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March 31, 2008
BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: REVITALIZED
Randy Santiago @ Mar 31, 2008 01:19 AM
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March 29, 2008
I DON'T HAVE A JOB!
Randy Santiago @ Mar 29, 2008 08:45 PM
While reading Ephesians this week I was reminded that I don’t have a job…I have a privilege!

Paul says it like this in Eph. 3:7: “By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.”

You don’t have a job, you have a privilege. Regardless of what you do for a living God has place you there to spread the good news about Him. It is so easy to forget why we do what we do. It is not to sell widgets, teach kids, collect garbage, or punch a clock…it is to spread the good news.

A job says, when can I get out of here.
A privilege says, what is the best I can do.

A job says, I’m working for a paycheck.
A privilege says, I’m working for Jesus.

A job says, when do I get a break.
A privilege says, how can I serve others.

I don’t have a job…and neither do you!
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WHAT DO PEOPLE REMEMBER ABOUT YOU?
Randy Santiago @ Mar 29, 2008 08:41 PM
Read this post by Dino Rizzo yesterday, thought I'd share:

"I read this quote the other day from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

When I read it, it made me think - think hard - about how I make people feel. Do people feel encouraged when they’ve been around me? Do they feel loved? Valued? Important? Listened to? Or do they feel overlooked and undervalued? Do they feel like they were an interruption to what I actually would have preferred to be doing instead of focusing on them? I don’t think Jesus ever made someone feel insignificant. He was the master of the interruption opportunity. Think about the woman who touched him while he was on his way to see a dying friend named Lazarus. Jesus took time to talk to her, to cherish her, and to commend her faith. She went away healed, but I think she also felt valued. As a pastor, friend, father, husband - what I say and what I do only count if they add up to giving people the sense that they matter to God and therefore they are important to me."
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March 27, 2008
QUICK HITS ABOUT MY LIFE
Randy Santiago @ Mar 27, 2008 10:38 PM
Turn 45 tomorrow but I got my gift today....Marilou got me a new kitchen table!   Doesn't sound like much of a gift?  The table flips over into a cool poker table.  Having some of the guys over for some holdem tomorrow....just a card game folks! 

Had a cool braninstorming session with some of the staff about the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.  It's my belief that the problem that many churches have with pastors (simular to myself) is the church is looking for efficiency.  You know, the pastor needs to preach a message, visit the hospital, make some calls....but pastors are more into effectiveness....vision, growth, results.  Hence the conflict of expectations. 

Some thoughts on effectiveness:  It takes more than wanting to be effective to be effective. But the truth is you’ll never be effective until you desire it more than cheesecake. It’s not how much you know that brings success, but yet it’s important to know all you can about the areas you want to be successful in. It’s not how much experience you have that brings success although experience can be the best teacher it just doesn’t have to be your own experiences that you learn from. It’s all about what you do with what you know, and what you have that counts.

I messed up Lonnie's computer with a bad virus.  Sure hope McPherson can work their magic....feel terrible.

Found a cool website for voicemail on your cell phone.  It allows you to attach unique messages to contacts on your phone.  Crazy, funny, serious, even inspirational.  If you want to have some fun with your friends go to youmail.com

Watching some of the tourney....don't worry my bracket was broken the first day of the tourney.  Can you believe the kid who got every team in the sweet 16 right? 

Night!



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March 25, 2008
TOP 14 WORST CHURCH SIGNS
Randy Santiago @ Mar 25, 2008 10:45 PM
Drove around town today and checked out some of cute slogans on some of our local church signs.  I had a church sign at a previous church (I hated it), and I thought I'd post the top 14 worst.  Here we go...

#14 - “CH_ _ CH - what’s missing?  U R”  ST _ PID… :-)

#13 - “Turn before you burn!”   Or you will cry as you fry!  WOW!

#12 - “Get saved or microwaved”   Uh…I’ve pretty much read the entire Bible and it mentions nothing of nuclear fallout in hell!

#11 - “Read your Bible, it will scare the hell out of you.”   Which is EXACTLY why I read my Bible!!! 
#10 - “Staying in bed and shouting ‘Oh God’ does not constitute going to church.”   But what about the little old lady in the back who sleeps every Sunday…is SHE getting anything out of it? 

#9 - “Get on-line with God and download your worries.”   While I appreciate the attempt to connect with culture…IT’S UPLOAD!!!

#8 - “When you get tired of entertainment come back to church.”   Seriously–we’re not exciting at all!!!

#7 - “Where will you be spending eternity?  Smoking or non-smoking?”   Believe it or not I had this on a sign once.
 
#6 - “If you’re ashamed to say, ‘Merry Christmas’ then Jesus is ashamed of you.”   Actually…I think He is WAY more ashamed of the hair-doos some Christians sport!

#5 - “Don’t let worries kill you–let the church help.”   Seriously–one business meeting will just about do it!
 
#4 - “Bring your sins to the alter and drop ‘em like they’re hot.”   Nothing like using a Snoop Dog reference on the church sign!

#3 - “Stop, drop and roll doesn’t work in hell.”   Neither do air conditioners and ice makers!

#2 - “There are no boats on the lake of fire” I know…because if they were then they would catch on fire!!!
 
#1 - “A tisket, a tasket, a condom or a casket.”  This one just HAD to make God happy!!!

And we wonder why the world has trouble connecting to us....Just a thought!
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PLAINVIEW EATS!
Randy Santiago @ Mar 25, 2008 07:59 PM
After my FAVORITES post a few days ago, I've taken plenty of flack about choosing a restaurant in Lubbock as my local favorite.  (Like that was hard!)   But to help you out, I'll play food critic and give you my ratings of Plainview eateries.

BEST BURGER:  Chili's.  (Didn't say cheapest, but best tasting)

BEST MEXICAN:  Irene Favila's (oops, not a restaurant).  Jalisco's. (Really good quesadilla's)

BEST BBQ:  Weekend's BBQ

BEST BUFFET:  Chuck Wagon (chicken tenders are the best)

BEST ORIENTAL:  Still Tokyo's (though I'll have a fight with Junaita Teeple on Far East)

BEST BURRITO:  United Super Mercado (Or whatever their named now)

BEST STEAK:  Chuck Wagon

BEST FAST FOOD SERVICE:  KFC (lightning fast)

BEST CHICKEN:  The Elks on Sunday afternoon

BEST TEA:  Chicken Express

BEST SANDWHICH:  Field House (Shelly's favorite spot)

BEST ICE CREAM:  El Tropico (Homemade)

Enjoy!



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ENVIRONMENT MATTERS!
Randy Santiago @ Mar 25, 2008 07:14 PM

Went to Wendy's Sunday Night after church with some of the gang.  The first thing we noticed when we pulled up was ONE - ok, MAYBE two cars in their parking lot.  Usually not a good sign, but we decided to go for it anyway.  So we walked in.....ordered our food...And as we were ordering, I noticed a couple of strange looks from the food servers standing behind the counter.  One of them almost seemed agitated about my order in particular - Large Chili with lots of crackers and a side salad. Within a minute or two of getting our food and sitting down to eat, Marilou leaned over to me and said “Is it just me, or does it stink in here?  I agreed, although it was hard to pin point the smell, kinda like stinky cheese.  But it wasn't just the smell, there was a lot of other things that made our visit unpleasant.  For example: Our order was wrong.  We didn't get half our food.  (Don't you hate that when you're going through the drive through?)  My chili was cold.  Did I ask them to fix it?  No... I was too afraid!  Especially after the look the dude behind the counter gave when I placed my order!  Too risky... Not only the Chili but the room was FREEZING!  I kid you not, the temperature HAD to have been set at around 58 degrees. (And you know I'm NEVER cold!) Because the room was so cold.....our food quickly became cold too!...I found a long hair in my salad...And the restaurant was dead quiet.  Even though some more people came in, you could tell that nobody felt like they could have much of a conversation in a room that was so quiet that you could hear people chewing their food. The bottom line?  Even though Wendy's was “open”, it only seemed about HALF open.  It felt like they were only HALF-WAY expecting people to show up to eat.  And on top of that, it felt like they didn’t really care a whole lot about creating a great experience for those who DID show up and walk through their doors.

I have a feeling.... That this is exactly how a lot of people feel when they walk into some churches for the first time. At First Assembly of God, there are a few things we strive to do well.  They are non-negoticable when it comes to creating a great environment for our guests....  Here are a few of them:

GREAT MUSIC.  When people walk into First Assembly, they’ll hear music.  Upbeat, positive and consistent with with who we are. 

GREAT SMELLS.  There’s no reason that churches should smell like Ben-gay and mothballs.  So Marcus has lots of plugins throughout the building.  Not Lysol which makes the building smell like someone just threw up minutes before people arrived.  I'm talking sweet smelling vanilla stuff. 

GREAT PEOPLE! I’m convinced that we have THE MOST welcoming church in our community.  I’m serious!  And that’s due, in large part, to our Welcome Teams - who are intentional about making sure that people have a great experience when they walk through the doors at First Assembly of God.  They greet people authentically.... They walk people to their destination (instead of POINTING)....They do WHATEVER is needed.  They are a HUGE part of creating a great environment on our weekends. Kudos to Joe & Sylvia and their team.  

The bottom line is that MOST guests are walking into churches with defenses up, not having any idea what to expect. What are we doing to help bring those defenses down? 

Needless to say if Wendy's was a church....I'd be attending Burger King next Sunday!

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March 24, 2008
BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: AND THEY REMEMBERED
Randy Santiago @ Mar 24, 2008 06:18 PM
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BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: THE EMPTY PROMISES OF EASTER
Randy Santiago @ Mar 24, 2008 04:07 PM
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SUNDAY REWIND
Randy Santiago @ Mar 24, 2008 09:24 AM
Three great services Easter Sunday! 

Pastor Ruben hit a home run with the worship set at 10:30.  Lot's of energy!

The morning talk centered around the premise that God never made a promise that was too good to be true!  Unlike the world, instead of giving promises full of emptiness God gives us emptiness full of promise.  Our Three main points:

  • The EMPTY cross promises us FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
  • The EMPTY tomb promises us ETERNAL LIFE.
  • The EMPTY burial clothes promises continued RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
We had really good attendance on Sunday evening as we remembered the price that Jesus paid by observing communion together.  The ministry at the end of service was sweet. 

Overall I believe people walked away not saying "Wow, wasn't that a great service" but rather, "Wow, isnt Jesus a great Savior!" And there's a world of difference between the two!
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March 20, 2008
10 SIGNS YOU'RE LIVING IN LA LA LAND
Randy Santiago @ Mar 20, 2008 03:58 PM

Here's an excellent post from author David Foster: 

Life is short. You can’t afford to waste any of it. And yet too many people do, living in what I call LaLa Land. The land of “someday, maybe, if so, well I’ll get around to it.” Here are ten signs that you’re living in LaLa Land and you need to get out as soon as possible.

You’re living in LaLa Land if you…

1.  Assume there is plenty of time to do the thing you should be doing. Assuming kills life and potential. Stop assuming and start doing. You may live another forty years. You may live another forty days. Take advantage of it.

2.  You have no written goals. When are you going to realize that what gets dated gets done? You need to hold yourself accountable.

3. You ignore your own mortality. By that I mean you simply think you’re going to live forever, have enough time. You squander your opportunities, your wealth, your health, and your relationships. You will die one day and it could be soon. You are mortal. You will not live forever. Stop wasting the stuff of life.

4. You ignore the big God questions. You are really doing yourself a disservice by assuming that one day you’ll have time for God, after you’ve lived your real life. The truth is, God is life. And without Him in your life as a core reality, everything else is just spinning your wheels.

5. You spend more than you make. Debt is robbing your future for some fleeting satisfaction in the present, or worse, in the past. Avoid it at all costs.

6. You spend all that you make. It’s another disaster, not saving up money for future investments and opportunities, or as we all know, the day you get down-sized, fired, or your job is eliminated altogether. You’ll need money to finance your transition.

7. You think you’re working for other people. The truth of the matter is, you work for yourself everyday, no matter what company you go to. Forget that, and you’re really living in LaLa Land.

8. You aren’t learning new things. The future will demand that you remain inquisitive, that you read, that you learn new skills. Things are changing too radically and if you’re not learning new things and preparing for the future, you will be left behind in LaLa Land.

9. You’re allowing past regrets, bitterness and unforgiveness to fill up way too much of your head space. If there’s unfinished business in your past, get it dealt with, forgiven, put in the past. Forgive people. Let them go for your own sake.

10. You’re living in LaLa Land if you’re ignoring the awesome power of small changes done over time. Don’t wait until you can make a huge transition to change. Make small ones now. We tend to overestimate what we can do in a short period of time and woefully underestimate what we can do over time.

Remember, it’s your life. You can live it in LaLa Land looking for that one day that your ship will come in. Or you can live each day deliberately. You are in control. These are your choices. It is your life and it will be what you make of it. You truly have great potential, but the sad fact is, most people die with their potential unrealized. Don’t let that be you.

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WHAT I'M LISTENING TO!
Randy Santiago @ Mar 20, 2008 02:50 PM
Here's just a few of my most recent downloads to my IPOD. 

CLINT BROWN "Fall Like Rain" - Clint has a tendency to be very repetitious, meaning his stuff sounds the same.  The title track "Fall like rain" isn't worth a flip, but the rest of the album isn't bad.  I really dig the duet he does with Russ Taff on an old Imperials Song "I'm Forgiven."

DANIEL DOSS BAND "Greather Than Us All" - Stumbled on this album and I can't get enough of it.  The lead singer really has some pipes.  Not a bad song on the album.

DELUGE "Bethany Church Live"  - Jonathan Stockstill is amazingly talented.  If you like Pastor Ruben's music you'll like this album seeing he does a lot of his music already.

FREE CHAPEL LIVE - "Moving Forward".  Ricardo Sanchez is worship leader for Jenetzen Franklin.  Ricardo has a lot of Israel Houghton flavor, so there's something for everyone.  Latin, gospel, etc.  Free Chapel was fresh off of a 21 day fast during the making of this album, so it seems to have a special anointing.

LEE MCDERMENT - "A Matchlight in the Dark".  Lee is worship leader for New Spring Church (7000) in South Carolina.  Heavy guitar driven album with some really good worship songs.  He reminds me a lot of worship leader Tommy Walker.
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March 19, 2008
AMERCIANS' MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP
Randy Santiago @ Mar 19, 2008 04:44 PM

In July 2007, The Barna Group asked American adults to identify their most important relationships and most significant groups.  Here is what they discovered:

Most Important Relationship

  • 70% said family or specific family members
    >> 33% said their entire nuclear family
    >> 22% said their spouse
    >> 17% said their children
    >> 3% said their parents
  • 19% said God, Jesus Christ, Allah, or the Trinity
  • 2% said a specific friend

Most Significant Group

  • 29% said their church
  • 18% said the people they affiliate with at work
  • 14% said loose associations of friends that regularly gather together
  • 12% said a hobby club or social group
  • 7% said interaction with people in the neighborhood

Church Relevance says:  "These results are not surprising.  But it is interesting to see the correlation between the perceived importance and influence of each relationship. In Surprising Insignts from the Unchurched.  Thom Rainer asks the previously unchurched, 'What person was the greatest influence in your coming to church?”"

Greatest Influence in Coming to Church

  • 42% said a family member
    >> 35% said their wife
    >> 18% said their child
    >> 16% said other
    >> 9% said parents
    >> 3% said siblings
    >> 2% said parents-in-law
    >> Husbands had a minimal influence. They ranked below wives, children, and parents.
  • 25% said no one
  • 17% said other
  • 8% said coworker
  • 6% said neighbor
  • 2% said merchant

This research reiterates the importance of the church being active in the community. Our greatest church marketing tool is not billboards or even this website but our congregation. And a congregation that pursues living and loving as Jesus did is sure to influence their families, coworkers, neighbors, and community.  Be relational this week and invite someone to Easter Services.

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March 18, 2008
BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: IT IS FINISHED
Randy Santiago @ Mar 18, 2008 04:09 PM
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BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: I THIRST
Randy Santiago @ Mar 18, 2008 11:59 AM
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March 17, 2008
A FEW RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT ME
Randy Santiago @ Mar 17, 2008 10:33 PM

The thing I like about blogging is that it's a great way for people in and outside the church to know me and get to see my heart. With that said I want to share some things about me that you may or may not know–here we go?

My Favorite Movie: (Uh…there are a few…)

    * Comedy: Christmas Vacation!
    * Action: Tombstone
    * Series: Lord of the Rings
    * Guy Movie: Tommy Boy

My Favorite Restaurant:

    * Lubbock - Cagles
    * Plainview - Uh Nothing...but if you're going to force me...Tokyo)
    * Dallas - Fogo De Chao    
    * Of All Time - Patti's in Grand Rivers Kentucky

Bands/People I Have Seen Live In Concert:

    * Journey (Sing it with me, “Don't stop believin…”)
    * River Dance (NOT A WORD!!!)
    * Boy George & The Culture Club (SHUT UP!!!)
    * Petra
    * Newsboys

Pastors That Mentor Me Through Podcasts:

    * Steve Furtick
    * Matt Chandler
    * Andy Stanley
    * Rick Warren
    * Erwin McManus
    * Craig Groeshel
    * Rob Bell

Some Places I Want To Visit One Day:

    * Alaska
    * Australia
    * Ireland (Watched it on the cooking channel)

Some Things I Want To Do One Day: 

    * Go big game hunting and kill some really large, unsuspecting animal!
    * Go to a UFC fight
    * Stand on the sidelines during a Texas Tech football game
    * Go to the Super Bowl

Some Things I LOVE To Do:

    * Enjoy a good movie with LOTS of popcorn
    * Go to Texas Tech games (Especially with Darren Whalen - it’s FUN and RELAXING!)
    * Play Fantasy Sports
    * Playing Texas Hold Em with the guys (If you knew who I played with you wouldn't be asking right now
      "Is it for money?")

Some Things I Want To See Before I Die:

    * I want to see 3,000 people receive Christ in one day just like in Acts 2
    * I want to see churches unite and work together instead of getting into contests to see who can pee 
      further than the other…and for us to all realize that Ephesians 6:12 is true–that we are on the same
      flippin’ team.

Some People I Would Love To Have Lunch With One Day: (That I Haven’t Got To Meet Already…)

    * Erwin McManus
    * Rick Warren
    * Bishop TD Jakes
    * John Piper
    * Bishop Eddie Long
    * George W. Bush - NO, this is NOT a political statement–HE’S THE PRESIDENT!!! If a democrat is
      elected next go around then I would love to have lunch with that person as well!!!
    * Shannon Thrasher in a dress (ok…I have had lunch with him (not in a dress)...just want to see if he's 
      reading. 

Some Things That Keep Me In Awe:

    * That Jesus saved me! (I Corinthians 6:9-11 is my story!)
    * That Marilou loves me! (Proverbs 31:10-12 is true!!!)
    * That God blessed us with Tori & Lisa!
    * That I get to be a part of First Assembly! (Psalm 126 is my prayer for us!!!)
    * That I get to serve with an amazing staff


 

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WHY IS EASTER SO EARLY THIS YEAR?
Randy Santiago @ Mar 17, 2008 10:09 AM

Have you ever wondered why Easter is sometimes in March, and then the next year might be at the end of April? I did a little research here, and it turns out that you can blame Pope Gregory the 13th. Greg, and a couple of his buddies (Lilius and Clavius), decided the current method 424 years ago.  

Evidently, the aim of the Easter Dating Method is to maintain, for each Easter Sunday, the same season of the year and the same relationship to the preceding astronomical full moon that occurred at the time of Jesus' resurrection in 30 A.D.  A good goal, but very confusing. Maybe we can contact the current pope and suggest that Easter always be celebrated on the first Sunday in April.  Until that happens, you'll be glad to know that there are limits. Easter can never be before March 22 or after April 25. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives, since it won't happen again for another 220 years. Oh, and the last time it was this early was 1913. 

Here are the dates for Easter for the next four years...

  • 2009 - April 12
  • 2010 - April 4
  • 2011 - April 24
  • 2012 - April 8

 

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March 15, 2008
5 THINGS I MUST HAVE IN THE CHURCH THAT I WILL ATTEND TOMORROW
Randy Santiago @ Mar 15, 2008 09:41 AM

Attending church tomorrow ought to be a decision you’ve already made. It’s a good thing to do, a smart thing to do; if nothing more than for the discipline that says an awfully lot about who you are and what you want out of life. The question is, what kind of church are you going to go to? Here are five “must haves” of the church that I attend tomorrow.

* Must Have #1: This church and its leadership must be committed without reservation to the authority and integrity of the Bible. If these are merely religious people living on the basis of their own personal authority, they have no more authority than I do, so their opinion does not really matter when it comes to eternal issues.

* Must Have #2: I’ll only go to a church that communicates very clearly that they like people. From the moment I enter through the door I want to know that I'm wanted.  This may sound odd, but most churches don’t really like people, except for a very narrow definition of the kind of people that already attend the church. If you don’t fit into that narrow definition, you’re not welcome.

* Must Have #3: This church must be about offering solutions. I don’t want to know what you’re against. I can figure that out on my own. I want to know what you’re for. What are your solutions? What are your “yeses?” What are your big ideas?

* Must Have #4: I want to go to a church that’s willing to make promises. By that I mean this church offers me something; I’m going to benefit by having gone. It’s only very few religious legalists who believe that going to church shouldn’t be about what you get out of it. It should be only about what you give to it. I think it should be both, and it can’t be one without the other to be truly meaningful.

* Must Have #5: This church must help me know, understand, and experience Jesus. That’s the secret, that’s the difference, that’s the life-change. That’s what makes a church uniquely a church. Jesus Christ is the issue. And I want all life answers to be explained and defined in relation to who Jesus was, is, what He promised, what He offers, and what the future looks like.

Everything else is gravy....Cutting Edge Worship, Esthetics, Lights, Cameras, Action....Give me the WORD, LOVE, SOLUTIONS, PROMISES....in an essence give me JESUS!

 

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March 14, 2008
THIS SUNDAY! BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS (PARTS 3 & 4)
Randy Santiago @ Mar 14, 2008 11:03 AM
Jack Hayford wrote a book entitled "How to Live Through a Bad Day", in which he talks about how to not only survive when life presents us with difficulty, but how we can also thrive in the middle of times of adversity. He presents us with some of the words that Jesus spoke while on the cross that will help us to deal with the struggles we face in life.  Next Friday is Good Friday, but Good Friday was not a good day for Jesus, but a bad one. It was a day of betrayal, beatings, violence, rejection, pain, and loneliness. It was a bad day. 

Sunday morning we'll look at the words "I Thirst!"  Mother Teresa said: The closer you come to Jesus, the better you will know his thirst! The closer you are to Jesus, the better you will understand his words, I thirst!  If this is true, we'll need to determine where we are in our closesness to Jesus.  Are you warm, warmer, hot, HOTTER!

Sunday evening we'll look at the words "It is Finished!"  What was finished?  The perfect work of Jesus Christ was finished.  Jesus is saying, “Now, the debt has been paid in full.  There is nothing left.  Your sin has been paid for by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.” Imagine this though, Jesus did everything the father sent Him to do, but you have not. What unfinished business do you still have to accomplish? 

I'm pumped about Sunday.  Don't miss an encounter....8:30am, 10:30am, 6:00pm. It's going to rock!
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March 13, 2008
VACATION ENVY
Randy Santiago @ Mar 13, 2008 09:45 PM
DiSalvo's are headed on a much needed vacation. An early spring break getaway will take them to the Grand Canyon and Sunday service at Tommy Barnett's church for their Easter program.  5 days is really not enough rest when you consider the schedule they have waiting for them when they return.  Youth Camp, Fireworks, Fine Arts, Missions Convention, and a little program called Hell House.  Enjoy the time off, you've earned it!
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BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: WHY
Randy Santiago @ Mar 13, 2008 12:38 PM
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March 12, 2008
AMERICAN IDOL
Randy Santiago @ Mar 12, 2008 06:38 PM
For those who are not idol fans, turn away.  I'm making pick to be voted off tonight and it's miss country angel, Kristy Cook.  She wasn't the worst performance last night that award goes to David Archuleta, but he has built up enough credit he'll survive tonight.  Kristy was a close second because she did a cardinal sin.  She transformed a beatles song into a country song.  It wasn't bad, but I think there's enough angry beatles fans out there who were dialing there phones for anyone but Kristy.  I hope she makes a record though so she can buy back the horse she sold so she could try out.  Adios Krisi.  My Top 3 Are Still:

#1 David Cook (Rocker)
#2 Carly Smithson (Irish Kelly Clarkson)
#3 David Archuleta (He'll bounce back)

By the way I didn't say everything on my blog was going to be spiritual. 
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March 11, 2008
FINALLY....PODCASTING
Randy Santiago @ Mar 11, 2008 09:36 PM
We're up and running.  Kudos to Ruben and Cory for the hot lead in to the evening message.  You can listen online using the player, or copy the URL to ITUNES. Sermons will then be added automatically as soon as they're added to the site.  Submitted our feed to ITUNES and we're waiting on approval, a few changes to our tag and artwork and we'll then have click and your done submission.  Enjoy!
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BAD DAYS/BETTER DAYS: FORGIVEN
Randy Santiago @ Mar 11, 2008 03:12 PM
To Subscribe to this feed:

Copy this URL:  http://blogs.echurchnetwork.net/firstaog/feed/podcast.aspx

Go to Itunes>Advanced>Subscribe to Podcast>Right Click>Paste>OK





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SWATTING FLIES
Randy Santiago @ Mar 11, 2008 07:56 AM

In the book fasting Jentezen Franklin shares this story:

"A few years ago, I was reading through a book someone game titled Prophetic Whisper by Richard Gazowsky.  Early in the book, he talks about an event that really got my attention.  (As it did mine) 

Mr. Gazowsky and his wife were in a season of fasting and were praying on a beach in California.  His wife had apparently walked a little farther down the beach and began praying for a woman they knew who was being tempted into adultery.  The moment she spoke the woman's name out loud, "a swarm of flies ascended from the ocean surface, as if orchestrated by an invisible conductor, and swept like a blanket across the water and onto the bearch."  He rushed over to see if his wife was OK.  When she told him she'd been praying for their friend, the Lord revealed what Gazowsky refereed to as a "vulnerability in Satan's kingdom," that being the flies.   

When I read that, I immediately thought of Matthew 12:24, "Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler fo the demons."  They were accusing Jesus of operating with the power of Satan, or as they called him, Beelzebub, which means "lord of the flies."  How interesting that during prayer for someone being tempted by demons, a horde of flies came out fo nowhere and descended on this woman.  As Gazowsky found, the "weakness" relates to the life span of flies.  You can study just about any of the species and you'll find their reproductive cycles can range from a day to as many as forty days.  That is why, in order to exterminate an infestation of flies from a crop, for example, you have to spray pesticides for forty consecutive days in order to utterly destroy them.  If you stop short of the full forty days, you will destroy only the existing generation, but the next generation will live on.  Just as sparying pesticides for a fulll forty days wipes out an infestation of flies, when we enter into a season of fourty days of fasting and prayer, we can break free of the bondages in our own lifes and in the lives of the next generation.  As Gazowsky noted, "The devil is a short term skirmisher."

WOW!  I know many of us are not ready for fourty days (me included) but you can start with a day and then two and before you know it God will give a desire for longer.  What happens when people begin to fast as often as they pray....THE DEVIL WILL START DROPPING LIKE FLIES!

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PODCAST
Randy Santiago @ Mar 11, 2008 05:30 AM
Worked on the podcast all day yesterday.  Just when I think I got it licked I can't seem to download our file to the server.  It has to be on the host side because Tom did a test mp3 late last week, so I know it works.  DRIVING ME CRAZY!  Two hours of sleep working on this thing because I made promises that this will be working by today.  AND IT WILL! 
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NEW READ
Randy Santiago @ Mar 11, 2008 05:18 AM
Received a new book from my good friend DWAIN JONES.  The book is entitled FASTING by Jentezen Franklin.  I can't put it down!  In fact I'm through my 2nd read and I just got it late yesterday.  Going to buy a copy for ever one of my leaders....IT'S THAT GOOD!  If you're looking for BREAKTHROUGH in your life....buy this book and ETERNALIZE IT!   I'll give you some bits and pieces from the book in future posts this week! 
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March 9, 2008
SUNDAY DRIVE
Randy Santiago @ Mar 9, 2008 09:44 PM
  • Awesome day today!  Worship really sounded good, tight harmony. 
  • I was shocked how losing an hour of sleep made me feel.  I was dog tired today.
  • Pretty good attendance in both services!  Only a few couples walked in late.
  • Great board meeting...my guys rock!
  • Great altar call Sunday night, God really did some things!
  • Someone said they saw Shannon trying on some short dresses at JC Penny this weekend.  
  • It's still daylight.  I love daylight savings time!
  • Tom started filling eggs after church....can you believe Easter is two week away?
  • Pumped about sermons online and podcasts...hope we can pull it off.  This website stuff is tiring!
  • Early morning tomorrow...I'm out!

 

 

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March 7, 2008
QUICK HITS
Randy Santiago @ Mar 7, 2008 10:23 PM
  • DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD BEFORE YOU GO TO BED SATURDAY!
  • Saturday is Kelly Reusch's birthday.  HAPPY B.DAY Kelly!
  • Sunday is going to ROCK!  I feel really good about both messages for Sunday.  FORGIVENESS and WHY,
  • Hope to have POCASTS up by Tuesday! 
  • New banner on top of our new site looks great.  Thanks to Tom and Dave Reusch!  (Yeah there's 2nd one)
  • Couldn't walk through Wal Mart today with out running into new families who have recently visited the church.  Cool they remembered me.  Very cool that they're all coming back Sunday!

 

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March 6, 2008
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MIND DUMP
Randy Santiago @ Mar 6, 2008 08:48 AM
  • Building U is OFF THE HOOK!  Took a lot of heat years ago when we moved "Sunday School" to Wednesday evening but Building University is better than ever! 
  • ADULT CLASSES....Almost looked like Sunday Night.  Study on the book of Daniel is really getting interesting.  There are some memorable childhood stories in Daniel (The 3 amigos in the fiery furnance and Dan sleeping with lions), but things start heating up when you talk about prophecy and future events.  Keeping it to one hour is definitely a challenge.  SIGNS OF LIFE, MY STUPID MOUTH, HONOR'S REWARD....looking good too!
  • 7 people made decisions for Jesus. CELEBRATE! 
  • KIDS EVERYWHERE!  Don't know what Tom has been feeding his teachers but they're INCREDIBLE.  ON TIME, ENERGETIC, PRAYING TOGETHER, and it shows in our kids, they're almost as pumped as when they come out of KID UP on Sunday's!  
  • STUDENT MINISTRIES change (Jr. High at 7pm and Sr. High at 8pm) hasn't affected the crowds.  Ran out of chairs in the Jr. High service.  LONNIE and his team ROCK! 
  • The big enchilada (no not Ruben) goes to the the singles ministry of First Assembly.  THE HAVEN meet at 8:30pm.  They push me right out of the sanctuary and deservingly so, they're really growing.  They have COOKIES and STARBUCKS COFFEE (yeah coffee in the foyer...they're an irreverant bunch) WORSHIP and the WORD!  The foyer has become an after service hang out.  CAN YOU SAY COFFEE HOUSE!
  • NEW SHELBY SYSTEM seems to really be working when it comes to check in.  Student ministries has been using it for a few weeks now and it really works. If AMY EMBRY can run it it anyone can!
  • This thing could get CRAZY if we had another bus and a few more dedicated drivers.   LET'S PRAY!
  • FINAL THOUGHT...did you see the table set up in foyer for the BGMC contest between SHANNON THRASHER and the children's department?  If you put $$$ in Shannon's container the kids have to wear underwear (clean I hope) on their heads and parade around the church.  But if you put $$$ in the kids container...SHANNON HAS TO WEAR A DRESS (Sexy)!  Break out your check book folks and let's see that CHRISTIAN CROSSDRESSER...oh yeah and let's raise some money for BGMC!
TILL NEXT WEDNESDAY!
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THE STICKER LAMP
Randy Santiago @ Mar 6, 2008 07:33 AM

Looking for something to really make that tv room stand out.  Check out these two dimensional sticker lamps created by Italian designer Alicero Signoli. 

Sticker Lamp

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March 5, 2008
Oprah's New Religion
Randy Santiago @ Mar 5, 2008 06:04 PM

The influence of Oprah in this country shouldn't be underestimated. I hope this makes Christian women (and I guess some men) think twice before giving her too much say into their lives.

Oprah has skyrocketed the career of another author on her book club. But this endorsement is a bit heart-wrenching. She's taking her fans through a year-long "Course in Miracles" by Marianne Williamson. Each day, her book club site features a different lesson on this essentially new religion. Here are some quotes from this book:

  • "There is no sin."
  • "A slain Christ has no meaning."
  • "The journey to the cross should be the last ' useless journey."
  • "Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross."
  • "The name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."
  • "The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
  • "The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."
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Website is Live!
Randy Santiago @ Mar 5, 2008 07:41 AM
We're live and I'm blogging about it!  Our first WEBSITE!  This has been a long time coming but we finally were able to make the TIME and FINANCIAL investment to offer guests and members a 24/7 brochure of BANNERS, VIDEO, MONTHLY BIG IDEA'S, HOT INFO and of course this BLOG with WEEKLY PODCASTS! 

As I'm typing this I remember a word that a leader recently shared saying how he felt that First Assembly was soon to go GLOBAL.  Wow!  With 600+ IN ATTENDANCE last Sunday morning, KICKING STUDENT and CHILDREN'S ministries, NEW FAMILIES checking in all the time, and now the ability to have our website accessible everywhere with FULL PODCASTS my friend may have been prophetic.  

We still have a ton of work to do so be patient, but let us know what you think (good stuff) and check in frequently for a journal of daily thoughts and of course weekly podcasts. 

Pastor Randy
LIVE AND BLOGGING!

Home Page:  http://plainviewtexas.org 
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