It's been 60 years since the Korean War and Pastor Charles Kim created a documentary to thank the American soldiers who served.  Check out Pastor Charles' many interesting pursuits on this episode of "Faith, Power, and Influence."

Lulu Peralta was a mother of three who got incarcerated 13 times because of drug-related offenses.  On her 13th arrest, something in Lulu clicked and she decided to give her life back to the Lord.  By a miracle, she was placed in the Walter Hoving Home, a comprehensive faith-based program that helps women turn their lives around.  Lulu graduated from the program and today, she serves as the program's Outreach Director.  She has helped countless women leave a life of crime, drugs and prostitution.  Hear her testimony of God's grace and power to redeem her life on this special episode of "Upper Room."

Frustrated with your diet? We often underestimate how much we eat. And overestimate how many calories we burn off with exercise. Forget protein vs. carbs. It's the calorie count that plays the biggest role in determining whether your weight management plan succeeds or not. Dr. Dan breaks down the math.

Empty words are normally found, in the great abyss of this juxtaposed nature of my mind, where you can often find things to say, when you least expect it. That is, you have a small area in your brain, where there are countless number of words that collect over the years, to remedy awkward moments of silence, between yourself, and a person of no particular relation, (a faceless/nameless one), to help you move through the moments that are shared between 2 strangers.  

I only bring this up because it has made me think, even if there aren't that many moments as these that occur routinely on a daily basis, how many of these moments have I puposefully made, on the account of Jesus for the sake of sharing the truth to men and women around me? 

In my life, it seems, the truth is, maybe 1 millionth of 1 millionth of a percent. maybe less.  I'm a little shy when it comes to proclaiming God. I never had the ability to really just confess, excuse me, Can I pray for you?

Many times, we think of it not worth our while, to share in the possibility of sharing Christ purposefully. What if this or that, and suppose something might happen and we are put in a weird or negative outcome? Would it still be worth your while? 

 I began to question, how many people, that are up and about today, would actually go out of their way to make it known, to share the good news?  

I know many people say that they are  Christians, but to be able to walk the walk, and talk the talk, are completely different to most Christians who live in our world today.  It is not a surprise that we have become impregnated by a lull of stubbornness, where our own personal agendas take precedence over the the agenda of making God's truth known, into a permanent, ongoing, action.

Just because you pray over something, like, God, I pray over my neighbors, or I pray over my family, or I pray over my friends, will set something in motion.(and dont get me wrong... Perhaps, it will, maybe God in his perfect power will allow some great miracle to occur. It does happen I know,) but, even in those small moments, when you are praying just for praying, do you truly mean what you say? or just to fill up empty time, to feel better about yourself trying to say, yea, I prayed today, and check it off your list of things to do?

The act of living a Christ Centered life, and reacting upon your lifelong commitment, does not just end at the sputtering of some words that you said once, long ago. -Lord Save me a sinner, I accept you as my savior and my God.  But holding fast to the truth, when we are constantly examining our hearts, thoughts,  emotions, and lives, in the context as Jesus is holding our hand, is truly humbling, and delightful. 

First because I know, I can't save the world on my own doing. I can only do what I do, in the way that I impact others in the way I live my life...sharing with another person when no one else is looking, and even though I may look like a fool in the world's eyes, it is in that moment, when Jesus is magnified, glorified, and the relationship between savior and friend blur, becomes reality of professing, Jesus is everything. 

 Do I practice what I preach? Not all the time. I know I should be better, I should be able to do this, and not be ashamed, or afraid, and just share as some one once shared with me. 

 But the reality is, it takes your commitment, your willingness to fully penetrate your faith into action, as you live your life daily...

I wonder, how many other people truly feel this way? Maybe it is a time in a person's life when they do ponder many things, namely something like this one?  

My life is blessed, even though it is not perfect, and I don't always have everything the way I want it, God in his awesome power, still loves, instructs, whispers, and shouts in many ways and times, in my loopy little life. 

I think it worthwhile to share this with you. When you think that you have issues that seem impossible, insurmountable, and too weighty to begin to explain, it is in your moment like this, that I want to share with you, that God understands,knows and loves you so much more than you will ever begin to understand.

During many times in my life, I had experienced this first hand. How the vastness of my little problems seemed so great, so solid, that I had no room to breathe. But it was during the moment I lifted these to God, and lay it down. Everything seemed to melt away, when I gave it up to him. (of course this comes in viewing my problems after they had been solved by God...) But its the hardest thing to do. Just have hope, and believe, without any hesitation, to believe with 100% certainty God will answer your EVERY prayer. 

Perhaps not right away, in the timeline that you expect, but most of the time, its usually ok, or here's something better for you... is what you usually get when you pray earnestly....

 So, I'd like to pray over you beloved, that you will be uplifted, and comforted, and that the peace of God may descend on your life, and the Holy Spirit fill you with His presence in every supernatural way. May these words not just pass, but I pray, that God will answer you, in every way possible.  May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shine on you, today and always. May you be blessed, and moved, with the power of Christ as you forge through another day for living for Him, and through everything you experience today, remember how you got here, and whom you serve. In everything, my heart is with you as you walk another day for living for Christ.

Untill we meet again

Me.

Dating and Marriage can be complicated. We know, we have a lot of questions ourself. So we went out and got a little perspective from our local Ajoomas. Thanks Ajoomas!

Detox diets, do they really work? Curious to try it yourself? Watch our latest episode of Hollywood Medical Minute before you decide

James Yu left a comfortable position as a local Irvine pastor to help a seminary develop the next generation leaders.  Hear Pastor James’s story in this episode of “Faith, Power, and Influence.

Much of the world in this time, seems to be truly groaning at its knees, and the perplexity, complexity, and uneasiness of taking in all the hard things that have befallen our sad little world, is but a constant reminder of Christ's compelling words... "these things must happen"

As many of you already have experienced, Japan and its massive earthquake/tsunami have taken us by surprise.  *not that we should be since something big was supposed to happen, like the fault line up the coast of cali...* but moreso, to the effect of contrasting all the major natural disasters which have glazed over our little world, in essence, should not be a shock to us, after the warnings Christ had given us.

 All of this has started to make me think of things that point to the end of the age.  The loom and gloom of it isn't why I should worry, if anything, I should be happy because it just means, we are one step closer to Christ's coming. But, to realize the state of how we are, in America, in the context of globalization is truly baffling.  I don't believe in everything I see on TV, or read online, as it is concerned with the dealings of how our govt. is run.

But I am starting to see, the contrast in how our worldly neighbors are starting to rise up, and surpass us.  If there is this true need of collectively working towards spreading the word of God, then how is it that we are in a slumber? I feel that. Not just judging in a way of saying I'm better than you, but rather, like there is a definite lull over people because of the qualms of living an ordinary life, seem to take precedence, than truly lighting that fire under our butts, impacting our world that we lead... Maybe its just me.

 There have been times, when I feel a deep seeded thought, something is definitely coming.  Not a monster, or some weird alien attack. But more in a sense, there is something spiritual, that lurks in the backs of my heart, where something Big, will take shape.

 I have an urge to tell you, even when you don't know what it is, even when you don't understand what it is, pray.  Pray that God in his perfect timing, will release the power of his Spirit, upon our generation, that the supernatural shift of our brothers and sisters hearts will be encouraged, to take up our armor of God,   with God as our shield, and the sword of truth in hand,  to engage in this battle we are fighting.  Pray that we might be emboldened, saturated with the power of God, to go out in this world and declare with great boldness, the good news of Christ. 

 Our battle is not yet over, but rejoice in the knowing, the war has been won. Victory is truly ours! Rise up O generation, and stand your ground. Illuminate your hearts with the word of God, and be ready. For the time, is coming, when everything will be nothing, and we will account for all the things that have come into our lives.   When we start to deceive ourselves into thinking we have more time, it is then we have been too lavish with how we are preparing ourselves.  It is time to rise, take action, and move. 

Do something hard, was something I read...*kudos to my sis*

Even when you think life is all about you, it isn't.

When you think your life is hard. it isn't.

When you think everything sucks, it isn't.

Because what is more compelling is the life of a person, who doesn't understand and is wildly living, an uninterrupted life, without God.

Pray that God will open opportunities to share the word of God with your neighbors. Even if you are limited (as I totally am) in understanding to the fullest context,  of everything there is to know about the bible.  ( I am not a biblical scholar, nor do I profess to be. All I know is, there is but one way, that leads me to heaven, it is professing with everything I hold inside, in the way I walk my walk, and talk my talk, and think what I think, to the extent of accepting Christ as Lord, and Savior. ) pray over everything you are faced with.

 Pray over our sisters and brothers in Japan, that God in his mercy, will heal the suffering, and pains experienced by the disaster in Japan, but also that there will be a supernatural shift, for God's people to rally together, and share Christ crucified. resurrected.

 Be encouraged, and know God is with you. God sees you, hears you, feels you, and understands you, and loves you with a love that started since the dawn of time. 

For all that is, was, and will be, I pray that God will bind you to him, and that he will truly send his angels to encamp around you, to help you forge forward, in the battle at hand. May you be blessed, and convicted, uplifted, and granted a courage like the courage of David before Goliath, to go out and deliver the good news of Jesus Christ.  Take heart and know, God is with us. He is for us and never against us, and wants the best for us.  May God bless you, and shine his face upon you, always and forever.

Until we meet again~

ME

Mark and Irene Sevillano have a very unique love story.  For years, Mark struggled with same-sex attraction and endured shame, confusion and isolation.  But when he met Irene, he found his soulmate.  Together, they allowed God to take them on a painful but beautiful journey to freedom.  Hear their inspiring testimony on "Upper Room."

Jason Black is a passionate, powerful singer and performer who shows almost no signs that he survived not one but two horrific accidents in his lifetime. The first was a car accident that nearly ended his life but he miraculously rebounded from his injuries in just a few short months. The second was a freak glass accident that left him nearly decapitated. Doctors said he wouldn't survive, let alone sing again, but Jason defied the odds over and over. Hear his remarkable story! (WARNING: Dramatization video of his injuries from the glass accident is graphic.)