Hosted by Rafee JajouPsalm Reading: Psalm 130Silence 30 secondsGospel Reading: Mark 10:13-16 Silence 30 secondsDevotional ReadingsSilence 15 seconds2 minutes of Self-Examination3 Minutes Supplication Prayers for the World Our Father Prayer Benediction
Improvise (Jazz) in Times of Disruption
Life can be very unpredictable. It can change very quickly. When the rhythm changes, we improvise. Like the text, we can be hard pressed, perplexed, or feel like we’re struck down. In these moments of disruption, we are all improvising. Jazz is the art of disciplined improvisation: adapting to change and creating on demand.
Morning Thoughts 3.16.2020
From Walter Brueggemann’s Lenten Devotional with the sum of the gospel: *that we are caught in the snares of death; *that we have been rescued by the power of God; *that we are released to a new life of gratitude. We can be on our way with new life and new energy, and new noticing…
Designing Your Life – Chapter 4 Summary
[This is a part of a series I’m doing with a group of people using the “Designing Your Life” Book by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett.] Book Purchase: Amazon When I was in my teens, we belonged to a church denomination that had lots of young leaders. Somewhere along the way, I came to believe that…
Designing Your Life – Chapter 3 Summary
[This is a part of a series I’m doing with a group of people using the “Designing Your Life” Book by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett.] In Ch. 3 of DYL, the authors talk about what they call an ancient art of figuring out our direction in life, even if we don’t know the destination. …
Designing Your Life – Chapter 2 Summary
[This is a part of a series I’m doing with a group of people using the “Designing Your Life” Book by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett.] From mapping out where you may be (find out where you are) with work, play, love, and health. What’s the dashboard gauge like for each of these areas? Once…
Designing Your Life – Chapter 1 Summary
When I was a kid, my teachers told me I had math skills. So I was in the GATE program and thought I was going to be an aeronautical engineer. I was in 4th or 5th grade when I had this idea. I don’t even know how I learned about such a thing! When I…
Ash Wednesday Homily
Readings Psalm 103:8-14 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season. We receive ashes as a sign of humility (from dust we came, to dust we return). Lent is a time to remember themes like seek, call, forsake, and return. What is Lent but a reminder that God has demands on…
Week #5 Roundup 2020
I’m trying something new. Instead of posting stuff on Facebook that are thought provoking for me, I’m going to post them on my site so that I can reference them later. It’s one reason I post to FB. The other is to share and have some cordial dialogue. This week, I’m thinking about anger and…
Homilia – 02.05.2020 John 1:35-42
While this week’s podcast is on Gospel of John, it’s a little more “stream of consciousness” where I talk about the text as it relates to what we desire, how habits shape those desires, and about conflict theory and our needs.
Homilia – 1.29.2020 John 1:29-34
Part of the Gospel story is for you and I to respond to this news. Much like J.Bap, we are being called to witness the power of Christ to break all forms of sin and shame in our lives. And the more we hide or run from our it, the more it perpetuates. John is…
Homilia – 1.22.2020 John 1:19-28
This gospel, and especially the first chapter of John (and especially the first 8 verses), are saying this: Jesus Christ of Nazareth is indeed God in the flesh. God has become human so that humans might be made in the image of God. John is not just writing, but proclaiming that the long awaited ruler…
Homilia 1.15.2020
The intro to this gospel can conjure up all the big, existential questions we ask ourselves: What is the meaning of life How did we get here Is there something bigger at work What or who is the source of life How did this all begin This is a book a child could read, and…
Longing for Revival pt2
When I was 12 years old, I started praying for my dad’s reconversion to faith. He was a minister and left the pastorate for reasons that are beyond me. Growing up in a Pentecostal church means that we pray. And when we were done praying, we prayed some more. Prayer was a desperate cry for…
Longing for Revival pt1
Every once in a while, I read a book that provokes, incites, and inspires. It challenges my beliefs and apathy. “Longing for Revival” is one of those books. In the first ch, author James Choung talks about his hatred for the word “revival” and shares why. I had similar feelings and experiences. Growing up in…
The Work of Prayer and Mindfulness
The work of prayer is to do all the RE’s. I’m also sharing some prayer responses below of I’ve sensed God at work.
Ten Missiological Principles
Many moments of learning to be faithful lead me back to simple things like God’s desire to be near and close to humanity and creation. The God of the Bible is not one to be distant, full of vengeance, or cold-rigid-frigid. Incarnational, caring, compassionate, just. That’s the God of the Bible. Followers of Jesus are…
Compassion and Character Development
“God of justice, love, and mercy” are the lyrics to a song. And this God seeks to meet our needs. Jesus says in Matthew 15:32, “I have compassion for these people…” He goes on to meet the needs of the people without them even asking, which can suggest that God sees our needs and longs…
Workplace Prayers: Week of November 11-2019
Lord God Almighty, the One who works on our behalf, Make your face shine on us as we enter into the day’s work. Satisfy us with your loving-kindness that we might praise you as we attend to our daily tasks. Help us not to forget that you are with us in our cubicles, office, showroom…
Making It Work Podcast Series
Here’s a resource on theology of work by the Fuller Depree Center and the Theology of Work site. It’s a series inviting us to converse about work’s biggest challenges. It covers topics like calling and work-life boundaries. Theology of Work podcast
Vices To Avoid, Virtues to Adopt
In Nehemiah 9, there are two words that I’m curious about. They’re marked by a transition in the storyline, “But they…”, which signifies a turn. The writer had just recapped all the things the Lord their God had done for them. It should have translated into a life of gratitude and humility. Instead, Nehemiah says…
Lebron James and Home Building
Home is still the primary place where we shape and form the future. It’s a great reminder for me to be (and live out) what I want my kids to become in this world (what a tall order!). And it’s also a reminder that the Church is called to be a social communal reality of…
The Laundromat Movie – Theology Review
“The meek will inherit the earth…” Matthew 5:5 A movie about power, money, and corruption has this two characters that quote this verse. One quotes it in a church after hearing the priest preach about it. The other quotes it after their husband dies and is looking for justice. Both characters were taught that to…
Oceanside Church Planting Update
Letter Ethnos Network Global Church Gathering 2019 To My Ethnos Network Fam: Hi! Roy here from Oceanside, CA (San Diego North County). I wanted to say how sad I am that I can’t be there with you this week. Some Family Updates Recently, my mother in law had life saving surgery. She was going into…
Practicing Becoming Like Jesus in the Workplace
Being in the marketplace is a gift to see how God is shaping and working who you and I are becoming. Most of our becoming is happening in the daily grind.
Church Memories
When I was a young kid (into my late teens), I belonged to a church community. From the ages of 10 until I was 20, I attended the same church. A predominantly Latino American church, we had three services: 830am, Sunday school, 11am, and Spanish service at 2pm. This is where I learned about Jesus,…
Caring for Aging Parents
As a Chaplain, I’ve visited employees’ parents and have prayed with the family as they work through health issues requiring more caregiving from the adult-children. Stability Undone Imagine that you have a way of living, set routines that allow you to connect with your immediate family, work at your own pace, and a sense of…
Becoming Intentionally Worthless
“they followed worthless idols and became worthless”“They lived a “nothing” life and became “nothings” 2 kings 17 (NIV, MSG) Before I exposit my deep knowledge, I’ve been trying out different ways to read the bible on a daily basis. I’m not the best at it but I’ve been trying different lectionaries. The Daily Lectionary is…
Taking the Reality of the Church for Granted
As I’ve been working on church planting, one thing I’ve realized is that the concept of church has to start with God’s heart (mission) for humanity and this world. If you’ve grown up in church, then sometimes the language of what church is about seems familiar and “known”. But I’ve noticed that I’ve taken the…
This Little Girl
Many times as I’m about to pray or read the bible, I’m anticipating and hoping for a life changing experience. I want the feels, the revelation insights, or the sweet moments of inspiration. I pray and read thinking that I will find a new insight that will transform my life. If you’ve been in christian…
Day Dreaming or Daily Depression
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about dreams and listening to others about their dreams. When Brene Brown (famous TEDx speaker and therapist researcher) speaks, it’s like God herself spoke through the prophet! In one of her books, she makes the case that when we squander our gifts and dreams, we become depressed and anxious….
CCM Drumming. Lord, Help Me
The other day, I played at a worship night event and had lots of fun. I used the house kit: a Ludwig Keystone. I loved this kit. But this isn’t the point. The worship set was a mixture of some gospel (not hard core, but some), African, and CCM. In all, it was a multi-genre…
Faithful Beyond Shame
The voice of shame distracts. Insecurities, self doubt, and fear hijack my brain, triggering an emotional spin cycle of depression, withdrawing, and infidelity. Yes, in my hijacked state, I become unfaithful to God’s purposes, vision, and call on my life. I fantasize about other ways to live my life, trying to run away from God….
(Review of Deep Work) Rule 1 Work Deeply
Deep Work by Cal Newport is a book that has been circulating in my network for the last two years. The book is about creating rituals and rhythms to have focused time on working and focusing deeply on things that matter, while removing distractions. Reducing shallow thinking times, disconnecting from social media and online surfing…
Sermon On the Mount – More of God
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%205&version=MSG;NIV It reminds me of the first step in AA – “We admitted we were powerless”. There are a few times I’ve been at the end of my rope. And in many of…
A Precious Container of Enough
I’m doing this Ignatian Spirituality Daily Devotional this month. It’s been great! Today’s was especially encouraging. I was listening to it on my run through the neighborhood. A prayer I needed this morning. What I have (and offer) is enough…because it loves You! “Lord, I am a precious container of love, genuine and costly. When…
Making Marriage Simple: Negativity is a wish in disguise (ch.7)
Hendrix says that negativity is a wish in disguise. This means behind the negative or hurtful thoughts, there’s an unmet desire.
Staying Put in Your Relationship
I’ve been reading this book on marriage by Harville Hendrix on the recommendation of a good friend whose a psycho-analyst and therapist. It’s been helpful to work through my own patterns of thinking and emotions. (link here) It is a lot harder to find our peaceful center when looking into the face of another—especially when…
God Loves Oceanside through People
God is in the business of renewal and justice. As such, I’m grateful to be part of a group of people (in tandem with people of peace and churches in Oceanside that have many decades of service) in Oceanside that are praying for revival and renewal. We are daring (and humbly) ready to trust that…
Preparing to Preach
I came across this post on book recommendation geared for the weekly pastor-preacher. I found the book review post very helpful, given that I’ve had certain proclivities to prepping in the manner discussed but also about using the lectionary text. There’s a bit of liturgical theology that I feel drawn towards. I liked the idea…
DYL Principles Series – Episode 4
This podcast is part of a series I’m doing on principles based on the book, “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. You can find the book on Amazon.com
DYL Principles Series – Episode 3
This podcast is part of a series I’m doing on principles based on the book, “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. You can find the book on Amazon.com
DYL Series – Episode 2
This podcast is part of a series I’m doing on principles based on the book, “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. You can find the book on Amazon.com
DYL Principles Series – Episode 1
This podcast is part of a series I’m doing on principles based on the book, “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. You can find the book on Amazon.com
