GODventureZ -- LIFE! through Pictures: December 2010

Saturday, December 11, 2010

GODventureZ in GIVING Back -- VIDEOS

Today i saw first-hand a community of neighbors giving back to each other -- all in the true spirit of CHRISTmas. There was much planning in advance by the City of Chula Vista and City of San Diego; much work by the many volunteers who represented the San Diego Border Patrol, the Mexican and Brazilian communities and many other worthwhile organizations; many hours of rehearsals from all who performed and entertained (Ocean View Church Choir, children doing dance and karate demonstrations) -- and GOD blessed this celebration of giving back to the South Bay community with a most beautiful sunny day!

There's much more to say about the many pieces put together to create this wonderFUL jigsaw puzzle of merriment and camaraderie -- but the following videos will illustrate much better what i can merely describe with words.

GODventureZ at Lucky Waller Park started when i was witness to a helicopter landing in the middle of the same street i was driving -- big commotion -- Santa Claus was about to fly in... literally from the sky!

Santa Claus From The SKY!

Then i made my way to Lucky Waller Park, in hot pursuit of THE police car that had Santa!

Santa At LUCKY WALLER PARK -- with some members of the Ocean View Church Choir enjoying the fuss.

SNOW In SUNNY South Bay! -- Man-made "bbbrrrRRR!!!"

Ocean View Church JUMPS -- As a way of giving back to the South Bay Community, OVC provided safe and fun entertainment for the very young at heart -- all for free. The children's squeals of delight made merrier the merry in Merry CHRISTmas.

MEET the OCEAN VIEW CHURCH Choir -- whose many hours of dedicated practice produced a collection of GOD-honoring CHRISTmas songs. The many technicians and volunteers from OVC made this free entertainment a true gift from the heart.

Ocean View Church CHOIR -- celebrates CHRISTmas at Lucky Waller Park, with Daniel Semsen expertly wielding the baton.

The OVC KIDZ Choir-- energetic rendition of "Back to the Manger" -- led by a very energetic Christy Semsen and her two just-as-energetic assistants.

OVC CHRISTmas Repertoire -- presents "Tis the Season." The OVC Choir, led by Daniel Semsen, will perform all the songs in their CHRISTmas repertoire on Sunday, 6 pm, at Ocean View Church. The KidZ Choir, led by Christy Semsen, will also perform.

'Tis the season to remember what CHRISTmas is all about -- it's really all about almighty GOD Who is love, made manifest in the Person of CHRIST JESUS. He is the true Reason for the season -- every day.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that GOD has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved GOD, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Saturday CLOUDS at the BEACH

Worship, reflection and C. H. Spurgeon on the The Unsearchable Riches of CHRIST this cloudy day at the beach -- a long leisurely walk from Imperial Beach to Silver Strand Beach entrance.

The heavens declare the glory of GOD, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:2)

There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:3)

Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:4)

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the CHRIST, the Son of the Blessed?" And JESUS said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:61-62)

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. (Psalm 36:5)

Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. (Psalm 57:10)

How precious to me are your thoughts, O GOD! How vast is the sum of them! If i would count them, they are more than the sand. (Psalm 139:17)

Where shall i go from Your SPIRIT? Or where shall i flee from Your presence? If i ascend to heaven, You are there! If i make my bed in Sheol, You are there! (Psalm 139:7-8)

If i take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:9-10)

GODventureZ -- Adventures with GOD

LIFE is an adventure! It's like a long (or short) corridor with many doors. Some doors are dark and ominous--while others beckon with light and warmth. Some doors seem ordinary with muted hues--while others glitter and catch the eye. Some are painted in exciting, vibrant colors--while others with Caution! Do NOT Enter! NO Trespassing! Some are transparent, while others are like mirrors reflecting your image.

Doors, doors, doors! Choices, choices, choices!

All kinds of doors--all designed to catch the imagination... all vying for attention... tempting us to look, stop, inspect closer and wonder--is this THE door that will open up to LIFE!--that abundant life everyone longs to live here on earth?

From birth to death are many doors to walk through. Which one(s) do we choose to open, that we may venture into LIFE!?

Through the choices we make, we can either venture in with GOD--walking with Him by our side, sheltered under His wing, surrendered to His wisdom...

Or we can venture in alone, GOD-less, foolishly thinking to go through each "Let's Make a Deal" door under our own finite intelligence, our own meager power.

We can choose GOD into our ventures, making them GODventureZ (LIFE!--abundant and blessed); or we can choose to go solo, without GOD, creating missed-ventures.

GODventureZ is about adventuring through life with GOD. Through these personal photographs, stories of LIFE! unfold...

my Prayer For You

i ask GOD to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your life, and i ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the LORD, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know GOD better and better. i also pray that you will be strengthened with His glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to GOD's holy people, who live in the light.

(Colossians 1:9-12)

I AM The True Vine

I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the Vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from Me.

Yes, I Am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to Me and My words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love. When you obey Me, you remain in My love, just as I obey my Father and remain in His love.

I have told you this so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.

And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

You are My friends if you obey Me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. You didn't choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. I command you to love each other.

The Sermon on the Mount

GOD blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

GOD blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

GOD blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.

GOD blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.

GOD blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

GOD blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see GOD.

GOD blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of GOD.

GOD blesses those who are persecuted because they live for GOD, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

GOD blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers.

Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.

Psalm 33

Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise Him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for Him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to Him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy.

For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and His unfailing love fills the earth.

The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of Him.

For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command.

The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.

What joy for the nation whose GOD is the LORD, whose people He has chosen for his own.

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From His throne He observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do.

The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory-- for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the LORD watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only He can help us, protecting us like a shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in His holy name.

Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone.