On a personal level, My family is doing wonderful! 2010 brought some challenges and victories in our lives. BUT in the end, God prevailed like always in cool fashion! At the close of 2010 Our daughter Brianna was in the center of some physical challenges we faced that required some strong faith. Brianna was admitted into the hospital for a procedure done to correct hearing loss she acquired over time. The surgery was extensive and dangerous in it’s own right, but only time would tell along with faith. the following week, we found ourselves in the ER because of pains that were related to her surgery and not understandable by any of the doctors we found ourselves packing to have Christmas 2010 in the hospital as a family. The following day she began to improve, and we were released “Praise God” from the hospital and able to be home for Christmas. Our visit to the doctor the next week showed Brianna’s complete hearing intact! We were elated and soooo thrilled!

It never ceases to amaze me that we tend to forget that we don’t fight against flesh and blood but of spiritual things. Sandy & I know that God is in control of our lives and the lives and well being of our children. Our faith continues to get stronger through every season like this, but it’s just a season! in the end, God still and will always prevail!

The Moreno family had a wonderful Christmas, and a great New Year. We spent some a little RR in Galveston just relaxing as a family! looks we had the whole entire place to ourselves! We also met up with some great new friends we have at fun park in Galveston.

Journey Church:

This past weekend was amazing for Journey Church for several reasons. First 2011 has begun with some great vision, and some phenomenal leaders to carry it out for Journey Church. Our season for the church has definitely been in the building stage as a church plant, and we’ve been incredibly overwhelmed with the amazing people that God has put around us. We have so many people that give of themselves wholeheartedly and serve selflessly from setup to tear down they always have a great smile on their faces. Now 4 months in, we couldn’t be more thrilled and excited for ALL that God has in store for Journey Church and the impact we will have on the community! Many gave their hearts to Christ in 2010 and our focus will be greater things in 2011. Life Groups as a church will launch at the end of January as well as we’ve begun our 21 days of fasting & prayer and believing God for miracles to take place. On that note, I’d also like to mention that as of January 1, 2011 Journey Church is COMPLETELY DEBT FREE! The church is soo excited because of this news! and I believe that this will be the first of many stories and testimonies that we will hear as God continues to place His hand on this church. We’re so honored and humbled to be a part of this amazing work in the Kingwood area.

We’ve been in a series entitled 5-STAR FAMILY. this series has really encouraged many to go after God in their homes, marriage, raising their kids, and overall family to live up to a 5-star level. This weekend we will cover the topic of “protection”. The world offers us SO many options that can infiltrate our homes to be the point that the world’s influence is greater than our own. What perimeters are placing around your home that can protect you? Join us this weekend and as we explore what God says about His protection in our homes.

Journey Church had our Christmas Service this past weekend on December 19th. What an AMAZING day it was that we celebrated the birthday of Christ. From Worship, to Hot Cocoa and some stinkin awesome desserts in the foyer! (Who made those?) The atmosphere was definitely Joyous! (I don’t use that word often!) We also had our JKidz join us for service and actually sing in the service which was special! Let’s be honest, we don’t care that the kids can’t hold a tune in a bucket, but they’re just sooo cute! We had over 30 of them line up so proud and ready to rock the house with “Joy To The World” they did such an amazing job…. I had the congregation do the song right after they did and well…. no comment!

The service was centered around a message entitled “Silent Night”
We’ve all heard the song, probably have sung the song on many occasions over the years and it by far is the most popular song during this season. However, we explored on how there is just a tad bit of inaccuracy in the song Silent Night. Why? because if you dig deeper in the story of the birth of Christ you’ll find that the night wasn’t silent AT ALL! There was nothing peaceful about that night when Christ was born. In fact, Christ came to the earth TO BRING peace. Mary & Joseph needed it, especially through child birthing, a stink-filled barn with loud animals, having to pay their taxes 70 miles away through mountainous terrain, on a donkey! (no hemi in the donkey either) and also 9 months pregnant! NO, the night wasn’t silent I promise you that!

In the message we discovered that there were some things that God intended to bring to earth by the birth of His son.

Peace of Mind….

Truth to Live By….

A Life Pardoned….

I believe that the reason that Christ came into our world was because of his affection towards us, and perhaps rescuing us from maybe our not so silent nights that tend to camp out with us from time to time. Whether it’s family crisis, or financial pressure, concern of a steady job the Lord knew that we needed peace to latch on to. The Christmas story is no doubt one of my favorite to remember and listen to, but the Christmas story was never about Jesus in a cradle! Why? because He’s not there anymore! He’s sitting at the right hand of the Father pardoning those that call on His name as Lord. He’s alive! and available for each one of us. Christmas is the total kickin “BIRTHDAY FOR JESUS” let’s celebrate Him like we should! and not be so overly concerned with the ceremony or season of the quote “Holidays” It’s about JESUS! not Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, or the Grinch! but JESUS! after all, He is the REAL gift that is everlasting and will never die.

Journey began a series entitled 5-STAR FAMILY. Think of a hotel that is a 5-star hotel… Their primary goal is to be the best hotel in customer satisfaction, ensuring that the customer has an experience that is top notch…off the charts excellence! In fact, 5-Star hotels are rated every year for their performance, facilities & overall delivery to the consumer. Think of some hotels that you may know that are 5-Star and then some that many of us know that are not even a 2 on the scale! Those have a tendency to leave a bad mark on our memories even to the point where we will not go back. For Hotels, it’s about the experience! But what about our families? How can we position our family to live as a top notch 5-STAR FAMILY? This can mean our marriage, raising our kids, how we value our time as a family, etc. Basically, if you were to take an honest assessment of your family, where would your rating be? In the real world where you & I live, to have a 5-STAR family may seem impossible but looking to God and implementing biblical principles I promise you can get there. Principles such as:

Commitment….to God’s word
Commitment.…serving each other at all cost
Commitment….remaining teachable

Unity…requires: Vision (What’s the vision of your home?)
Unity…requires: Grace & Forgiveness
Unity…requires: Core Values

I would encourage you to strive to become a 5-STAR FAMILY – Go after God with all your heart, soul, and mind. I promise you will not regret it!

This past weekend, we began a series entitled “BIG SCREEN”. This series begins with “Compassion” Jesus made it very clear to his disciples the importance of compassion by sharing the story of the Samaritan’s purse (Luke 10:25). We used a familiar Hollywood movie called the “Blind Side” to portray what Compassion would and could look like.

Compassion we learned does several things…

Compassion feels the pain! it senses the need, and has to do something.

Compassion goes the extra mile! it will go above and beyond what is asked.

Compassion counts the cost as no cost! there’s no record keeping of what’s been done.

Compassion unlocks the future of other’s hopes, dreams & potential.

Our challenge was to look through the lens of Christ and not our own. It’s easy for us to write a check simply because we feel compelled or to just satisfy our conviction. Christ request wasn’t for us to just have a one time experience helping those in need, on the contrary He wanted it to be our lifestyle! To truly serve one another, and to give to those in need. Needs come in so many different ways with different shapes & sizes. From a marriage that is desperate for help, to a single mom trying to pay her bills. From an executive businessman that has gained the world, but lost his family to someone on the street wandering if today will be their last meal. The needs are great! Begin to ask the Lord to deposit a heart of compassion in you as a lifestyle and not a one time emotion. Begin to pray with the heart of Christ in mind, and not your own. Give till you can’t give anymore, and watch God do miracles in your life. Luke 12:31 “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and ALL these things will be added to you” The Kingdom is about souls! People!

Let’s go for God with all of our hearts as we strive to live with compassion!

We began a series entitled “WHY” to answer some questions about some pretty big topics such as: Worship, Baptism, & Community. This past weekend we focused on Why Baptism? Many of us who grew up in church heard this term and we even participated in it. In fact for many of us, Baptism is a ceremony to us to acknowledge publicly that our sins are forgiven and that our “old self” has been washed away to make way for our “new life” in Christ. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galations 3: 26-27)

BAPTISM – BAPTIZO -MEANS TO WASH, DIP, PLUNGE UNDER, SUBMERGED. you have to understand the context here.. think of an OREO cookie! the real pros of Oreo’s don’t just dip their cookie, but submerge, dunk, saturate, their cookie so that it is completely engulfed or soaked with the milk! sounds good huh! This is what Christ meant… be soaked, drenched, saturated with me that your appearance changes! and publicly others will know that you are my disciples!

“If anyone publicly acknowledges me as his friend, I will openly acknowledge him as my friend before my Father in heaven. But if anyone publicly denies me, I will openly deny him before my Father in heaven.” (Mathew 10: 32-33)

Christianity is a personal decision, but it’s NOT PRIVATE! A powerful walk with God begins when we publicly stand for Christ!, but not just through ceremony! but everyday of our lives. Baptism shouldn’t be something we did way back when, on the contrary it should be a daily decision that we “publicly” stand for Jesus Christ! Walk in such a way that Christ is exemplified! you weren’t just baptized, you ARE baptized….

Join us this weekend at Journey Church as we dive into Why Community?

What a great time we had at the Woodlands mall with our kiddos plus one! it was a perfect night, and with no other reason in going really other than to hang out as a family.

This past weekend we began the series entitled “why” and our first week we concentrated on asking “Why Worship?” there are seven meanings for the word “praise” that all point to giving God glory in every facet of our lives especially our actions. We came back to the basics of worship where God desires just US not the elements we attach to worship, style, lights, many instruments (even though they do bring praise) they are not to centered on or responsible to engage us into worship. It’s simply our heart that God desires as well as our APPRECIATION, ATTENTION, ABILITIES, & AFFECTION. John 4:23 “yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and in truth. For they are the kind of worshippers the father seeks.” I would like to encourage you worship the Lord with ALL of your heart! Go after God stronger than you have ever before and worship Him in Spirit & Truth. For the next 7 days, I encourage you to be “still” and worship God even if it’s 15 minutes a day. Give GOD the glory for your life, your family, your job, your home, and most importantly for HE is!

We invite you to Journey Church this coming weekend as we continue our series “why” We’ll talk about a topic that many of us understand the ceremony but we need to comprehend the need for it. “Why Baptism” isn’t it just proclaiming publicly a truth that I am born again? I was baptized as a kid, should I do it again? why water? How does it apply to me today? is it just a one time thing? Join us this Sunday, as we dive into “Why Baptism” invite your friends and family…. this will be a great! weekend you don’t want to miss.

Starting Point
New to Journey Church? We are so excited about getting to know you and your family THIS SUNDAY evening, October 17th, at our Starting Point class. Starting Point is the first step in finding out more about Journey Church – hearing our heart & vision for the future, as well as getting to know Sandy & I on a personal level. Starting Point will take place from 5-7pm. Dinner will be provided, so come hungry!

For more information email us at info@journeytx.com.

The Growth Track
Come and be a part of Journey Church’s Growth Track. The Track is a catalyst to help you become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ and offers the tools necessary to make this happen in your life. From the initial decision to accept Jesus as your Lord to your final destination in life-changing empowered ministry, we will lead you step-by-step from the starting point to growth and into a fulfilling leadership role. The Growth Track is for those who have already attended Starting Point.

WOW!!!! What an amazing presence of God we felt as we launched Journey Church in Kingwood, TX. The service went completely seamless, and everyone had high expectations of God doing some amazing things and HE DID. Many made recommitments to God and others gave their heart to the Lord for the very first time! The atmosphere was incredible from the parking lot to everything in between. The launch team of Journey Church showed their hearts of serving by working so hard to make the whole event a success! I am sooo proud of them and humbled to be a part of such an amazing team that truly show the heart of Christ. I am so thankful for those that came from Arkansas & Louisiana to help serve and support our efforts. A sincere appreciation goes out to Cadre Academy from New Life Church in Arkansas for coming down here to Houston and presenting such an incredible servants heart! there is absolutely no way we could’ve done it without you guys! you are definitely an inspiration! The Lord really showed up, and showed off!

We are definitely traveling at Mach 3 now with the Grand Opening of Journey Church being in 6 days! It’s definitely been a surreal time preparing all that we’ve had to do, but there is absolutely no way in the world we could’ve ever done it alone or without the help of some incredible families that are a part of our team! It’s been amazing to see how everyone that is a part of our team has adopted the vision set forth with Journey Church. I’ve been a part of some amazing teams in the past, and this team by far exceeds any of them. We love this team!