Many of you know or have heard about everything that happened last week and the tragic loss of Elijah Nabua, a South Hills; South Campus student.

Without going into all the details – He was hit by a car one morning on his way to school and passed away the next day.  There is no question in anyones mind about where he is now – sitting at the foot of Christ in Heaven.  His family are all firm believers in God and God’s promise that we find in Colossians – that through Jesus Christ, God is reconciling all things to him.  Taking things that the enemy meant for evil and redeeming them.

We serve a powerful God.

Powerful in purpose…

Powerful in might…

Powerful in love…

and powerful in comfort.

Within 2 days of Elijah passing into his spiritual body, vital organs from his physical body were used to give other people life.  A perfect match for a woman that had been waiting years.

God knows and He is good.

He is good.

Keep the Nabua family in your prayers, along with all of the people that are now and forever will be affected by these events.

Below is a flier for the memorial service.  If you can attend, please do.  Now more than ever is an opportunity to come together, support the family, and exemplify the love of Christ.

(Click the image for larger version)

Never take the people around you for granted or the time you have with them.

I stumbled across this the other day.  The stuff they can do nowadays is amazing.  I mean think about even just 20 years ago compared to now – things have totally changed!

Creativity is an amazing thing.  The things that people come up with blow me away.

I wish that we would use it more as Christians.  God has given us gifts, abilities, and creativity beyond our wildest imaginations – unfortunately we all-too-often settle for mediocrity.

Lets all try and create something fresh this week! Whether it’s a new recipe, a painting, a blog, or a story that you tell your kids before they go to bed…lets start exploring the dark unknown spaces of our creativity.

~chris

Sometimes there are songs that just resonate with you.

The guitar strikes a chord that strikes a chord deep inside of you somewhere.  The melody being sung drifts through the air like the emotions you are feeling at that very moment.  The drums are pounding the same rhythm as your heart beat. Each word to the song makes you feel like someone broke into your soul and read your innermost diary.

I love those songs.  God uses those to minister to me just as much as any sermon, book, or podcast.

One of the songs that I find myself getting lost in when things get crazy is My Brightness by Charlie Hall.  I’m gonna embed it here so you can listen to it.  (In reality, his new cd “Bright Sadness” is song after song of hope, encouragement, and redemption.)

~c

My Brightness – Charlie Hall

I heard this term a few months ago. “Holy hangover” refers to how people that involved in ministry feel on Monday.

Tore up.

Tor’ up.

‘tor up.

I really don’t know what is the proper way to spell that, but my throat is killing me.  Every time I swallow anything it feels like I am drinking razor blades.

Anyhoo…

For the next three weeks (well, two more after last night) I am leading worship at a church in Chino Hills.  It feels great to still be a part of worship services in this way.  I would probably lose my mind if I just stopped completely.

Last night was an amazing time though.  We played about 8 songs total.  Some that are old favorites, like “From the Inside Out” and “Came to My Rescue,” and a few new ones (to me at least) – “King of Love” and “Invitacion Fountain.”  (And no, I didn’t misspell “invitacion” – that’s how the author spells it.)

Invitacion Fountain is a really powerful and moving song, originally written by the Violet Burning but found mostly on Vineyard worship cd’s.

All who are weak, all who are weary
Come to the rock, come to the fountain
All who have sailed on rivers of heartache
Come to the sea, come on and be set free.

If you lead me Lord I will follow
Where you lead me Lord I will go
Come and heal me Lord I will follow
Where you lead me Lord I will Go.

It was/is definitely the perfect time for me to recomit my decisions and future to God, but also a very needed time to ask God to heal me of some things that are broken and bruised inside of me.

What a mighty God we serve.

~c

So a few weeks back we went to Solvang with Es’ family.  It was a really great time.  There is only enough stuff there to keep you entertained for about 7 hours, but we were there for three days.  So it ended up being a lot of food intake.

All in all, it was great to relax, unplug (mostly), and spend time growing closer and reconnecting with family.  It sucks how the busyness of life causes us to miss out on life.

Anyhoo, here is a video I put together.  I used one of my favorite songs/artists.  Zach Gill.  Check him out on iTunes or his webpage.  He is also in ALO and records/performs with Jack Johnson and Matt Costa a lot.  All good people.  (Excited now, because when I went to find the link to his webpage I discovered he is playing locally on the 25th!! Who wants to go?!)

(click on link for a larger version – my blog is kinda narrow. bogus.)

Solvang – April, 09 from chris kretzu on Vimeo.

~c

So there is this new fad (i guess?) in the blogging world where you tag people and they are supposed to do what you did on your blog. Or something to that effect.

So Candice tagged me on her blog to post 10 things i love that start with the letter “E.”

I am pretty sure she chose “e” because…well…it will be obvious soon enough…

10. Eating. I love eating. Yes, that makes me fat – but what I really love most about it is the relational aspect of eating with people.

9. Extol. The first metal band I really got into.  Their best album by far is “Undecieved.”  I know a lot of people don’t like the “noise” but their music is orchestrated in a beautiful way that really provides the emotional foundation for their lyrics – which happen to all be about the life that Christ offers us.

8. Email. I hate talking on the phone.  I would much rather email (or text).  I don’t know…something about being able to respond in your own time, think about your responses, and not having to hold that phone to your head just makes life easier.

7. Erwin McManus.  He is a pastor and author, and every time I have read his stuff or heard him speak – he inspires me.  Or God inspires me through him – but you know what I mean.

6. Eggnog.  Love it or hate it, people have passionate feelings about this delicious holiday beverage.  But I say we need to do away with the holiday part!  Serve this delicacy year round! I want it on the menu!

5. Extreme Sports.  I’m not good at them, but I love watching them.  Anything.  BMX, snowboard, skateboard, surf, sky-diving, mountain climbing – you name it and I’ll watch it.  Especially at Wahoos while I am eating a carne asada torta. BOOYA!

4. El Mariachi.  One of, if not the, first Robert Rodriguez films.  It was the first movie in a series followed by Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.  His directing credit also includes From Dusk Til Dawn, Sin City 1 (2 and 3 coming soon), Planet Terror, and Spy Kids 1-3 (which he made so that his kids could “see one of their daddies movies.”)

3. Eva Mendez. But just because she’s a fantastic actress.  Brenda swears their related somehow and they have been to the same family function…so…yeah.

2. Empathy. “Empathy is the capability to share and understand another’s emotion and feelings. It is often characterized as the ability to “put oneself into another’s shoes,” or in some way experience what the other person is feeling. Empathy does not necessarily imply compassion or sympathy.”  – wikipedia.

Anne Lamott said “The greatest sermon anyone can preach is two words: “Me too.” I think empathy is a powerful thing and more people should strive to understand other people’s emotions, feelings, backgrounds, passions, and more.

1. Esmeralda.  I love my wife.  I am sure thats why Candice gave me “E.”  But yeah…Es is esmazing, estacular, estastic, especial (which is funny because thats kinda how you say “special” in spanish…i think.).  She is my best friend.  I say that a lot, but she really is.  We have so much freakin’ fun together.  She makes me laugh like no other person I have ever known.  She trusts me with everything she has, which is an amazing honor.  She makes me feel more important and special than any other person in the world.  She’s the Bonnie to my Clyde, the Lucy to my Ricky, the Shirley to my Laverne, the Mrs. to my Mr. Smith, the P.B. to my J., the Snoop Dogg to my Dr. Dre, the milk to my oreo.  She’s the Sanka to my…whatever the other dudes name was in Cool Runnings.  And right now she doubles as my suga’ mamma – which is pretty awesome.

So booya. 10 things I love that start with E.

~c

So my niece’s birthday was a few weeks ago, but I have been lazy with uploading my videos.  As I was browsing through I found a hilarious video of Aaron – my brother in law.  Their house is a bit smaller so we had the doors and windows open because we crammed about 30 people in there.

Open the doors, in come the bugs.

He has an electric bug zapper shaped like a tennis raquet.

And as you might have imagined, wackiness and antics ensue.

Bug Zapper Extravaganza from chris kretzu on Vimeo.

~c

So since we are in the market looking for a new job and church to be a part of, one of the factors that plays into that is cost of living – specifically having to do with housing.

Not that I plan on moving to any of these areas (although some of them are surprisingly tempting), but it is amazing to look at the different types of property you can buy for $150,000.

I know prices in Corona have dropped drastically, but this it’s still amazing to me how expensive Southern California is.

Check out the link below and tell me, out of these choices, where would you move? (I think I’d go with Indonesia: Lovina, Bali.)

$150,000 Real Estate

~c