En Memoria de...

"Say Uncle, Say it!" "No!!!!" I scream with my high-pitched pre-pubescent voice. I try to run but there's no running from his death grip on my leg as he relentlessly tickles me. I turn and try to return the assault by tickling him, unfortunately my attempts are to no avail due to the immunity he apparently has being a grown man. I struggle for what feels like an eternity, but probably translates to about thirty seconds. Then, as I gasp for air I finally succumb to his request. "Okay! *gasps* okay! Uncle!" 

Kind of a silly game to play with somebody that is actually your Uncle, nevertheless, this was played at least once a day as he proved his superiority to my cousin and I. This would then be followed by a sound defeat of the two of us on the basketball court. At least, afterwards, he would pick me up and let me dunk a few times and then fly me around the yard like superman. This would last until superman would crash into a mound of leaves I had just raked for a beautiful, shiny quarter. Then, this mountain of a man would put on his Dolphins jersey and QB a one on one football game for us.

The best times were always if we got a chance to ride over to Nana and Tata's house. We would get to hop in the bed of the old beat up toyota truck for the two block ride to their house. My uncle must not have had a good sense of direction because we'd always end up off the street and in the desert going over jumps and bushes as us kids in the back would squeal with joy as we'd hold onto anything we could to steady ourselves. Or, even better was, the time it snowed and we hooked up an inner tube to the back of the truck with a rope and he pulled us around and we'd get flung off when the rope would wrap around a bush.

There were so many fun times I had with him and I've always had this strange love for the smell of beer because he would always get off work and sit down with a beer or two. Never enough to be drunk, but just enough for him to have a faint smell of it as he played with me. Also, I would get a whopping two dollars for crushing all the cans when we'd go to recycle them!

My Aunt Gerry and him watched me every afternoon from age 5 to 13 while my parents brought home the bacon. They would play with me, feed me, (occasionally discipline me), and give me everything I needed to have a fun childhood. I'd probably be a way different person if it wasn't for the love from my parents and from my extended family who took such good care of me growing up.

The fact that my Uncle passed away this week puts a heavy burden on my heart. I wish I could have told him how grateful I was for those times. But, I refuse to let this pain strip me of these wonderful memories and I want to share these moments with you to share some of the great experiences I had with a great Uncle.

I don't know how you choose to grieve when you lose someone you care about but I would recommend expressing it; don't hold it in. I choose to write because that's how I express myself best. You can paint, sing, write, or just talk with friends and family but know there is a light at the end of every dark time.

 En memoria de "Big" Randy Gallegos

I'm a Christian!!!

I was just looking through a bunch of my friends profiles and realized under Religious views most of us don't have Christian. At least not in those words. I just love jesus, another follows him, another follows his teachings some are simply a bible verse. All ways to buffer the statement "Yes I'm a Christian" Now I'm not saying its bad to do this (especially since I do it too) I just find it very sad.

How did the term Christian go from a group of disciples that radically loved people, had strong community ties, cared for the sick and the widows, and shared the gospel with everyone. To a term coined for Right wing fundamentalists who are hypocritical, and judgemental??

Now I know its not likely that any of us can change the perspective of the world, but don't you think we could change our worlds. What my church calls "oikos" a greek word that refers to the 8-15 people God has stategically put in your life to have influence on.

It's time to rebrand Christianity. That name is powerful enough, we are calling ourselves a "little Christ!" Let's find some ways to get out in our community and love people because we're Christians. I want to be able to put myself aside because like it says in the book I'm reading, "If we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus."

So let's worry less about calling ourselves Christians, and focus more on being Christians. Any ideas??

Quick update

I just had to take this time to give a quick update on Seven San Diego! It's finally starting to feel like a routine down here at the new church, everything runs smoothly now that we're starting to know what we're doing. Just in time too, because we had our very first out-of-state missions team show up this past week!

What a breath of fresh air it was to have such an excited and willing group of individuals to help out for a week. I wouldn't dare say we've lost our excitement in planting this church, but it is good to be reminded of how exciting this adventure is that God chose to lead us on. These kids had that look of excitement written all over there face the entire week.

We had them put up door hangers, administer surveys , hand out drinks w/ flyers, run the block party trailer, clean up Laureens yard, and set up all the things for church on Sinday. These things may seem small to you but to a church with very few available hands, these were things we would have never had time to do. The best part for me was them seeing our church and thinking up ways to improve there own! There church is huge and yet they leave here in a contemplative state about how to maybe improve some things. Not they think there church is bad they just know things can always get better.

One thing about starting a church from scratch that I've noticed so far, is how focused a new church is on non-believers. We are always looking for new ways to grab the community's attention and much less on facilitating in-church events. That's one thing I don't want us to lose in our years to come at 7 SD, the lost is why we moved and the lost needs to be what keeps us here. Then as a secondary will have a bunch of fun things for those that call 7 SD there home church.

All that really just to say "Thank You Sagemont Church for your servant's hearts and your joy for life!" You will not be soon forgotten.

Happy New Years!

I'm saying that because if New years is related to resolutions I need a re-do. I resolved to Blog once a week, memorize the Johns and Jude starting in summer, and learn spanish. We are in the middle of the 5th month and those resolutions are all but gone out the window. I tell you this not to just announce my failures and apologize for the empty time between blogs. I simply announce that I'm getting back on track.

I spent this past weekend at hume to have a long needed rest. While there I prayed a lot and tried to not put solutions in my mind before giving God time to answer. During one of my quiet times I remember thinking I'm commiting to an hour of devo time just like I did in Joshua. That thought was immediately followed by a "Yeah, don't you have enough commitments your not sticking too??" Ouch! This was followed by some great verses from a book I've found talking about the apostle Peter. It talked about how Peter full of passion would say things like if everyone else leaves you I will stay. Making commitments he wasn't able to keep. Even though he fails Christ in his time of need He forgives Peter and uses Him to start the church.

You can't fail if you don't give up . So let's not consider this a failure just a delayed victory! I'm back and refreshed and look forward to writing many more of these in the future. Bear with me and help me out, a little nudging is always a good thing!

Never Promised Tomorrow...

In a conversation with some friends lately I was confronted with the importance and urgency of praying, and sharing Christ with my non-christian friends. It reminded me of a skit that moved me at Hume talking about this so I'm going to do my best to write this like a playscript from memory so bear with me!

[Rich walks into scene disoriented where there's an Angel standing]

Rich: Man! What happened?? The last thing I remember was that squirrel running out and Kyle grabbing the wheel yelling "Get the squirrel! 10 points!" [chuckles] But where am I??

[looks around and notices angel]

Rich: Excuse me miss, where am I??

Angel: This is the gate of heaven.

Rich: [excited] What? Awesome! It's time to be with Jesus and barbecue and celebrate! No more pain just joy and barbecue! I bet they really know how to cook in heaven!

[Enter Kyle]

Kyle: Bro!!! That was awesome, you were like "we're not gonna get the squirrel" but I was like "we're gonna get the squirrel" and we swerved and we were totally gonna get the squirrel but then you were like "Ahhh!" and the car was like "Skurrrr!!" and we were like....

[Kyle looks around confused]

Kyle: Hey, where are we??

Rich: Dude, you'll never guess this is the gate to heaven!

Kyle: Wow! Really??

Rich: Yeah, and you see that lady over there?

Kyle: Uh- huh

Rich: That's an Angel!

Kyle: Whoa! That's sweet! So she can probably fly around and stuff and be like "I'm an Angel," and play harps and all kinds of cool stuff!

Rich: Yeah, totally. Here's the best part we get to walk on streets of gold, and never hurt, and best of all... barbecue!!

Kyle: Wait, what kind of barbecue are we talking about here??

Rich: Better than you can imagine.

Kyle: Like Cheeseburgers, bacon dogs, corn on the cob??

Rich: Yep, not to mention Carne asada, baked beans, and beef ribs.

Kyle: Oh! All smothered in...

Together: Louisiana sweet and spicy BBQ sauce!!!

Kyle: [excited] What are we waiting for?! Let's go!

[Friends start to walk into heaven but are stopped by the Angel]

Angel: Hold on before you go any further I must see if your name is in this book.

Kyle: Wow, that's a big book. Never saw that in no library.

Rich: I remember hearing about this book, it's the book of Life. Everybody's name who's in it gets to go to heaven. [walks over to angel] My name is Rich Ferreira, that's two r's kinda like ferrari.

Angel: [points] okay just head over there.

[Kyle walks up to Angel]

Kyle: My name is Kyle Kirshner. Make sure to check under K's kirshner starts with a "K". [Angel looks saddened] Or maybe try Ace... A lot of people call me Ace.

Angel: [still looking saddened] Okay, go ahead and head that way. [points in opposite direction]

Kyle: Okay cool. I'll head this way and you head that way and I'll meet you on the other side of the gate.

Rich: No wait, that way doesn't go around, bro. You have to come around this way. I thought you knew...

Kyle: Knew what?? What are you talking about??

Rich: You can't go that way. [nervously] You know, you have to believe in Jesus as your savior. You knew, remember we went to youth group that one time... I saw you! You were listening to the pastor you looked like you got it.

Kyle: Yeah he made some cool points about being a nice person. But you never told me I had to believe in Jesus. Why didn't you tell me?!

Rich: I just thought you knew.

Kyle: [Angry] I thought you were my friend! How could you not tell me about the most important thing I would ever need to know?! And now it's too late!

Rich: I'm sorry. I just thought... I... I don't know what to say.

Kyle: [frustrated with tears in his eyes] Well there's not too much left to say, See ya Rich.

Rich: [through the tears] Bye, Kyle.

[End Skit]

After hearing this skit my friend Tim got up and told his story; He had a friend that he felt God was urging him, when they were talking, to tell him about Jesus. He refused because he didn't want to make their friendship awkward and he just didn't feel ready to share that with his long time friend. Less than a week later his friend died. He says to this day he's haunted by that ignored conviction to share the Gospel with his friend that he'll never get an opportunity for a second chance at.

I've had three of my friends murdered, four shot at, three held up at gun point, and several others having close calls in the military in the past couple of years. With this kind of track record I know better than most that you, or those close to you may not have tomorrow. Yet, I still don't live with the urgency of spreading the news of a Kingdom that's good, and a Kingdom that's near. Let this be our wake up call.

United We Stand??

With the election process happening as we speak one phrase that we always say in America pops into my mind, “United we Stand”. That’s an interesting statement especially at a time where many of the candidates are sending back-handed comments in competitor’s direction. It leaves the American people in quite a predicament, if my candidate loses how can I support my other option that my choice openly bashed?? Let me help answer that… You can’t!!

Now, even though a person may think their ideas our better and may disagree with their views there’s a graceful way to bow out on competition or arguments. For example, when Rudy Guliani announced his retraction from election he stated from the beginning he felt that if he was not to be elected, Senator McCain would be who he supported. This allows a voter who liked Guliani to support McCain without feeling like a traitor, or being left bitter with the choices that our out there. On the other hand, Obama and Clinton have drawn the battle lines so thick I see it hard for supporters for the loser to switch alliances easily.

This brings me to my true point, how are actions showing that as Christians we are united?? Forget the denomination controversies, theological debates, and any other doctrinal non-essential issues. I’m talking on a one-on-one Christian to Christian level!

John 13:34-35 says: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you’re my disciples, if you love one another.”


This seems like such a simple command to follow and yet time and time again we argue, complain, and gossip about trivial things with others. The bible is pretty adamant about resolving differences with others (Philippians 4:2-4, Mt 5:23-24, Mt 18:21-35). The reason this is imperative is because these differences have been known to create tension, cause division, stop growth and even dissolve churches! Now I understand, and have used myself, the fact that the situation may be severe enough that reconciliation is hard. In comparison, though, Jesus stated this command moments before telling Peter he would deny him three times; moreover, this was hours before being betrayed by Judas, and crucified by the world he came to save.

With this new perspective on what love may require, we should be compelled to spread this unyielding love to all around us. Unity in Christianity allows people to grow through each other, link ideas for greater impact, and provide a strong front for world change. If politicians can see the importance of unity with their worldly perspectives, then how much more should we who share in the redeeming love of Christ!

My 6 Month Whirlwind

Well one can easily say looking at this picture that my life has been turned upside down since I've left the comforts of my desert dwelling. In the past six months I have found a new job, a new home, a new group of local friends, and a new vision for my future! I'm working at Sparkletts Water Company as a delivery driver in the La Jolla area of SD. I've also become real close with my fellow companions that also made this exodus from the desert. Mainly because we all have the primary focus of assisting, in any way, start a church in the San Diego/Chula Vista area.

It's amazing that I've already been down here for half of a year! I didn't even realize it until I received a renewal notice for our apartment lease, that blew me away! In that time frame I've seen 13 people move down, 4 preview church services ran, 14 servant evangelism projects executed, 11 churches visited, and a slew of other things that I can't even remember that have occured! We have also found a home base for our church without a home place. Although, we have finally rented some office space for our church we haven't locked down a location for the worship services. At least for the next 6 months starting February 24th the services will be ran at theatre #7 (how convenient) in the AMC theater in Otay Ranch/Chula Vista.

As all these drastic changes have happened in my world, they've also brought about some revelations about what my purpose and goals are for 7 SD and my future at large. I've recently realized that servant evangelism is something that brings fulfillment to my life and have seen the need for that to continue endlessly in the world at large. So without giving away too much of my future plans I would ask you to pray continuously for 7 San Diego, the lost in our area, and for me and my future goals as well! Look forward to telling you all about the next set of changes that will be just around the corner!