The Bench October 5, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Fellowship Church, Reflecting Upon Life.add a comment
My Spot
Whenever I come home, I always try to make time for ‘my spot’. Right above my house sits a bench that overlooks the city of Antioch. For me, it’s one of my favorite places to get away from everyone and everything and just sit there. I love reflecting over my life. I love thinking about what the Lord’s saved me from. (Read this to get a better understanding of what I mean) It’s been a great weekend, but I’m ready to get back to the Northwest. I had a great time catching up with my friends and family and as always, attending service at my home church was a blast! My flight to Portland takes off in a few hours and if all goes well, I’ll be back in Portland tonight. Let the good times roll! Oh yeah, driving my brothers truck while listening to Eminem brought back one too many memories. Will the real slim shady ever stand up!? Here are some pics from earlier today. Till next time…
Hello From California…Again… October 4, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, My Travels.2 comments
With the Bride and Groom
When all of your friends start calling you a “professional groomsmen”, you start to realize you’ve been in one too many weddings. Ahh well! Today was a great day. The wedding was awesome and the food was off the hook! So yeah, I was recently asked if I’m the type of guy to cry a lot. Well, I normally do when I’m reflecting over my life but never for the heck of it. I’m not gonna lie, I fought back the tears today while my friends were getting married. Call it what you want, there’s just something special when you’ve watched two of your friends handle their relationship correctly up until their wedding day. Anyway, now that I was in touch with the ‘inner man’ (sike!) here are a few pics from the wedding. Till next time…
Hello from California October 4, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, My Travels.3 comments
I’m back in California. Two of my good friends are getting married today and I have the wonderful privilege of being in it. It rained all of last night but the sun is shining and it’s great! So yeah, today will be a busy day. I had to wake up pretty early to take care of a few miscellaneous things, I’ll be heading off to my cousins football game in a few minutes, and then off to the wedding for the rest of the day. After two and a half years, I still haven’t mastered the art of time management when I’m visiting Antioch. There are too many things I want to do and too many people I want to see. We’ll see how this trip plays out.
So far…
- I lost my wallet literally an hour before my flight to Sacramento. Thank God I have a passport! Whoever took it can’t do much with it anyway. I still have my debit card so the only thing they got out it was a bunch of touch cards inviting them to church.
- I drove by my old high school. Has it really been 3 years!?
- Watching the sunrise + listening to Holy Is The Lord = Amazing.
- When your brothers get rid of your bed after you move away for college, you get used to sleeping on the couch.
- Waking up to find out that O.J. Simpson is guilty!? haha…
- I swung by my Grandparents house and came across a few home videos from years ago! God is so good…
- I’m still tempted to buy a new book. However, I wouldn’t mind buying a new CD either! Pray for self-control.
Summer is Over August 7, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, My Travels, PBC, Reflecting Upon Life.add a comment
I’m down to less than 48 hrs until it’s time for me to drive back to Portland. A couple of nights ago I walked to the top of the hill that sits above my house and had some great ‘reflecting’ time. With my guitar in hand and twenty one years of life racing through my mind, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to smile or cry. The Lord has been so faithful to me. I would’ve never thought the day would come when my heart would beat with such peace. So much has happened in my life during the last two and a half years, and it’s not an understatement when I say that my first year of college was the most difficult time of my life. I was confused, I was lost, and to be completely honest, I felt hopeless. But God! For the first time in my life I have a sense of purpose. I know what I want to do and I know what it’s gonna take for me to get there. I cannot express how thankful I am for having the chance to come home. The time I’ve spent in Antioch has been great and I would’ve never guessed I would experience as much as I have. As much fun as I’ve had, it’s been a very overwhelming summer too. So much has changed since I moved away and if I could summarize all of it in one sentence it would be this; a young man had the opportunity to accept the harsh realities of life. Some of my closest friends have moved on and it’s very difficult to watch. In watching them I’ve learned that the small decisions we make on a daily basis really do determine which path we’ll go down in this little game called life.
With my third year of college sitting right around the corner, there comes a sadness in knowing that I’m leaving all of my loved ones once again, but at the same time, I’m so excited for what’s in store during the next couple of years! My last two days in Antioch will be pretty hectic. As of right now I don’t have a car or a cell phone and to be honest, it’s slowed my life down dramatically! However, I still have a lot to do. By the time I write again I should be in Portland. How sweet it is…
To all of my friends in the Bay Area, thank you! Once again you welcomed me with open arms once and I’m so grateful for each and every one of you.
Car Trouble August 5, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Life in General, My Travels, PBC.1 comment so far
My car won’t start! I have no idea what’s wrong with it and I won’t know anything until Thursday. I’m hoping it’s nothing serious because I need to drive back to Portland on Saturday. If it’s not fixed by then, well, my drive back to the Northwest will be postponed. I swear, every time I come home something has happened to it within a few days of me leaving Antioch. No fun…
12 Days… July 29, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Life in General, My Travels, PBC.1 comment so far
I’m down to my last twelve days in Antioch until I head back to Portland, OR. To be honest, it’s gonna be really hard to leave again, but I’m also very grateful I had the chance to come home for the summer. Between helping out in the office and spending time with friends and family, my schedule is pretty much booked until the day I leave. Let the countdown begin…
Good Grief… July 2, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Miscellaneous, My Travels.add a comment
I never thought the day would come where I would literally be tired of traveling. I’ve been home for two days now and I am still exhausted. No fun…
Back in Antioch July 1, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Life in General, My Travels, PBC.2 comments
I know I said I would post an update last night but I ended up falling asleep. Sorry! This past week has been so much fun but I’m officially tired of traveling! I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to travel to Idaho this past weekend. I’m learning that every ministry trip has its own uniqueness. When I get the chance to experience the presence of God in other churches, it’s a reminder of how we’re all a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Regardless of the size, style of preaching, style of worship, every church has its own style, but the Lord’s definitely moving across the world through His people. Another thing, and this is geared towards any PBC student that comes across this post. We truly have no idea how blessed we are to be students at PBC. There are people all over the world that would give anything to learn from the people we sit under in the classroom! We are tremendously blessed to be bible college students at PBC. My flight landed in Oakland this morning and now I’m back in the offices for work. I’m assuming the next couple of weeks will be busy as we prepare for summer camp but it’s gonna be great. To everyone I saw on campus, it was great seeing you! I can’t wait for next semester.
Stay humble and seek after His presence June 15, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Spiritual Growth.add a comment
I had the wonderful privilege of getting to spend some time with Pastor Jack Senyonga today. His church, Christian Life Church, grew from seven people at its inception to two thousand in two weeks. Today the church membership has grown to over forty thousand people and continues to grow each week. Talk about being busy! While we were driving to the Oakland airport I asked ”From all the years you’ve been in ministry, what’s the one piece of advice you can give me? After a short pause he replied “Stay humble and seek after His presence.” He went on to share with me how he doesn’t know what it means to ‘arrive’ or what success is. As he was talking I’m thinking to myself, “This guy has a church of forty thousand and he’s telling me he doesn’t know what success is!?” Talk about a guy with a humble spirit! Or on the other hand, it just goes to show how wrong my thinking is. I love the heart of a missionary. There’s so much we can learn from them. Every time you talk to one you can’t help but feel a little convicted to get back to what matters the most.
Not yet June 13, 2008
Posted by Joseph Garibay in Antioch, Miscellaneous.add a comment
Time flies! My brother graduated tonight and the ceremonies turned out great! As I was walking down to the field to congratulate Josh I ran into an old friend. He looked at me with a smile and said “Are you a pastor yet?” I smiled back and responded “Not yet.” To be honest, I was completely shocked he asked me that. It’s been over two years since I’ve spoken to him and I have no idea how he knew I was a bible college student. I guess if anything, I was reminded of how much people really do notice us as believers. I think it’s safe to say that we really have no idea how many people look up to us. His question put a smile on my face but at the same time it was a reminder to walk with integrity. I’m not a pastor yet, but the way I live my life matters.
