The above photo is from a play last Sunday night, entitled Emmanuel: God is with us, at the House of Grace in Uptown Whittier. My youngest daughter Savannah played Mary.  I thought the photo captured the moment.

From my family to yours, to family and friends across the country, God Bless you and Merry Christmas.

Happy Easter 2008

I have seen thousands of sunrise’s but today’s sunrise had new meaning for Jeri and I. With every sunrise, every new day, is a chance to start over, to be reborn anew. We were at the Calvary Chapel Montebello Sunrise (Sonrise) Service at Montebello Park this morning, for the first time, literally watching the sun come up as Pastor Pancho was speaking the word of God. I think everyone in attendance understood that 2000 years ago, Jesus, who had been crucified on the cross three days before and entombed, was resurrected on a day just like today. It connected us with him, if only metaphorically. The real connection is knowing that like Jesus, we too can be resurrected, reborn, by our faith and God’s Grace. Have a Happy Easter and enjoy your time with your family today.

Warriors Creed

I did not write this but I did think it was a powerful message and something to aspire to and I wanted to share it with you.

Warriors Creed

I Am a Soldier
Author unknown


I am a soldier in the army of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army;
but, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.


I am a soldier. I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.


I am a soldier. I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders,
praising His name, and building His kingdom!
No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.


I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win.
My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.
Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain.
I am a soldier, in the Army, I'm marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching Heaven bound.





There are four kinds of soldiers:
1. Active Duty: Serving the Lord faithfully, daily, and on duty 24-7-365.
2. Reserve Status: Serving only when called upon,
or twice a year: Christmas and Easter.
3. Guard Status: Backing up the Active Duty group.
4. AWOL! Absent With Out the Lord.


Which kind are you? Be an army of one for an audience of One.

Atheist in the woods

An atheist was walking through the woods.

"What majestic trees"!

"What powerful rivers"!

"What beautiful animals"!

He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground . He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Time Stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"?

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps You could make the BEAR a Christian"?

"Very Well," said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

I ran across this video at Godtube.com. It was created by someone named Johnny Cook. He wanted to share this video and I thought I would help him along. I thought it was a thought provoking video. Randy

Courtesy of Johnny Cook and Godtube.com

"A video I created for Forest Pointe Church in Belmont, NC. It features scenes from the short film "Most", the story of a bridge operator who is forced to choose between the life of the son he loves dearly and a train filled with people. "Most" received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Live-Action Short Film. For more information on the film, or to order a copy for your church, visit MostTheMovie.com. This is a fan-made video, and not affiliated with the producers, director, or actors in any way. I simply loved the messsage of this film and wanted to share it with as many people as possible to give it the recognition it deserves. God bless!" ....Johnny Cook

The Gospel of Luke

Turn on your speakers.

Joshua 24:15

Joshua 24:15


But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Biblical Informations Ministries

Biblical Informations Ministries will be a regular part of our website. It is written by Margaret Moreno (my Aunt). You can comment on any of her posts by clicking the comment link just below the post. Welcome aboard Auntie Margaret!

HI RANDY; STILL TRYING. ARE YOU GETTING THIS POST? LET ME KNOW

Merry Christmas to Family and Friends

Merry Christmas everyone. let's not forget that while Santa Clause and gift giving is lots of fun, it is Jesus and his birth that we celebrate.

Lord, keep our son safe and bring him back home to us safe and healthy. Keep him close to you. Please remove the bitterness from my sisters heart and help her to adjust to her physical limitations. Please bring her peace. Watch over her daughter Sunshine. Watch over all my family Lord, protect them. Lord watch over little Kelvin. Whatever your will is, let it be done. But don't let this boy and his family suffer any more. Amen

How to forgive

This was sent to me by my good friend Bob Fulton. Definitely worth sharing.


One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job. His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:

"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how.

It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree,he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.
He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the
man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked? The man answered - "yes, Lord."
"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?" The man answered - " yes. Lord." And the man sobbed more and more. "Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't
yours?" Jesus asked? And the man answered - "yes, Lord." "Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain? " The man, crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man'scrying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord." Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and
the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before. Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.

Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

Lord I love You and I need You, come into my heart, today.
For without You I can do nothing.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!
.

A Different Christmas Poem

This beautiful poem was sent to me by my sister-in-law Teri De la O. I thought it was worth sharing. Thank you Teri.


A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered,perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
Alone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said 'It's really alright,
I'm out here by choice, I'm here every night.
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask, or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My gramps died at pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas Gram always remembers.
My Dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam'
And now it's my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a fox hole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister or brother...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "Harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be alright."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money?" I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret.
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch no matter how long.
For when we come home either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."