Broken Walls: Purify Us

Get this music from Broken Walls.

Jonathan Maracle's dad has a rich heritage in the Assemblies of God. His presentations of worship in the context of First Nations people is inspiring and healing to me.

Broken Walls' music is available on several sites.

Come Together. John 17:20-23

So, what has been the impact or reaction to See You At The Pole over the last 17 years where you are? My children are out of public school now, and I have a conference that day (September 26, 2007 7:00am), but I wondered how many community people are supporting this VERY PUBLIC demonstration of PRAYER. (57 days to go)

[ Stylized veteran youth-worker cartoon courtesy of http://simpsonizeme.com ]

Cute Babies!

Looking at Guy Kawasaki's blog, I saw this demo link for SlideShare. What I like most is the WAY COOL song!



Q: Which is your favorite part of the slideshow? (I like slide 3 - pum-i-umi-umpkin)

What Do European Christians Give Up of Their Culture(s)?

“What can Europeans not bring with them into their new life in Christ?” I naively asked a group of Euro-North American Christians. The accompanying silence spoke volumes—there would seem to be little that North American Christians of European origin scrutinize carefully in their culture today (vices excepted).

click here to download the whole document.
The author is Mi'kmaq/Acadian and based outside Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The Gospel According to Starbucks

Interview

The Gospel According to Starbucks

By Chris Carpenter
CBN.com Program Director

CBN.com - For coffee drinkers, there is nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a steamy, aromatic cup of your favorite blend first thing in the morning. You cherish the quiet surge of happiness you feel as the richly dark hues in your mug fade to a robust tan upon adding cream.
(...)
Noted theologian Leonard Sweet believes the Church can learn a great deal from Starbucks. In his latest book, “The Gospel According to Starbucks” (WaterBrook Press), Sweet argues that many Christians completely miss the warmth and richness of the experience of living with God due to a Church’s failure to attract and engage people in meaningful ways.
(READ MORE HERE...)

Me and My Gun!

Me and My Gun.
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

If you visit Chris Brooks' blog, he has another question that I reflected on. Visit his page to get the full list of responses: Me and My Gun.

Let me wax a little Patriotic.
Isn't it wonderful that we still have the 'right' to bear arms? My only concern is that most people have the wrong perspective on a correct use of a firearm. Growing up in the 'Country' (say it with a twang), we may have... (READ MORE)

Introspection: Tammy Faye

My wife and I listened to Larry King interview 'Tammy Faye' of PTL/Heritage USA fame the other night. Generally speaking, major media outlets or spokespersons are not kind or gentle to proponents of Christianity. I was struck by the type of "leading questions" that Larry King was asking. It was almost as if he wanted to give Tammy an opportunity to give her testimony - and she did!! Even with a sense of humor. When asked what she wanted to be remembered by, she said "My eyelashes!", then after gently laughing at herself she corrected her statement and said something like, "My Faith in God!" Every phrase that she uttered was a struggle, but she did so courageously. The inoperable cancer had spread into her lungs. Her statement was that she was in pain at every moment of the day.

Did you hear the news? Tammy Faye is now at rest from all physical pain. She passed into eternity today.

I have no argument about whether or not God is Faithful to His promise. I am only examining my resolve to be faithful to Him. Are my struggles enough to convince me to abandon my trust in his provision? Well, if you don't know me yet - in a word, NOPE!

I may not ever have to endure what others have gone through before me in their commitment to Christ. My constant tinges of muscle, joint and ear pain are simply reminders of mortality. I too look forward to being 'released from these mortal coils.'

Q: What side of the proverbial argument are you on? Is it better to be "absent from the body and be present with the Lord?" or are you driven to "Work while it is yet day for the night is coming when no one can work?"

Grandpa Menchaca turns 99

Grandpa Menchaca turns 99
Originally uploaded by rmaxtorres.

the Menchaca Family rallied around Granpa for his 99th cumpleaños. My suegra also celebrates her birthday, but its more like 15 years. Lisa's twins also have the same birthday (July 16, 2007).

Thanks God for giving us Grandpa! (Pictures here)

"RECEIVE THE FATHER'S BLESSING"

Who's your Daddy now?.

When Doug Stringer penned that short sentence in the last chapter of Who's Your Daddy Now? little did he know how significant it would be in the lives of thousands of individuals, and most recently, over 4500 who received a free copy of the book at The Call-Nashville on Saturday, July 7, 2007 (07-07-07).
[read the rest of the story here...]
Thank you for being a part of the blessing with your support for this project! You can donate online at www.tpmi.org and make a note that your contribution is for "Daddy books for The Call." Or you can mail it to Turning Point Ministries International (TPMI), PO Box 570007, Houston TX 77257.
You can post a comment on Who's Your Daddy Now?

El Tabernaculo: MyChurch.org

I realize that the previous posting may have piqued interest in some people, so I just wanted to give a shameless promo for the ecclesial community that I am a part of.
The MyChurch.org network is another place where you can invest some of your valuable time to provide visibility and networkability(?) of your 'ecclesial community' (legitimate or not).
If you would care to, please let me know of your MyChurch account so that we can weave the fabric of the 'Net that Works' in these critical days of the last harvest and the last catch of diligent 'fishers of men.'

Catholic Church only true church, Vatican says

This one caught me off guard!
I chased down a recent story that Guy Kawasaki's new Truemors website referred to in a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) report. This will define a new perspective between some of the major Prayers (er, Players). Are any other bloggers aware of this Vatican development that the Pope endorses, or the 2000 effort that was abandoned?

It says although Orthodox churches are true churches, they are defective because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope. "It follows that these separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation," it said. The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities.

Q? I don't know a question to ask (a la Chris Brooks), but WOW! I did not know about these kinds of developments.

Comments anyone?

See also: Chicago Tribune

"iPhone Drop" video keeps counting.

The 11-second phenom has definitely waned in it's meteoric climb in YouTube visibility, nonetheless, as of Sunday night 7/9/07, the count has reached 772,103 views. The TexasMax channel is #90 for the month in all of YouTube, and has 783,447 views for all 10 videos.

I have come face to face with the impact of "viral marketing." The comments have definitely slowed, and I am not deleting as many as before that were racially offensive, but there have been some sad displays of racist bravado.

Q: What part does the anonymity of the internet play in drawing out these behaviors in chance meetings on these sites? Why does there seem to be no apprehension on the part of the libelous person with their 'screen name' being visible? Should this be treated as simply brash speech, and not a divulging of criminal/malevolent character?

TIME SENSITIVE: Ministerio Recompensa

DISCLAIMER: This posting will be here for at least one day.
This evening, July 5, 2007 at 10pm CST, on broadcast television station KVQT-Channel 21 (Baytown) will air in the Houston Area. The program will air again at 2am & 4am (if you can't sleep or live on the other side of the globe from Houston)

This interview format will be in Spanish on Thursday night, and in English on Friday night.
The topic of discussion is Leadership Development. What is discussed is the popular book of Stephen & Sean Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People/Teens.

TECKY NOTES: The broadcast is in Media Player format, so in my case, my Apple can't play in a Windows Media player and I use Quicktime with the plug-ins for WMV player. The address it loads is: mms://24.153.136.3:8181/



.

Guy Kawasaki: The Nine Best Story Lines for Marketing

I usually get intrigued whenever I see John Liotti linking to Guy Kawasaki's blog. If you're in a situation where you are trying to promote what you do, this book has 9 story lines you should know well.
1. Aspirations and beliefs.
2. David vs. Goliath
3. Avalance about to roll
4. Contrarian/counterintuitive/challenging assumptions
5. Anxieties
6. Personalities and personal stories
7. How-to stories and advice
8. Glitz and glam
9. Seasonal/event-related

Chip's engaged!

For years, my good friend Chip Bachelder has been faithful to God in serving youth. He has been waiting on God's timing for so many things in his life, and I just found out one of his prayers was answered. Chip is engaged to Kasi Lee and here is their picture. I know they are planning to be married on October 20, 2007. Chip and Kasi are both serving students on Houston's NorthWest side with Student Venture-North Houston. If you are interested in blessing them, I will find out where they are registered and post it as soon as I find out. I'm glad for you guyz!

Bud Lenz & the Tribe in Peru

To all of my blog visitors,

I regularly receive updates from a co-laborer in the Harvest Fields. Bud & Laura Lenz and their children are faithfully impacting a community in the Peruvian highlands with an orphanage and school. I really enjoy hearing of his life lessons and opportunities on the MISSION FIELD. Kurt Zimmerman is his state-side communications link. If you would like to communicate with Bud (or the tribe), you may be able to connect thru Kurt's address. Please pray for this ministry, and open your heart as the Lord speaks to you about any opportunities to partner with this and other ministries.

Giga-Bendiciones & PAX,

=max=

http://rmaxtorres.com

From: "Kurt Zimmerman" r10shekels@earthlink.net

Date: July 4, 2007 2:01:29 PM CDT

To: "Kurt & April Zimmerman"

Subject: Thank You to all our supporters

The other day we were talking about faith in the men's group and how it should be constantly growing. I remembered back when the Lord led us to leave the golf course architecture business and live by faith, ministering on the streets of Houston. There were only 4 children at that point. Then when He called us to Peru... there were seven children at that point and a lot of people told us we were crazy. But here we are, nine plus years later, two more children born here - in the JUNGLE of all places! - and another 25 Peruvian children filling our home with a never ending stream of... what should we call it? Adventure? Excitement? ... Maybe we should just say that there is rarely, if ever, a dull moment. The variety of colds and flues and diarrheas give new meaning to the word "epidemic". I believe you have a term back there in the States: soccer mom??? Again, new meaning. Among whatever other ministerial duties there may be, there are ballet lessons and recitals and soccer practices and games and singing lessons and concerts... And all worth it. The smiles and hugs - and even the tears - make it all worth it.

Yes, faith should constantly be growing. God knows how much we can take and when we are able to believe for His provision - whether for 2 or for 200. He knows when we are able, when to open the windows of heaven, when to shut them for a while; when to flex our faith muscles and when to simply let His provision flow. And always supplying grace upon grace.

Thank you all for being a part of it by prayer and by your gracious giving. You have been more a part of the lives of so many children and other people than you can imagine. May God richly bless you all,

bud, for the tribe.

what so proudly we hailed...

...whose broad stripes and bright stars...
I get emotional when I say the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America or sing the National Anthem.

When I was 20 years old, I boarded an airplane in Houston for the very first time in my life and flew 7941 miles (as the crow flies) to Ad Dammam, Saudia Arabia. Upon my return, I remember commenting to my father how primitive many of the conditions were. There were so many things that I had been taking for granted back at home. My father listened patiently until I finished and he said these words that I have quoted so often since 1976. "To LOVE America - leave it." As soon as you leave the confines of 'these here United States' you realize how good we have it here.

It strikes me that at the base of the Statue of Liberty, inside a brass pedestal, is a quote

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

I can truly understand how so many risk their lives to arrive in this country. I remember standing in the North African desert on July 4, 1976. The American history of some 200 years is a brief passage of time compared to some of the cities that have been established for more than twice that number of years. Despite all of our progress, America is a fledgling country and must learn to better manage ourselves.

I want to wish everyone a wonderful season of celebration of 231 years of independence in this country. Freedom is a wonderful thing. If we neglect it, we may soon be victims of our own arrogance. As the smoke drifts through the sky in your evening firework celebrations tomorrow, look for the Stars and Stripes and think of Mr. Francis Scott Key. What a sight must he have seen, and what joy it must have been to know that the virtue of Freedom still continues today, despite attacks on all fronts.

My desire is that you have a Happy 4th of July - and may God Bless America.
- that's my prayer for you -

Watch "incredible machine - #SONIC FOREVER"

My son Joey and I enjoyed watching this 13 minute video together on Google Videos. Rube Goldberg lives! (well, not really him, as much as the spirit of his amazing cartoons)

incredible machine - #SONIC FOREVER

12 min 54 sec - May 12, 2006
Average rating: (24168 ratings)
Description: incredible machine,un bellissimo video made in japan dove degli astuti giapponesi studiano mille modi di perdere tempo, #SONIC forever

Want to see more cool videos?
Go to video.google.com/

Think you have an even cooler video?
Add it at video.google.com/videouploadform

If you're having trouble watching the video, try copying the following URL into your browser:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3163263343187879320&pr=goog-sl