. Pro-lifers will then begin to preach and get on their soap box on why it is wrong to murder innocent life.

My stance is you both have it wrong. First take care of the girl by financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually healing her and then help her through the process of deciding what to do with the baby. See I believe this is not a life or death question, it is a community of support question. I believe instead of judgeing and daming these women who are in this process of decision and instead show them love and support. I believe we will not only save their babies, but also save them as well, because the decision of keeping their baby alive and looking for alternatives will be easier when they have the support they need in the process.

To me the question of "is it right to be pro-life or pro-choice?" is the wrong question. To me the right question is "how can we eliminate the need to have abortions in the first place?".

This year my new years resolution is to listen to the broken and down and out because I believe if I listen more to them, I will begin to learn the wisdom of God.

Thanks for reading,

-Justin

The Two Commandments

2007-09-28T20:44:00.050-07:00

Dear Blog Readers,

I have some friends that are bored with church. Some of them still go and others don't. Becky and I were talking about how, we're bored too! It not like I feel that my relationship with God has changed or is less than because it hasn't or isn't. I consider to have a strong relationship with God.

I don't think its because we need to go church shopping either! I just think that church has become a production that tries to keep people happy and I'm tired of it being so fake and predictable.

I was reading in the Bible the other night and I read about how Jesus said what the two most important commandments were in the Bible. "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, mind and soul and Love your neighbor as yourself."

This basic scripture is something I have heard so many times that it seems boring to read once again. But if you look into the heart and root of what Jesus was talking about, it is powerful! I believe that today the church and its members are not making these two commandments the focus of their lives.

Church has become about how good the worship team is, the preachers message, the way the church looks, who's in the church, how fast is the church service, and when can I start watching football and get some lunch. We judge the church service right after we go based on these parameters set by us. Sometimes its good and sometimes its horrible.

But tell me something, what if you made the scripture love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul your only purpose in life.

What would you do today if you decided to put this in to practice? What would you think about if you made Him your focus and you loveed God with all your heart, mind and soul.

But more than that if you put that into practice, who would you become? What would you do? Would you do anything differently? When your with your buddies, would you make different choices if you made this apart of your life? When you're at work, would it be different than how you are today? What kind of father, husband, wife, friend, neighbor, girlfriend, boyfriend or stranger would you be? When you're looking for companionship or friendship who would you want to be with if this was your focus? When you're looking for a job or looking for a place to live, if this was your focus, what would you do or where would you go?

Last but not least how would you're church experience as a congregation be different if everyone in the santuary wanted to make this their focus everytime they go? Would you care about the preachers message, or worship service, or how long it took or..........?

Then once you got that commandment pretty much under your belt, what would happen if you put love your neighbor as yourself into practice.

This means the clothes you just bought for yourself at Macy's, you then buy for a stranger too. This means buy food for the bum on the street by asking him to come to dinner with you at the restaurant you go to all the time. This means when you buy a new set of golf clubs or buy fancy jewelry, you buy those same things for a kid just starting to play golf or jewelry for the prostitue in downtown. You not only mow your own lawn, but you mow the neighbors as well. You don't do this for people who can pay you back, like your family, or friends, or boss. But you do this for people who could never pay you back.

What kind of person would you become if you put this into practice everyday? What kind of friends would you have if they became this way too? What kind of kids would you have if they became this way too? What kind of church would you have if they became this way too? What kind of country or world or city or neighborhood if they became this way too?

The majority of those who call ourselves "Christians" are not putting this into practice and maybe we need to call ourselves on the carpet and start looking how we can change this in our own lives. Jesus did not say these were options, he said these are commandments!

Thats all I have to say tonight! -Justin

Being A Banker

2007-08-01T11:08:00.050-07:00

Dear Blog Readers,

My life as a banker is interesting. Everyday people from all walks of life come into the bank and when they have a problem, they see me! People line up before the bank opens just waiting to see me, so they can tell me their problems.

I deal with people going through a divorce, and I also deal with people preparing themselves to get a divorce. I deal with people who's husband, family member, or friend has passed away. Sometimes I deal with someone who has $1.67 in their account and is 66 years old and then the next client has $300,000 in their account and they are also 66 years old. I deal with the poor working class, disabled, and homeless all trying to survive and then I deal with people who has stayed awake at night because they lost some interest on their account, when they have over 1/2 million dollars. I deal with families fighting over the control of money and the distribution of money and kids who take their parents money and leave them high and dry.

I have learned two things working as a Banker. Money is the most emotional object there is and I would hate to be God.

Its true, money is so weird! Everybody wants more of it and it is the single object that is at the root of so many conflicts, problems and making dreams come true. It can make you happy or rip you apart. It can let you do things you never thought were possible and it could destroy everything you thought you had. You can have money in your one hand and then the next second it could vanish in thin air. People build fortresses with it, thinking they are indestructible, and then the next day everything they worked for is worth dirt and rubble.

I am caught in this spot where I meet all of these people everyday and I think I would hate to be God. Imagine being God. Some would say yeah being God would be cool, you can speak things into existance, you are in complete control, you can never die, and people from all over the world worship you.

But let me tell you, being a banker has let me seen the other side of the coin. Everyday billions of people gripe at God and they tell God, about all of their problems and how they want Him to fix them right now. And unlike a banker where you work 9 to 5, God hears this 24 hours a day 365 days a year with no vacation or break or retirement in sight. Having God's Job would suck!

Sometimes after a long day at work, I just feel all of these burdens have been spewed out before me and I am exhausted dealing with them for eight hours. This is the life of God and I am so glad he has that job because I am definately am not worthy of his grace, mercy, power, and ability. I am also glad that I can lay my burdens before him everyday and he enjoys being my friend and answering them.

Thanks for Reading,

-Justin Perry

I am the Reject

2007-07-01T09:23:00.050-07:00

Dear Blog Readers,

Its been nearly 2 months since I've last posted a blog. Life has been full of work and I am starting a youth water polo team. I was also in a car accident and I've been healing from it. I also been consumed with the usual life normalcies.

But praise God because God answered my prayer. I asked for the perfect truck and God provided. I ended up getting another Ford Ranger. I'm stoked and glad that I serve the great God that I do.

I also want to praise God because Beck and I are just blessed. I have a beautiful home, a great job, a great boss, working at a great company. My water polo team thats forming has received blessing after blessing and I couldn't of married a better person than my wife.

God has literally taken us to the edge a few times on faith, but has always provided for our every need and came through in the end. Sometimes I think I forget the blessings that God has provided me and I am so thankful for each one of them.

I guess after being blessed with so much and a curve ball comes your way it's sometimes hard to take. Last night I found out that I am not going to be a part of something special that is going on in my family. I am not going to go into detail, but I feel that I am the reject.

The reject is a hard person to be especially when it comes from people whom you love. I guess Jesus was the ultimate reject. Oh not today, no today we praise Jesus because we believe he can help us, in which he can. But what if you didn't know he could help you, would you still worship him? What if you lived before Jesus came to earth would you still give him the time of day?

God sent his precious son to show the people whom who he dearly loved that he loved them. The people repaid Jesus by rejecting him and killing him on the cross. But then Jesus and God turned around and despite the horrible thing they did to him, he gave them the gift of grace and eternal life through the establishment of a relationship with him.

Last night I was cruising along in my nice shiny red truck and I went by a friends house. I got out and asked my friends "what they were doing" and they said "that were going to give apircots from their tree to their neighbors". They asked me if I would come and so we went. All of their neighbors are old lonely widows and each one of them greeted us with open arms.

They were so thrilled to have company and they in turn gave us things they have in their home. It was an awesome sign of community, giving to one another and showing love and respect.

I also saw that here are these great woman who built these amazing families and yet many of them rarely see them or hear from them. Rejection from people is hard, but rejection from your family is harder. But its awesome that we serve a God who has been through rejection and we can lead by His example.

-Justin

I went Homeless in San Francisco

2007-04-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true. Now I have gone out on Wednesday Nights to feed and pray for the homeless and others in Stockton. But last weekend I took it to another extreme and went Homless in San Francisco in the Bay View/ Cow Palace Area. Now if you know anything about the city, you know that Bay View is comparable to the crime in Compton, Inglewood, etc. And it was apparent that this is not a fantasy as we heard multiple guns shots between parties across the street three times during the night.

The reason for leaving my home to live on the streets in a cardboard box, to brace the elements of wind, cold, hunger, and to hear the sounds of gun shots, is I was with a group of people who were passionate about living for one night, how the kids are living in Uganda right now.

The experience was similar to a U.N. refugee camp with food rations, living communalily and hearing stories of the Uganda people. We left our homes for 1 night to live on the streets, but the Uganda people have been living this way for 20 years. Some of the participants said, "That's longer than I've bee alive". People as far as Las Vegas came to this event to stand up and try and put pressure on the U. N. and the United States government to bring peace talks between the Uganda Government and the Lords Resistance Army.

But this one night of becoming a homeless person wasn't just going on in San Francisco, it was going on in 15 cities across the country. 80,000 people came last year and because of that movement, schools were built, peace talks were made, and hope began to circulate that their could be end to this 20 year war.

This all came about because these 4 teenage boys went to Uganda Africa for a senior trip and saw first hand how this rebel group was abducting young kids and turning them into killing machines through a process of brainwashing, drugs, and making them kill. They documented their experience into a film called, "The Invisible Children". This movie has sparked a movement to begin putting a face and a story to the faceless people of Uganda.

This experience was eye opening as we felt a touch of how depressing it feels to be homeless, unwanted, and a reject of society. But it also gave me a sense of what a high calling Jesus had on his life. They called him a homeless rabbi because as he said, he had "no place to lay his head". Could you imagine that what you were called to do was be homless, heal people, become known as the Son of God, and then executed for the sake of the love your father has for you and me.

3 years Jesus did it. 20 years the Ugandan people have done it. I did it for one night.

An interesting experience with an interesting perspective.

-Justin

Do I have common sense?

2007-04-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Blogster Readers,

Last night was an interesting night in the ghetto of Stockton. My pastor came out with me as our wednesday night group fed and prayed with people on the streets.

We clearly saw a women on some type of substance, probably heroin, and we went up to her and ask if she was hungry and if she wanted us to pray for her. I think all of us were supprised to see that as soon as I asked her, she grabbed our hands and wanted immediate prayer. Then after we prayed with her, she followed us wherever we went. I find it interesting that when people are clearly on drugs they follow us and many times want to be in our presence. But I think that it is not us that they want to be around, it is the Holy Spirit and God's presence that has a direct affect on them in their current mental capasity.

We went into Morman Slough which is a dried up revene that smells like urine and is very dark. We go down there because in pitch blackness under the overpasses, we ask if anyone is there and if they want something to eat. We found a couple sitting under a bridge and it was one of there birthdays. We gave them food and then sang happy birthday to her in pitch black, under a smelly bridge, in the ghetto of Stockton and made a woman named Evelyn smile.

My pastor said. "it takes a step of faith to go under those bridges" and then he also said, "some would say that we don't have alot of common sense". My reply was, "When did Jesus have common sense?"

Seriously, read what he did. Everything he did, apeared to as if Jesus had no common sense". His disciples were poor fisherman that could not support his ministry. He healed a blind man with spit and mud. He had plenty of chances to avoid dieing on the cross. He did not make friends with the religious people who could of supported him in his ministry. He hung out with sinners, outcasts, lowlifes, superfreaks, the very same kind of people we go and see on wednesday nights. Jesus had no common sense and he put his life at risk and yet, when people say their people of the faith, do they actually practice doing the things Jesus did or do they practive doing church.

My pastor also said something interesting, he said "it was a good exercise". I asked for clairfication because I thought he was talking about working out. But he was saying that it was a good thing to do, a good practice, a good thing to be reminded of. Exercise is an interesting term because it means a choir or trying to stay in shape. I began to be convicted that night because I often struggle with, am I doing what I am doing because it is an exercise or am I doing what I am doing because it is a lifestyle.

Jesus did not do what he did because he was exercising. Jesus did what he did because it was his lifestyle. He made it his lifestyle to love the broken, the poor, the blind, the lame, the outcasts and the sinners. He had no interest in creating a kingdom on this earth, but his interest lied in building a kingdom that was not of this earth.

Sometimes I think about what I am trying to build. The world wants you to build a kingdom of wealth, power, position, pretige, to be someone, or make a difference. Jesus' life reflects a world where you leave all of that and create a lifestyle on focusing on the things building a kingdom of heaven, which is the result of doing the things Jesus did and more on the earth today. But to do this you must leave this lifestyle of trying to build the kingdom on earth, but take a lower position and make a difference in this way.

I think even the church today is in this model of trying to build a kingdom on earth instead of doing the things Jesus did and to try and build a kingdom that may not look like much to our own eyes, but to God, it is like night and day.

-Justin

My Poop Story

2007-02-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Readers,

Warning: This story does not have any kind of spiritual undertones or messages, but is freaking hilarious.

As you may or may not know, I work at a bank. I am a personal banker for Bank of America. Yesturday I went to lunch with my wife Beck. Well when I came back from lunch I had to use the bathroom. I went to use the mens lobby bathroom and as I opened the door I was bombarded with the smell of poop and the sight of a big pile of poop right in the middle of the floor. But thats not all there was poop smeared all over the walls as it looked like a poop bomb blew up.

Revulted by this I decided to use the girls fresh smelling bathroom to take care of busines. I then went into the lobby and asked one of the tellers if they know about the bathroom poop explosion. They did and I also noticed cones all over the lobby floor. I come to realize that this guy did not just make a mess in the bathroom, but decided to make a mess around the banking center. Now I could see going from the bathroom straight to the door or vise versa. But this guy decided to take a world tour around the bank and leave piles of poop on the floor and must of been shaking his booty to shake it down his pant leg and onto the floor.

Now it is the assistants managers job to fix the lobby when these things happen. The poop clumps were so revoluting that the assistant manager assisted in not cleaning up the poop, but call in an emergency janitor. I don't know about you, but I think our customers would appreciate not smelling the stench of poop when they are conducting their financial transactions.

The other personal banker Jaime came to our rescue and cleaned up the poop in the lobby. He said he at first thought that the poop was a little smear, but when he moved the towel that was covering the poop, it smeared all over the floor. Unfortunately when you take one for the team, you end of getting a little dirty, as he received a smug of soveigner on his pants.

You could say that the other day was defiantely a poopy day!

A Bomb is Going Off

2007-02-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Readers,

I had a dream last night. It was wasn't light hearted. It was intense and had a profound impact on how I looked at life today.

The dream started at a start line for a triatholon. The gun went off and we all started to swim in the ocean. Waves were coming at us and I knew just how to swim to get beyond the surf. The majority of the pack were thrown down by the waves and all of a sudden I was up with the leader. Then I began to pass the leader and was leading the pack. My adrenilan was pumping as I was excited, but yet fearful that the people behind me were going to pass me up. I then transitioned to the run leg (which was odd considering the bike leg comes after the swim) and as I began to run the field caught up and I was in third or forth place. We then ran into this school and they opened this door in the hall way. Following the leaders I went into the room and I could not find out where they went. But I found myself in a room with two boys putting together a bomb to blow up the school. I said, "where did they go". They had no idea of what I was talking about. I asked, "what are you doing" and they said, "we are making a bomb". All I could think about was how I needed to find out where they went so that I could catch up and win this race. I ran outside the door that I came in and saw someone go into another door. I walked through the door and went down a concrete slide and asked where the racers went. We were stucked with these students and and one student came up to me and she said, "the cops aren't coming". I then had a choice, do I find a way out so that I could win this race or do I help a crisis situation.

It is amazingly similar to current real life analogies. I feel like I am running a race and all I care about is reaching the goal. Winning the race! Competiting and finishing! Yet maybe I need to realize that although I have my goals, I cannot forget about the people around me and the people who need me.

I was reading the a verse in the Bible and it said, "A noble man, has noble plans, and noble deeds he stands".

Yelling At Us

2007-02-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

When you're walking down the street, and a man in a dark place is yelling at you, when you're 100 yards away, what is your first inclination to do? Ignore him? Run from him? Or run towards him?

This is one thing that happened last wednesday night as we were feeding and praying for the homeless. We had no idea what he was saying, but we knew that some people had bad experiences with this one particular person so some backed away. So three of us walked towards him as he was laying down on some rocks kind of in the open. As we got closer, one of the guys in the group, Ryan said, "hey I know that guy he came to church with me a couple of weeks ago".

Ryan picked him up to bring him to his church. They had coffee before and talked and then he took him to the Sunday service. This guys name was Mark and Mark had a blast. Mark had this deep raspy hard voice, scruffy beard, smelly, and under about 5 or 6 blankets to try and keep warm. But through all of that front you could see a heart who had a heart for God.

Mark wanted to come to church the very next week with Ryan and they made plans to do so, but unfortunately Ryan didn't show up and Mark felt like he may have done something wrong as he had doubts that maybe Ryan didn't want him to be apart of his church. Mark was sharing with us through his rough around the edges front that he was hurt and wanted to come to church with Ryan again because he had a great time. Ryan was out of town this coming weekend but made plans to pick him up the following week at 9am.

I was talking to a medical doctor for the homeless who comes out with us every week and Randy said that "it really doesn't take much to really to show someone that you love them and yet it is like giving them the world. They are so appreciative for giving them the little things in life."

So when someone is screaming and yelling even if it is done in anger their is a soul and someone who wants to receive love and someone who may want to become apart of a community that will love them. Instead of walking away out of fear, walk towards them in love.

-Justin

Beginings

2007-02-07T23:22:00.000-08:00

I am begining to understand how and why Jesus hung out with the poor, the sinners, the prostitutes. I am begining to see why Jesus talked so much about showing love, feeding, clothing, and housing the outcasts of our society today. My eyes are begining to see how radical it is to not only do these things but also how impactful they are in the lives of the people that you do them for.

As I was talking to a few people in the group I realized that many of us don't realize growing up and playing church that we go to church with the same kind of people as us. We specifically will go to a church that has similar people and probably have similar views on the world. We probably do church with people who are of the same social and economic stature and most of dress up and take a shower before we go to church.

But I want you to reply to this posting and tell me the answer to this one simple question, "How many homeless, prostitutes, drug dealers, etc have you see sitting in the Sunday pews at your church?"

Now you may say "none, but you see Justin those people wouldn't want to be apart of my church anyway."

It is funny how we like to make assumptions on people who we'd rather not have them be apart of our community or family or church because their different. But if you do make the assumption that those people do not want to go to church with you, how many people who partake in those lifestyles have you asked to go to church with you today, yesturday, last month or ever?

So how do you realy know that they don't want to?

Another thing I am begining to understand is that sometimes I see God get ahold of a heart and get them off the streets. Other times I see God work and then they come back to the same place they came from. This cycle happens over and over again until one day they may just give up.

But God has been showing me that if he gets ahold of their heart we need to become that bridge that excepts them and loves them in another community called our church because the bad community they are apart of now is where they receive love now but causes them to replicate these unhealthy lifestyles and habits. God was showing me that if he is going to change their heart, then he is asking us to bring them into a new community called the church that will love them, care for them, and help them. See the reason why you see people make this cycle over and over again is not because they can't or they can't get over their addictions or they are worthless people. But because it is in this bad community where they receive love and they are not receiving love anywhere else. The reason why is we do not find these outcast people in our church today is because we want them to hear about Jesus but also stay far enough away so that we really dont have to except them and love them like our own family.

I sometimes wonder if we, in some weird way, we like to preach and yell Jesus out to people because if we came in love then we would actually have to get to know them. Claiming persecution allows a barrier, but coming in love mends a bridge. What world or church or community do we really want to build? And what kind of world, church, or community Jesus wanted us to build? Are we on the same plan or different?

Please comment!!!!!!!!!!

Making Friends with Drug Lords

2007-01-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday Night was a night when I went out to feed and pray for the homeless, I marveled at how amazingly powerful God is because His Spirit lives inside of me and how many doors that were once shut are now opened because we have gone out with a heart to love the unlovely.

When we met as a group at Starbucks the Director of CentralValley Housing was there. His responsibility is to ask the State for money through HUD so that our homeless shelters and low income housing meets our areas needs. He then disperses that money and resources to local social service programs and ministries. To do this they have to do a census to get a perspective on the amount of homeless people there are and who are they, why are they homeless, and what are their needs that are not being met in San Joaquin County.

The Director told us that two years ago the police who were armed with guns did not go into the areas that we go every wed night because it was too dangerous. The last time they did the census they had spot lights from cop cars as they went around trying to count homeless people. Well if you have done any kind of street ministry you know alot of them are tucked away under bridges and in dark places. He was so impressed that we have been able to open doors to areas that they once could not go and therefore could not find out what these people need to get off the streets.

We now pray with the homeless, prostitutes, drug lords, drug addicts, and many others. This door of friendship with these people have opened up doors that were once shut. Now the Central Valley Housing Department is looking to us to give them the answers they need on how to help these people. They are also now holding similar events like what we had with the Stockton Community Gospel Outreach last September because of the tremendous turnout we had at that event. Our group is now being looked at as the standard because of what God has been able to do through us being available to be used.

Speaking of Drug Dealers, last wednesday when we were out near St. Mary's Dining Hall we were feeding, clothing, giving blankets out, and praying for people hanging out in the area. Well down the street in a really dark place we saw some people doing drug deals. My friend Kaben said, "Hey Justin, lets you and me go down there because it is probably to dangerous for the girls to go." I said, "why? who's down there?" He said, "Some drug lords." I said, "cool, lets go". So we went walking and it was funny, when we went up to the head dude and offered him some homemade cookies it was almost as if he became scared of us. You could see the fear in his face when we came in love and asked him if he wanted us to pray for him. I later told Kaben that isn't it cool to have God inside of us and when light comes into darkness, the darkness scatters.

Another thing that happened this week was I saw a couple of friends from our Wednesday Night Group yesturday morning before I went to work. I haven't seen Nina or Angela in a while. Well it turns out that they started going out on Thursday Nights. They couldn't go out anymore on Wednesday Nights because of schedulling so they asked themselves when they could go out. Now Nina has been given the opportunity to use the church bus for this outreach.

Well whats cool is this may open doors for us to begin picking these people up from downtown stockton on Sunday Mornings and bringing them to church with us. How cool is that if that door opens? This is totally what God has been calling me to do and now I see him opening doors and just pray that no person, place or thing will keep them from opening.

I hope you have a great week!

-Justin

TV Show Episode 4 Holy Crud

2007-01-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Readers,

It is 12:30 approximately in the afternoon on Martin Luther King Day and through an unnamed source and threw a secretative means I was able to watch the 3rd and 4th episodes of the all time great TV show 24. I thought episode one was crazy when Jack Baur taught america and the world that it is possible to kill a man with your teeth when your hands are tied up behind your back by biting out a mans adams apple and spiting it out. But believe me watch tonights episode 4 because it blows episode 1 out of the water.

The question I have is how real are these situations are in our society today and how does this invoke fear in back of our minds as we are drawn to it like magets on a dead piece of fruit? My wife is apart of the marketing department for the newspaper in town and she goes to the daily meetings where they discuss what is going to be on the front page. The newspaper buisness knows first hand that if they can invoke fear on the front page of the newspaper, they will sell more papers that day, which will result in more dollars for advertising.

My mom and I were talking about this subject earlier this morning and she said that she believes that we as Christians in American society do not have the guts that the terrosists do in terms of dieing for their beliefs. The extremists have no problems dieing for Allah and their view of the world. My mom believes that we as Christians in American society would not die for our beliefs. Would you agree or disagree?

This brings me to my second question what are they fighting for? I try to understand, but I don't. All I know is that they hate us because we are the world dominators and that we have bad political policy in the international community and that they want power by striking fear in the eyes of the U. S. citizens. But for what?

We hate being uncomfortable, but secretly we love fear, because it gives us a rush and we get to unite against the enemy. But God tells us not to fear man and what they can do to you, but fear God? I think that is the point my mom was trying to make. We fear what they can do to us. We fear of nuclear explosions and of blowing us up in our own workplaces and neighborhoods. We fear the muslim looking guy down the street walking to work, but why? Because we fear man instead of fearing God.

That is the fundamental advantage they have over us. They do not care about their life or what the U.S. and the worlds armies can do to them. Because they fear their God more than what man can do to them.

What if we became a generation where we were no longer were afraid of what can happen to you in the alley, or of being shot, or of going to work and being killed? Instead we lived our lives of fearing God and instead of trying to fight our enemies we began to love them. Is that the message Jesus was trying to get across? Love your enemies, fear God, not man, Love the unloveables of underdogs in our society through establishing a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ.

Why are we as Christians so far from living this out in our daily lives?

I want you to reply to this and I want to hear your thoughts and ideas. I also want others to begin to reply and have a discussion around this topic. All you have to do is click on the title "TV Episode 4 Holy Crud" and that will bring you to the message board at www.greatbanquet.org. Become a member and lets see if we can have a better understanding of what we are faceing in our society today and how we can better overcome it. But more than this how can we become more like Jesus by doing the things he did in our society today?

-Justin Perry

Justin's Myspace Page

2007-01-14T22:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.myspace.com/ordinaryradical

God sent a Dog Angel

2007-01-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

God sent a Dog Angel

Dear Blog Readers,
I have not written a blog in a while because I have been trying to get my life back to together. Tonight I went out to the streets and it was cold and the streets had a different feeling than normal. As we walked in the Ghetto on San Joaquin Street and handed out food and prayed for people two people instantly said they want to received Jesus in into their hearts before we even asked them if they want any food.
As all of this was going on a dog showed up. It was kind of out of the blue and it was hanging out on the corner next to this guy who we prayed for. I thought it was his dog. The man knew the dogs name, his name was spot. Well we walked down the street some more and the dog began to follow us whereever we went. If we stopped and pray with someone, spot would be there. Then spot began to go ahead of us and it was almost like he was protecting us. I am not sure but I think spot was some sort of pit bull mix. When we got in the clear and were safe the dog knew, he stopped, said good bye, and then left.
It is funny how we somehow knew that God was looking out for us tonight. I remember three months ago I was out and we were praying for a man. After we were done praying for him the man said, "you must be for real because the pitbulls are sound asleep". We did not even realize they were there and it was as if God put them to sleep like He put the lions to sleep in the story of Daniel. He said the pitbulls usually want to attack when strangers are around but it is as if God's presence have given them peace.
Life is interesting and sometimes I wonder where God is in all of this and tonight he sent His Dog Angel spot to tell me, I am here Justin.
=Justin Perry

Sunday, September 10, 2006

The Gap Was Bridged!

Dear Blog Readers,
Some of you may have been wondering why it has been two months since I last wrote a blog. Well it hasn't been because I haven't been doing anything. Last night was a break through in church history. It was a night where we hosted an event that was able to share the love of Jesus through bridging the gap between the homeless, the church and social service agencies.
Well after raising $3,000, recruited and orgainized 100 volunteers and 20 different churches and social service agencies, getting a stage, chairs and tables donated, getting two bands to play, orgainize 6 speakers and make sure things took place in a timely order. We were able to feed 350 people, build relationships with the homeless, plug them into church communities and get help with social service orgainizations all while sharing our love for Jesus Christ. It became challenging planning it when I discovered I was basicly working 2 full time jobs especially when one didn't pay anything and the other (Loan Officer) is not very stable.
But it was all worth it when it became apparant that it was more than an event as we saw many people we prayed for touched by our love for them. And God showed his love by healing them. One homeless lady was healed from a pain in their back that she has had for the last 6 months. A man was deaf and ears were in pain and God healed him. Another lady could not see very well and God healed her and now she has 20/20 vision. A lady was demon possessed and was delivered. People were filled with the Holy Spirit and some felt love of people for the first time.
It was interesting because the majority of this did not happen during the alter call but during the whole event. It was as if God was on the sidelines and behind the scenes. The experienced reminded me of when Jesus did not heal people for show, but healed people when He had compassion for them.
People said that this was one of the first times they ever felt loved by and accepted by the church community and connected to build the bridges they need to get out of the circumstances their in. Two people that came were homeless because of hurricane Katrina and still are without a home and wandering for shelter. A couple people in our group stepped up and are helping them get identification, shelter and the help they need to find work.
One of our booth members are my friends Monnette and Ryan and they have a ministry called God's Teddy Bears. They passed out over 50 teddy bears to kids and teens in our community some who were homeless. The pictures they took of them are priceless.
We also had a lady named Mary Cortez who washed peoples feet and it was amazing to see this type of worship God and love for dirty people.
I could not believe how the booths were just packed with people wanted to be connected and find a community that would accept and love them.
It was just amazing to see peoples gifts at work and people being blessed. Sure in hine sight I would of done a couple of things differently, but how do you know unless you do it first. But overall I think it was a success and I think everyone's hard work paid off.
After the event it was brought to my attention that HUD was talking about our event and maybe looking to partner with us to do a census in Stockton, Lodi and Manteca. Webers Point was the birth place of Stockton and San Joaquin County and I believe last night it became a birth place of a move of God.
We are now looking to orgainize and become a non profit orgainization called "The Great Banquet" named after the parable in Luke 14: 15-24.
I am praying that some how God would make a way so that I could do this full time. I believe that this is not only needed in Stockton but in every city across the globe. I believe that I am capable of forming commitees to plan these events all over. I am praying that God will bring to me generous consistent partners that will support Becky and I in fullfilling this high calling and responsibility.
If you pray, pray that God gives me a new job next week. I really need a change financially speaking and I am praying that a new door will open even if it is temporary.
I love you all,
Justin Perry
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2006-07-20T00:38:00.000-07:00

"Stinky People"

Dear Blog Readers,

I read this article in Relevant Magazine called "The Experiment" by Tom Smith. Tom went to a Christian bookstore and he asked the front desk clerk "if they had any books on helping the poor and fighting Aids. The sales rep looked confused and didn't say anything. However Tom did see alot of "Here's how to use Jesus to make you more successful titles". Tom then went to a second Christian bookstore and they said, "No sir, this is a religious bookstore. I think you should try the secular bookstore around the corner". He asked the sales rep "if she didn't think that helping the poor or sick had anything to do with religion". She replied with a blank stare. Later in the article he tells his buddy about what happened at the bookstores and his buddy said, "there was a great book on the topic of poverty and helping people with Aids in those bookstores. It's called the Bible". Tom said, "I think we need to ask God to open our eyes towards those who are less fortunate. When God shows us someone in need, we need to respond, not as a superior, but as a humble servant in the name of Christ".

Tonight I was thinking about this while walking the streets in downtown stockton. I asked myself the question of, "why does God care so much about these people and why did Jesus spend so much time with them?". After tonight I think I have a better understanding. I fed a man who stunk like B.O. and urine, I prayed for a man who has been in and out of detox programs, and I prayed for a man who was hungry, skinny and bones. What did they all have in common, broken, defeated, and hopeless.

God loves broken people. He loves to lift us up when we are down. Maybe God loves these people so much because they cannot rely on themselves. Even though they have messed up a million times, just like me, they have come to a place of hopelessness in themselves, but have found a hope in God. Maybe this is the place that God wants all of us to be. Humble, broken and open, and ready to be molded into His creation.

I fed a man who I have seen on the stockton most wanted list, I prayed and fed men who were crippled and one did not even have a wheel chair. I saw Andre again tonight, he told my brother "that he should listen to me because I am wise and that I am his boy". I told him I have been praying for him and he said God has been doing things for him.
God is amoung the stinky people of the world. God can turn a bunch of broken pieces into a mosaic work of art. Jesus loves these people and now so do I.

-Justin

2006-07-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

"My Nice Warm Bed"

Dear Blog Readers,

"It"s kind of funny", tonight my friend Terry and I were sharing after our excursions about what happened at Wilson Way, we were saying that "its as if we truely don't soak in and dwell on what we see and hear". See tonight we met two prostitutes on the streets between Wilson Way and Sierra Nevada, and they said their names were China and Natasha. They didn't want water or something to eat, and at first they didn't want us to pray for them because they felt they were not worthy of it. Natasha said "you can't pray for us because we are doing bad things right now". As fear and imprisonment came through their eyes we saw they want out and we said, "Jesus died for people like you and me and he loves you and we want to pray for you". They said ok and as cars were slowing down to watch what we were doing we began to cry out and pray that God would change their circumstances and keep them safe on the streets tonight.

A few minutes later we are driving back and talking about my outdoor movie night tommarow night and it would be cool to buy a highbride car. Here we left a couple girls fearing for their lives and with a blink of an eye we are back in our safe and secure worlds.

Then I get home, take off my shoes, I got a nice cold glass of water, washed my hands, changed my shirt, and I am just about to get under my nice warm sheets and covers next to my wife who I am so in love with. Here at this same time Natasha and China are either still out on the streets trying to get work or they are currently working, and maybe fearing for their lives imprisoned by abuse. And here I am, in my safe little world under my safe and secure roof and my life goes on, leaving their world behind.

Earlier today I was mad at my circumstances with my job and not sure what to do, where to go, or what to settle for. I was mad at how my job ended and that I maynot get another great job that I once had. I was mad that my former boss did not have enough courage to tell me by phone or in person why my position was eliminated. I was mad that I have not received a phone call for an interview I want. I was mad, depressed and discouraged at my life's circumstances. But then after tonight I get back home and realize how bless my life and circumstances really are. I feel a little guilty now that right now I will get up from this computer, slip under the covers in the other room next to my wife and embrace my nice warm bed! It's funny how doing the things Jesus did grounds you a little more!

-Justin

2006-07-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 06, 2006
Prostitute Central

Dear Blog Readers,
If you have been reading my blogs you know that our group on Wednesday Nights (the group that gets together to pray and feed people on the streets) have been wanting to go out to Wilson Way in Stockton. Now if you know Stockton at all you know that Wilson Way is prostitute/pimp central. Well last night a group of seven of us finally made it out there and it was a great night.
We have been concerned going out because we know that if we start talking to the prostitutes we could be taking away business from the pimps and we do not want any confrontation. Well the exact opposite happened last night. One example was we had this one guy named Mike and he was walking with this girl (note:**I could not believe how young some of these prositutes were) and we told Mike what we were doing and if we could pray for them. He said that he wanted us to pray for him and his situation, but could not pray with us right then because he was booking his girl in a Motel.

Earlier we met a group of girls standing outside a house ( we were not sure but it may have been prostitute house) and they wanted us to pray for there daughter. Note these girls were probably under 18 and they had a daughter who was 4 or 5. The little girl has a heart murmor and they wanted us to pray for her, their lives and situation. We then began to pray for them as the pimp was looking at us outside the window. They were so greatful of our presence and hearts.
We moved on and met a man named Robert. We gave him some food and asked if we could pray for him. He immediately bowed his head and wanted us to lay hands on him. Robert was thinking about committing suicide because his family was getting broken apart and you could tell the situation was now out of his hands and his heart was broken over it. He kept saying that he "is tired". We prayed for Robert and he sincerely rededicated his life to Christ as tears came pouring down his face. After we prayed for him he felt like a new person and we were also able to point him to a mental health clinic.

Right then on this dark street we saw a guy that was riding his bike. We yelled "we are with the church and do you want some food". He stopped and we began to minister to him and then we layed hands on him and began to pray fervantly for his family. He is going to call Ryan to pick them up because he wants to now start bringing his family to church.

We then walked quite a ways to a Motel where prostitutes frequent. No one was there. TJ had it on his heart to pray. We then circled up, held hands, and knelt down and began to pray fervantly upon this place and the people who frequent it. All of a sudden people began to come out of there doors and began to watch what we were doing. It was if the spirit of God was there and was drawing them out to feel his presence. It was an amazing thing to watch as we then began to minster and pray with people in the Motel.

We then walked to another Motel and did then same thing. And sure enough it happened again. We met a homeless looking guy who often stayed at this motel and he thought we were asking him for food when we wanted to give him food. As things cleared up he came down stairs and we then prayed for him and tears began to pour down his face when we prayed for him. We also met a hard looking pair come out of the hotel who's names were Jessie & James (get it Jessie James). They reconized us from earlier and were kind of baffled by what we were doing.
The night was coming to a close so we went back to Starbucks to circle up and pray with the group. As we came back the whole group was excited about what happened tonight because there were major breakthroughs amoung the different routes.

My friend Jeremy and his Dad John said that this guy that we see all the time under the underpasses named Tim and his friend Jerry and their dog had a major breakthrough. See Jerry always wants prayer and is excited to see us, but Tim never says anything and doesn't ever get up. Well John told Jerry that we are having this big event coming up in September where we are going to rent out Weber Point and have a big barbeque and invite everyone we know on the streets to come out. What we are going to do is we are going to have vans and buses actually pick people up and bring them to this event. Then at the event we are going to feed them and have a church type service, alter call, and try to plug these people into churches and help programs in this community. When we told Jerry this, Tim got up and said, "You mean you would actually do that for us". Our love for them over took him and God began to work on his heart. John said, "You could tell God touched him tonight".

Keep us in prayer because God continues to give us favor and we have a meeting with the mayor and many pastors in the community on July 19th. We are going to talk about this event and share what we are doing on the streets of Stockton.

Also pray for Becky and I because my positition at Diablo Funding Group as the Business Development Manager was eliminated last Friday. It wasn't based on preformance, but based on some things out of my control going on with the company. I still can do loans with the company, but I am really seeking Gods favor and his direction for my life. Pray that God will open the doors he wants to open and close the doors he wants to shut. Also pray that God's hand will be upon our finances.
Sincerely,
Justin Perry
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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Blind Man's Laptop

Dear Blog Readers,

Yesturday Becky and I went to a high school students home in Stockton who happened to be blind and terminally ill. He is incredibly smart and excells in subjects like calculus and physics. Becky and I went to his house to deliever His Wish that the Make A Wish Foundation was able to provide for him. It was a laptop and a GPS system for blind people. It was a crazy looking thing. The laptop didn't have a monitor, it was all in brail and he could search google.com and could find out where His street address was through a map GPS program. The GPS program can tell him where He is at and if a Mc Donalds or Starbucks is on the right hand side if he's walking or driving down the street. He could see all of this and was so excited through this liberation and I was sitting there thinking "I can't see a thing or read anything he is reading". He was blind to what I can see and I was blind to what he could see. It was as if we are living in two different worlds within the same one.

God was showing me that in the same way I cannot see what Kevin can read and see, I also can't see what God can see. God can see people's hearts and knows there pasts. God can change lives by using me as an available instrument to show people His love. But I truely will never see God's hand behind the seens in my life and His impact in the life of others.

Tonight I went to feed and pray for people in the streets of downtown Stockton. Our group went under Hwy 4 and there were people 50 feet up hiding in these holes under the freeway. There were three people up there and I and a couple others ran up the steep grade. We met a young man named Mike and we asked if we could pray for him. I began to pray for him and I could hear the fervency in His agreement that he wanted His circumstances to change.

We then went to pray for the usual suspects, Jerry, Tim and their dog by the delta under another over pass. Tim was sick last week and he's better now and Jerry's happy because he can read with glasses we gave him.

Then we went across the way and prayed for 4 homeless immigrants. Jose was able to talk with them in spanish. After we prayed for them, gave them food, water, OJ, and a couple new shirts, Jose said one of them was named Justin (Note: he did not have a shirt until we gave him one) he said Justin wanted to change his life, give his heart to Christ and get involved with a church. Jose is going to try to pick Him up.

Tonight we heard testimonies of people cleaning themselves up through detox programs because we prayed for them last week, a women and her children now have a house to live in because we prayed with them, a man just excepted Christ into His life and he just past away a few days ago, and teenage girl excepted Jesus into her life and wants to go to church.
God is moving in ways we cannot see and doing things we cannot comprehend or fathom. But everyweek we have been hearing about how lives are being changed and all we are is available to be used and show them God's love.
-Justin
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Thursday, June 08, 2006
The Fear To Love

Dear Blog Readers,

It has been a couple of weeks since my last posting, but I am back and want to tell you about last night. I did the normal Wednesday Night, feed and pray with people on the streets. There were about 30+ of us and the group seems to be getting bigger every week. Next week I am going to be leading a group into a heavily prostitute/pimp area called Wilson Way. The group is now big enough that we need another route and a small group of us have been talking about it, but every week we seem to chicken out. Well this week we made a pack that next Wednesday Night we are going to Wilson Way to pray and love people working the streets.

Last night I was with a group that took the center route and there weren't that many people on the streets. We thought well it could be two things. One is that our prayers are being answered or the second is the cops have been cleaning the streets. Last night I met a guy who we prayed with the week before and we saw him again last night. He told us thank you for praying for him because after that he put himself into detox last week and now is clean and wants to start a new life. I guess prayer does work.

When I was walking I was telling a friend about a lady who we saw the week before. Unlike this week where we had too much food to hand out, last week we didn't have enough. We were on this corner right in the middle of the Ghetto and a couple of us started to pray for this guy and girl and another group began praying for this homeless woman. As were praying seriously their were people yelling, prostitutes getting out of cars and meeting up with their pimps, drug deals going on besides us and here we were praying for people on this street corner. Well after I prayed for these people I see this lady across the street. So I asked a friend of mine if we have any water left to give to that lady. My friend says, "No, we are not going near her", I asked "why", my friend told me last week she offered to give her some water and it became apparent that she was demon possessed. So as the prostitute is on the corner looking the other way we began to pray for her. All of a sudden she turns around and stares at us and then walks over to the curb glaring. Now I have read in the bible how Jesus casted out demons, but that was my first encounter with a person that up close and personal. Our group then began to stare back and was too scared to go over and pray for her personally.

Later last night we saw a drug addict tweaking on drugs and a lady in the group says in panick that girl is on drugs. We then went up to her and we gave her some food and offered to pray for her and then we ended up praying for 3 or 4 people at that spot.

What I have come to learn is that we have to overcome fear to love the people Jesus loved and do the things he did. We have been chickening out to go to Wilson Way, we were afraid of the demon possessed woman, we fear people on drugs. There are people I know who are fearful of coming out on Wednesday Nights. I know I was the first time. I'll admit, I was scared to death. But God called us to overcome fear and become soliders of love. It says in the Bible that we are to only fear God.

It comes down to when the time and place comes, can you do it and can I do it?
-Justin
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Monday, May 29, 2006
Life Taken By Katrina

Dear Blog Readers,

Imagine the Las Vegas strip, the San Mateo Bridge, every major chain restaurant you can imagine, a Walmart SuperStore and old Estates in Beverly Hills on the Water. Now Imagine all these things destroyed by 30 feet of water and a category 5 hurricane. This was the picture of the aftermath destruction we saw live in Gulfport and Biloxi Mississippi done by hurricane Katrina. The tour guide told us that the Casinos were lifted up off the ground by the storm and then landed back down, taking out building after building and home after home. 2 million cubic feet of debris was taken off the beach and when the water recinded it brought with it homes, buildings, debris, cars, people, etc into the ocean. No one is allowed back in the ocean at this time and they do not have a plan on how they are going to clean this up.

Roads are gone, foundations are gone, biloxi lost 180 people, the jefferson monument and historic home is gone, a whole university is gone along with all the records (luckily they had a back up file), and other elementry schools are gone. People dreamed of living in this part of town becasue it was by the ocean. It was a place where if you lived there you considered yourself blessed because you made it. Homes were not for sale in this area because they were ususally passed down from generation to generation. All of these dreams and lives are gone.

Now you might be thinking well didn't these people have insurance. The fact of the matter is the insurance companies have not paid hardly any money to these consumers. We heard of this family who had full hurricane coverage, wind coverage, home coverage, flooding coverage, the only one they did not have is earthquake coverage. They have only received $1,000 from the insurance company and they had a million dollar estate. The insurance companies have law suit after law suit stacking up by people, cities, and the government, trying to get them to pay out. The insurance companies try to weazle their way out of nickle and dime possible and even if you take them to court and win, you are still waiting for them to pay you. It is a mess to say the least and as the sheriff said, "There is no way to prepare yourself for a natural disaster of this magnitude".

Words cannot express the community I saw. These people formally lived very independant and many times only worried about their own needs. Then after this storm that was not an option for them. They had to rely on each other for basic needs like food, water, a roof over their head, and clothing. I heard this story of this man who was a physical therepist who had all the major contracts for the major hospitals in the South Coast. He had major bucks and lived in a huge estate, had servants, and beautiful family. He was a person who had made it. Then the storm hit and he lost his wife and kids, his home, his buisness, his cars and he had no shoes, no shirt, and no underwhere. The only thing he had on was shorts. After the storm he couldn't find any water or food and what good does money do in a bank account when there aren't any ATM machines, grocery stores, gas stations, or restaurants. He ended up weaping on the floor of a women name Gwene. (She was one of the people who we helped rebuild her home). She simply had some drinking water that she gave him because he not drunk any water in days.

See I realized that I have a house, a wife, a family, a car and a truck, a great job, and living what some would consider the american dream. But with a blink of an eye I can be left with nothing except a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have learned how important and priceless that really is and how I need to strive every day to make it more and more important.

I also learned that I cannot count on a bank account, insurance coverage, contingency plans, or the government to save me. But I only can count on God to be there when I need him.
The last thing I learned is it is more important for me to go there and spend my time helping them then simply sending a check. Most of these people don't need money, they need people to come beside them and help them rebuild their homes and lives. As a result instead of me being the blessing, I end up being blessed!
Sincerely,
Justin

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Tuesday, May 23, 2006
My Experience with Katrina

Dear Blog Readers,

When we landed in Gulf Port Mississippi I didn't see very many planes coming in or flying out out of the airport. I saw the roof of the airline hanger ripped off and the buildings in disrepair. I got off the plane and all I saw was hopelessness and despair in peoples faces. I didn't see laughter or people in good spirits.

Then I met some of the Pastors of Memorial First Baptist Church and I saw joy in their eyes and smiles on their faces. They were so relieved and thankful that we were here to help them. After we got everything on board we prayed right in front of the airport in the middle of the street. Which is something you could never get by with in SFO, Sacramento, or the Oakland Airport. It's a differnt pace down here.

Pulling out of the airport Pastor Chuck pointed out that their are people who work at Gulf Port Airport who are living in FEMA trailors in the parking lot. Talk about not being able to get away.
We would go by lots where they was sometimes nothing, sometimes a trailor, no roofs, and big stumps that were once 50 year old trees.

We are staying at Memorial First Baptist Church and the hospitality is amazing. The food is out of this world and we have received countless hugs. We are staying in the this huge church with air conditioning and showers with hotwater in the middle of the church parking lot. These showers were created by Samaritons Purse.

We helped a lady today who said that her estimation for her house damage was $89,000 and she received a check for only $19,000 from State Farm, even though she had full insurance coverage, worked for State Farm for 23 years, and she won a lawsuit against them. I heard horror stories of contractor scams and how one day you have all this stuff and then the next day you have nothing. One day you live in one of the richest countries and next you become a third world country over night. One day you have a job or a buisness and the next there is nothing. One day you have a family of five living in a nice house the next your family of five is living in a four person tent on your driveway 9 months later because your still waiting for your FEMA trailor. The lady we helped today said that her electricity just came on 3 weeks ago. Imagine not living with electricity or have hot water for nearly 9 months.Words cannot express the things I've seen or the stories I have heard.

She told us that during the storm literally rain was going through her window as the roof was collasping on her, windows caving in, and part of the house destroyed. Tears filled her eyes as we blessed her with fixing up her home. But the thing is we are the ones who were blessed by her. She graced us with her Southern Hospitality and said we always have a place to stay in Mississippi.

Tonight this other lady told us at dinner that she lives on the coast and out of 36 homes in her neighborhood, she was one of 2 that was still standing. Talk about a house that had God's protection over it. Tears over took her as she was so blessed that we were there to help.
God showed me something that I believe is interesting. When I got off the plane I saw despair and hopelessness in people's faces. When I began to meet members of this church I saw hope and Jesus fill their faces with joy. See even though all of them went through the same devestation and tradegy, I met people who had Jesus and they have something that others don't. I have truely seen the blessing it is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how valueable and priceless that really is.

Just another day just trying to do the things Jesus did and go to the places he would go!
-Justin
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Thursday, May 18, 2006
Spiritual Battle

Dear Blog Readers,

Pray for me because this week I have been going through a spiritual battle and I just feel beat up inside. Next week I am going with Becky and the First Baptist Church to Mississippi to help Katrina Victims rebuild their homes. Pray for a safe trip and pray that God will give me strength and will use me to bless others.

Tonight was a good Wednesday Night. I went with a group down center street in Stockton to do our usual feed people on the streets and pray with them. We went all the way down to Charter Way, which is quite a hike and we saw a migrant worker that some of the people in our group prayed for last week. They asked him if he found work, because that is what they prayed for him last week about and with a smile on his face he said, "Si".

On our way back we found two other migrant workers on the steps of the over pass. We asked if they wanted food and prayer. We had a really hard time communicating with them, but they wanted us to pray for them. It was interesting because here were these two guys who could not understand us when we were praying for them and the guy on the left began to cry. It taught me that it is not our words, but God's Spirit and power that touches them. I was wearing a Jesus shirt from Urban Outfitters that has a face of Jesus and it says, "The Boss". And he was touched by my shirt and we were able to communicate that we both love Jesus.

We then went to this corner and people began to flock to us. Some came specifically to get prayed for. This one guy was telling us that people talk about us on the streets and look forward to us coming out every Wednesday Night, he is glad to see Christians actually living our there faith. We prayed for 8 to 10 people at this one spot. This guy named Andrea that I met a couple weeks ago recognized me and wanted me to keep him in prayer this week. Another homeless lady came up to me and I gave her some water and before I could even speak she began to cry. Her name is Connie and she said to pray for her because she is hurting, I am not sure, but I think she saw my shirt and the face of Jesus and began to become convicted of her sin.
It is amazing how people want and need to be prayed for and all we need to do is ask. We need to just show people that we love them and then they become open to Jesus who is the only one who can transform their lives.

To give you a little glimpse of my spiritual battle that is going on. My pastor and I have been having some deep conflicting disscussions about people of the homosexual lifestyle. We both agree that it is sin, that is not what we were fighting about. But how to reach them. He is doing this big political fight against Gay Marriage and believes the church should get behind this issue and fight. I believe this is wrong. I have friends who are in this lifestyle and they don't know they are sinning because God's law is not written on their hearts and this only happens when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and God begins to convict them of their sin. I had an old professor who was of this lifestyle and she repented and turned from it when a church began to love and take care of her parents in Colorado. She began to become open to God and had some good talks and prayers with another professor who led her to Christ. This is when she began to become convicted of her sin and turned away.

Their is a song by the Black Eye Peas called "Where is the Love?". Where is the love for these people when all they see us fighting against them through picketing and condemning them. Maybe my idea of loving them and praying for them and this will change their hearts is an "over Utopian Idea" as my Pastor called it. But this is the only thing I find Jesus in the Bible doing. I have not read a scripture yet where I find Jesus inspiring a political call. I only find Jesus winning souls.

I suggested an idea where a group of us go together one night to a Gay Bar, buy appetizers, and begin to ask them if they want us to pray for them. But this was an idea that was to radical for us to do as a church and my pastor was not sure if people in the church would be offended. But I am still up for it, if anyone else is. Seriously if you are down, let me know and lets go see what God can do in a Gay Bar in Stockton.

I challenge my blog readers to love someone and then ask them if they need or want you to pray for them about anything. If we did this on a daily basis, our world would be radically different.
-Justin

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Thursday, May 11, 2006
Homeless Waterfront Property

Dear Blog Readers,

****This night made the front page of the Stockton Record Newspaper as the Main Headline. Click on the link to view the story: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/NEWS01/605120321
Tonight my friend Jeremy and I arrived a little early. We were waiting in front of Starbucks and a lady asked us what we were doing. We told her that we feed the homeless and pray with people every Wed. night. She said, "Can you pray for me?" We said "ok," and after we did, tears filled her eyes as God touched her. I thought that's good sign since the night barely started.
Then a reporter and a photographer from the Record showed up and is going to do a story on our group (I will post the story when it comes out). He began to ask a few questions. It was like 8:59 and only three other people were there. I was kind of getting a little worried. And then all of a sudden there were 25-30 people.

We had a mass amount of food and water. We filled 200 plus lunch bags full of food. Then we prayed in a giant circle and Cops were looking at us and others were wondering what we were doing. One Cop came up to us after we prayed and gave us His private number just in case we run into problems. I thought God must be giving us more favor.

We then went out and I took a route that I have never taken before. We went under the Crosstown Freeway bridges under the Delta. There are people who literally sleep right under the freeway tucked away hidden. Merely 2 or 3 feet from cars and trucks moving 70 mph. We went into these dark cramped holes to give these people food and we began to pray for them. They sleep near the water and I instantly thought this is like homeless waterfront property. The first place we went we had to slouch way down to get to them and there were probably 3 or 4 people. None of them spoke English but they could understand us enough to want us to pray for them. My friend Ryan and I began to pray for them and we felt God's presence. The second waterfront location that I went to we had to be careful not to slip because it was wet and muddy. We gave food to 4 or 5 people but only spoke with one lady. She asked us to pray for her sister and tears began to fill her eyes. Ryan shared that God has not forgotten about her and we began to pray and she felt God's presence and began to sob trying to wipe away her tears.

We left the Homeless Waterfront and went near St. Mary's Dining Hall. God showed up in this place. We began to pray for this homeless guy and like everyweek people began to come up to us so that we were praying for 3 or 4 people at a time. Right before I began to pray for this man sitting on the street who wanted healing in His back and wanted His circumstances to change, I looked up at a group of us who were praying for a kid about 15 years old. After I got done praying I looked up and I seriously thought they were praying for another kid. My friend Matt said that when they were praying for Him the Holy Spirit hit him so hard that he almost fell back and His eyes lit up and I am not joking His face glowed in the night. He said, "The Holy Spirit filled me up". We left and we were about 3 blocks away when he yelled, "Hey wait up". He just wanted to be around us and he walked back with us to Starbucks. God radically touched His life.

After we left my friend Jeremy wanted to pray at the Tower at UOP. We were both tired, but really felt led. So we got there and not knowing really what to do Jeremy said, "Well lets like walk around for a couple of minutes and pray and then we will pray together and go home". I then went over to the bench and began to look at the rose garden who is full in bloom and began pray.

A college looking student was walking and it was weird. It was like he was drawn in to me and came and sat down with me on the bench. I thought ok, God do you want talk to this guy. He asked, "What are you doing?". I said, "I am praying". He asked, "What are you praying for?". I then began to tell him I was praying for this campus and began to tell him about how we were feeding and praying with the homeless. He said, "Are you drunk?" I said, "no". I said, "What's your name?" He said, "Fernando". I said, "Can I pray for you?" He paused and began to share how he's been drinking because he is trying to forget what he is doing with his life and how he felt he was a disappoinment to his family. He actually graduated a couple years back and was on campus because he went to some type of lecture that had wine. It was mexican mothers day and he crushed his Mom when he told her the truth about where he was working. He could not get a job after he graduated and he has sent out countless resumes and no one would hire him. So he told His parents that he was working at a restaurant and began working at a strip club. He kind of did it out of rebellion from not being able to get a job and the pressure of being the first graduate of his family and not fullfilling their expectations. He then became so convicted about what he was doing.

We then prayed for Fernando and tears filled his eyes as he was touched by God. He could not believe what was happening because he was crying out to God earlier that day asking God what he wanted him to do. We gave him a Bible and our phone numbers and drove him home.
Just another Wed. night!
-Justin
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Sunday, May 07, 2006
Made the Front Page

Dear Blog Readers,

Becky and I had a Bible Study that decided to do something Jesus would have done. Our friend Jacquie Klo (a teacher) came up with an idea to pay for a high school students Prom who would not other wise would be able to pay for it. From buying her tickets, shoes, spending money, pay for her hair to get done, nails, pedacure, etc.

Through a series of God ordained events and being apart of the United Way Community Impact Team we met my new friend Rachel Williams. Rachel lives in a group home with 5 or 6 other girls. You could read all about her in The Record newspaper article that was done on her and us helping her go to Prom. We made the front page and the front page of the e-News Record site, Recordnet.com. The link is below"
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060507/NEWS01/605070325
It was amazing to look in her eyes when she was getting her hair done and see how special she felt. I was able to share with her through a series of e-mails that we were doing this because God has a special place in His heart for her and this is the call we as followers of Christ are suppose to do. We are suppose to share with her the Love that Jesus gave us by dieing on the cross for us and take care of those who have to overcome the circumstances she has had to overcome. I am so proud of her! My prayer is that God will reveal Himself to her and that she will come into a relationship with Jesus and will want to become a follower of Him.

It was amazing the support we received from people who heard about it. Almost everyone we talk to about helping Rachel go to Prom wanted to help and it was a success. We may make this an annual thing and our hope is that next year we can send even more high school teen's to Prom.

If you know of any teens that are not able to pay for Prom or could find out, please let us know. Also let us know if you would want to donate any services or $$ to this cause next year. If you know of any beatitions or limo drivers, etc and they would like to donate their time and services that would be awesome as well.

We have compiled some footage and pictures that we hope to compile into some type of video. Maybe we will be able to figure out how to put it on myspace.

My closing advice is study what Jesus did, then replicate it in some form, and your life will become alot more exciting and who know's you may make the news!
-Justin

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Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Cops Were Raiding

Dear Blog Readers,

It was my third wed. night feeding the homeless in the streets on Stockton and this was by far the most intense.

We broke out into teams again and I took the center route. It was kind of slow in the begining. There were not that many people on the streets. Then out of no where we heard two blocks away a loud voice crying out "Hey it's me Curtis, come pray for me." Some of the team members new him and we ran over there. He told us that he was hit in the head and that he almost had brain surgury. We laid hands on him and I began to pray for a new begining to occur in his life.
After we prayed for Curtis we looked up and there was a lady, homeless, in sandles and a mini skirt and she said she needed for us to pray for her. We laid hands on her, gave her food and began to pray. We gave her a hug and she began to cry.

We then looked up again and there was a guy walking towards us. We asked if he needed food. He was no more than 16 years old, alone in the streets. We gave him food and with tears in his eyes we began to pray for him.

We then looked up and we saw two guys walking on the other side of the street. A group and I went over to meet them. While another part of the group began to pray for a lady who wanted to change her drug addictions. I met a guy named Dre, no more than 17 years old who when we said we were from the church and that Jesus loves him. He said, "That's funny because that is the third time I heard that today." The other guy was a field worker who did not speak much english. Dre told us that it was his birthday this Friday.

We met up with the group again and began to walk down the street. All of sudden we heard a lady say, "Hey are you the group that has food." We said yeah and we saw she was strung out on drugs and was sitting with two other guys. Once again I saw first hand what happens when light comes into darkness. The girl strung out and another guy who for some reason could not look at us, took off running and left their stuff. In a great hurry, for a reason I do not know, she said "please pray for me...I'm sick..." while she was twitching and tweaking out. We then began to pray for the other guy who decided to stay. He began to share his problems with his addictions and sins and he wanted to change. Three of them were praying for him and ministering, while my friend Brian and I saw three more guys coming our way. We went up to them and was ministering to them. One wanted to have us pray for him, while the other did not want any part of it, yet he was to scared to walk off by himself.

Then all of a sudden the cops swormed in like it was a drug bust. Here we are praying with these people and the cops wanted to arrest the people we were praying for. I told them we were with the church and he said ok and cautiously proceeded to search the people we were laying hands on. Three of the people in our group stayed while the cops were searching them, the rest of us moved on. Later they told us because they stood there they let both of them go even though they found a crack pipe on them.

Cop cars were swarming everywhere and were asking us what we were doing. We told them who we were and what we were doing. The Cops either smiled or kind of had a confused look on their face.

Another group told me that on the route that I took last week tonight, there were people passing out drugs like it was candy. My friend Jeremy said "a lady was so tweaked out she was running around naked in the streets."

After the raid everybody scattered and the night came to early close. Just another night with my new friends in the hood.
-Justin
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