JOSHTAPIA.COM

Tuesday Video Post

Tuesday Video Post from Josue Tapia on Vimeo.

Thanksgiving

I wonder if anyone else felt the same way I did this Thanksgiving. I had all my days mixed up. Friday felt like a Saturday and Sunday felt like Monday. Lisa and I hit the outlet stores in San Marcos on Thanksgiving night for the Midnight Madness Sale. We found some pretty good deals and didn't have to worry about getting up at 4:00 AM on Black Friday. Not that I would've. We actually got home at about 4:00 AM. I thought I would sleep until noon, but I was actually wide awake at 8:30 AM.

Since my parents were in town for Thanksgiving, Lisa and I got a chance to have dinner on Saturday night. During dinner Lisa asked if we should go ahead and put up the Christmas tree when we got home. I thought it was a good idea so I climb into the attic and brought the ole tree down. Next thing I know I'm putting up Christmas lights. I just thought I would get started. I don't like to start something and not finish it so I ended up working til about 11:30 PM. The weather was nice and cool and I only fell off the ladder once. That's right, I fell off the ladder. It was pretty scary, but thank God I landed on my feet and walked away unhurt. I woke up a little sore today, but thanks to my ninja moves I have no serious injuries.

Once again the BCS has proven why college football will never be all it can be. I am a huge fan of common sense. It's pretty simple, no playoffs means no legitimate champion.

Tomorrow night I'll be meeting with some of the most gifted and creative leaders I know to plan for the 2009 OBEY Conference. Time is flying by and before we know it the OC will be here. I'm asking God to make it the best one ever.

Headed to Houston next weekend to speak at Gulfgate Church. I'm believing God for an awesome three days. I'm excited!

Dallas

I haven't posted in five days. The fam and I left for Dallas on Saturday and even though I took my laptop with me I didn't turn it on once. I guess I fasted from my computer. I didn't fast from food though. When we arrived on Saturday evening, we enjoyed some BBQ with my parents and my brother and sister in law. I ate way to much while in Dallas. BBQ, fried chicken, my mom's mole and more!

It's always fun to return to my hometown. Dallas has grown and changed in a big way. We took a drive through downtown on Monday and I could hardly recognize it. We also had a chance to tour The Criswell College. I should be hearing something from them real soon. Choosing between The College at Southwestern and The Criswell College will not be an easy decision. Both are excellent schools. I'm leaning towards Criswell, but more than anything I want to be right where God wants me to be. I met with a guy from a funeral home in Dallas and it looks like I may have a part-time job waiting for me when we move. I'm really enjoying the funeral business and I'm interested to see where it will lead. 

I had the opportunity to preach Sunday morning at Central Church in Grand Prairie. Pastor David Rangel has known me since I was a kid and man did he give me an introduction. When he was done, I looked behind me to see if he was talking about someone else. All I could say as I stepped up to speak was WOW. I jokingly told him that I didn't know if I should preach or just say AMEN. Of course, the Sunday before Thanksgiving means turkey dinner after the service and man it was tasty. One of the guests that morning was a young lady from Mexico who was visiting family. She prayed to receive Christ and made the day even more awesome.

Shawn Paschal and his wife Whitney are some the coolest people I know. Lisa and I had a chance to have dinner with them on Sunday at Babe's in Burleson, Texas. We all ordered the fried chicken and were blown away when they brought us each 4 pieces. Then the sides came which included the best creamed corn I have ever experienced. I love the Paschals and being able to see them more often is one of the things I'm looking forward to the most as we make the move up north.

I just told someone the other day that long posts don't get read so it ends here. Happy Thanksgiving!

THANK YOU JESUS!

The Funeral Business

God has opened a door for me to learn about the funeral business. I have been partnering with the Hillcrest Funeral Home here in San Antonio for sometime now. I've helped them with services for families without a home church or pastor. This week I've been assisting the funeral director and I've gotten a glimpse of all of the details that many times go unnoticed in a funeral service. I'm not embalming bodies or anything like that, but I am learning about setup and service. It has been an interesting experience and I'm especially thankful for the extra income God has provided through this work. I contacted a funeral home in Dallas and I'm excited about a potential opportunity for when we move to the area Lord willing next summer.

Fragile

I had to take Andrew to an urgent care place last night at around 10:30. He was complaining that his ear was hurting him, so I bundled him up and off we went. The good thing was that there was no one else there. We walked in and went straight into the exam room. By this time Andrew knew what was going on. He takes after me in a lot of things including in his dislike of going to the see the doctor. The doc walked in and was really cool. He checked Andrew out and came to the conclusion that he had an inner ear infection. He prescribed some ear drops and an antibiotic and sent us home. In all, the whole thing took about 30 minutes and cost us $145. Andrew slept till 9:00 AM this morning and ran around all day like nothing was wrong. Either the medicine is really good or he was exaggerating a bit last night. If it was the latter, the kid owes me $145.

I made breakfast for dinner tonight. The fam likes it when I pick a day and make what we would normally eat for breakfast for dinner. Tonight, I made french toast with eggs. Lisa and the kids loved it. After everyone had enjoyed their dinner, I got my plate and tore it up. Then it happened. As soon as I finished eating I got a migraine. I use to get migraines once or twice a month, but I hadn't gotten one in a few months. The migraines I get just click on like a switch. One minute I'm fine and the next OUCH! Unlike some people, my migraines go away with a couple of Exedrin Migraine pills. The problem was that I only had one in the bottle. So at 7:30 PM I had to jump in the car and drive to Walgreen's while feeling really nauseated to get a bottle of Exedrin Migraine. I took some water with me so I could take a couple of pills as soon as I got my hands on them. Unfortunately, the nausea took over and let's just say it won. After a nap, I woke up and here I am posting. Migraine free!

Both of these experiences reminded me of how fragile we are. No matter how strong we think we are, at any moment we can end up knocked out and in pain. Holding Andrew last night as we waited for the doc to come in reminded me of how God holds us when we need him. Andrew was scared and didn't understand why I had taken him there or what was going on. The only thing that brought him comfort was that his dad was with him and that dad was holding him. Thank God that he is always with us and that his arms never get tired.

Truth Confirmed by God through Tiny

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to visit with and hear my friend Tiny speak at a student leadership conference here in San Antonio. I met Tiny in 1991 at a youth camp we both grew up attending every summer. We have known each other for 17 years and it blows me away to think that I can call him my friend.

Tiny spoke from the encounter Jesus had with the rich young ruler. The theme of the session was intended to encourage the students present to follow Jesus and God spoke through Tiny. For sometime now, God has been showing me over and over again that the Christian life is all about choosing to be with Jesus. It began with the story of Mary and Martha and how Mary chose to be with Jesus. God used Tiny to confirm that truth in my heart once again yesterday. The rich young ruler made the biggest mistake of his life when he chose his possessions over being with Jesus. Just like Martha in Luke 10, he chose something else and to be somewhere else. That something else is not always something bad or even sin and that's what makes it so easy to chose. In our lives, "possessions" can be anything from focusing on those things that have no eternal significance to seeking the recognition and praise of men. Anytime we chose something other than Jesus we're missing out. Christianity is about following Jesus and following Jesus is about choosing to be with him.

Thanks Tiny!

So true

Early Release Day on a tight budget

The girls are getting out of school early today. I always try to do something cool with them on early release days. My budget is tight right now, so I came up with a few things to do that are FREE! I love FREE things. If you think about it, the best things in life are FREE just like the song says.

So here are a few FREE things I will do with my kids today:

- Take them to the library to check out some books and DVDs
- Take them to the park for a time of running, jumping and feeding the ducks
- Take them to the San Antonio Children's Museum (we have a family pass)
- Laugh with them and make some memories

I was moved

This morning I had the honor of presiding the funeral service of a 79 year old veteran. I didn't know him or his family, but I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to serve. I have done several funeral services at Fort Sam here in San Antonio, but this one got me. Before my part, I stood to the side as the Air Force Honor Guard performed the flag folding ceremony and presented it to the family. Following the flag folding ceremony, there was a 21 gun salute and the playing of "Taps". That's when it happened. I was moved to tears. As I placed my hand over my heart I could feel it racing. I didn't know this man, but at that moment I was joining others in honoring his life and service to our country. I couldn't help but think about those who have given their lives so that I and my loved ones could enjoy the freedom we enjoy everyday. Words cannot express the gratitude I have to live in the United States of America.

Be with Jesus

Be with Jesus from Josue Tapia on Vimeo.