What an awesome time we had this past week at the Senior Pastor's Conference in Murrieta! The messages by the various pastors (through the book of Acts) were right on target – challenging me to be the man I need to be, and to do the work I need to do; to remember the great and awesome God that I belong to, and to realize, in a fresh way, the importance of that absolute surrender to -and dependance on – the Holy Spirit. God told me: to sin less, to pray more, to work much harder, to step out, and to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!  May I now do what He's called me to do…there are so many to reach!  Of course it's always a blessing to hang out with the guys, to have that fellowship, that counsel, and that encouragement (not to mention the food :-). God is using Calvary Chapels in such a tremendous way – (I talked to guys that are literally ministering all around the world), and I cannot be more excited about missions than I am now (please pray that God would lead us – and that we would follow).

I was blessed to be able to talk with Pastor Chuck – a bit. I told him how I thanked God for him, how I pray for him every day, and what a total blessing the conference was. I told him how I want to come back to El Monte and be a better pastor. I think he was blessed by the latter statement (he really does want us to work hard for the glory of God and the good of His people).

Watching Pastor Chuck with his big smile, his huge heart, his love for the Lord and his untiring labor…has been an absolutely amazing example to me!

Thank You Lord, for the work that You've done, and that You want to do, through human vessels.

Just in case you didn't know who this is, this is a picture of me and Pastor Chuck.

May God bless you and keep you in His amazing love!