Fr. Larry Richards - What Does it Mean to be a Man of God?
What does it mean to be a man of God? Father Larry Richards explains how we should live in order to be men of God. Be prepared for a stern kick in the butt!
Upcoming Event - Cursillo in Action - San Diego
Last week I had the great opportunity to speak to 50+ young adults at the Theology on Tap event held by the Diocese of San Diego. I met some wonderful people hungry to learn how to form an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. It was held at Mangia Italiano - Chula Vista. If you are ever in the area check it out and try the Rigatoni Fra Diavolo with Sausage. It is Fabulous! The owner Kathy is the best. Even though they were closing up she stayed and served my cousin and I.
Upcoming event on November 7th at St. Michael's Church in Poway.
"Cursillo in Action"
The San Diego Cursillo is a graced movement of over 50 years. The movement gives Catholics a method to connect with our Lord each day, and consists of a lay method based on small lessons in Christianity. This has proven to be very effective when dealing with daily challenges that occur in all of our lives. The Purpose of “Cursillo in Action” is to continue to improve our relationship with Jesus Christ and our community through increased knowledge of the Cursillo movement and our Catholic faith. To persist and lead by example in all of our daily environments.
Lord! I'll Shut Up Now.
I’ve come to realize that God does speak and that God does answer our prayers, we just don’t shut up long enough to hear Him.
I’ve come to find out in my own life that I don’t have a problem listening, as much as I have a problem shutting up. An aunt of mine once said to me, “How could such a little boy have such a big mouth?” I myself am very guilty of being in conversations with others and responding before they even have a chance of finishing. I know at times I do this with God and I believe many others do the same.
In a hurry with our busy days we rattle off our honey do list to God and run off and then wonder why He didn’t do as we prayed. When I’ve actually shut up and paused in my prayers I’ve come to know that God does in fact answer all prayers. In His still small voice sometimes He says, “Yes.” But God also says, “No, I have something better for you.” And sometimes God says, “Wait, you aren’t ready yet.”
Many of us can’t hear His voice because as quickly as we issue our commands we are off running. We don’t realize that the reason we are on our knees isn’t because it’s a comfortable position. We are on our knees because God is King and we are not
Remember the Lord’s Prayer isn’t: My kingdom come. My will be done, in heaven as it is on Earth.
The Prayer is:
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
When we fall to our knees in prayer we are not to aim to bend His will but to be like Jesus and ask Him to bend our own will. “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
If you want to hear the voice of God make sure to stop and listen to Him after you pray. But most of all you have to read His book so that you know that the voice speaking in your head is God, because throughout the day I hear two voices and it is only through reading scripture that I can discern the two voices. One leads to life and the other to death.
Today, I choose Life!
The Man of Many Hats, Orlando Javien Jr.
The Truth Will Set You Free Conference - OLMC
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On March 29th I had the great pleasure of sharing the stage with San Diego Chargers quarterback, Philip Rivers.
It was quite an adventure sharing my story to the 500+ men that attended. I was very encouraged to see men hungry for a faith beyond ordinary. I received a lot of great feedback from the men. Many of the guys came to me and told me that I told their story on stage. It's funny the male species is not very different. The problem is that most men don't talk about their struggles with one another. If we would only allow ourselves to be a little vulnerable than we may find solace in knowing we are not alone. And in opening ourselves to one another we may find friends that would help us up when we fall just like the words from Ecclesiates 4:9-10
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up."
To a Faith Beyond Ordinary!
Orlando Javien Jr,
The Man of Many Hats
The Devil I Know
The Devil I Know from orlandojavien on GodTube.
Last month I had the priveledge to share with a group of men how I stay strong in the Lord. I share the 5 ways the Devil comes to attack me and the tools I utilize to fight him off. I hope my talk inspires you to live your faith with zeal! The Man of Many Hats, Orlando Javien Jr.
Signed By CMG Booking
One Step Closer to My Dream
Good morning and welcome back to The Javien Chronicles! Sorry to be away so long, I've had a bit of writers block but I'm back!
Today I would like to share some Extraordinary news!
It
has been a dream and passion of mine to share my story with
millions. Last week my dream got a little bit closer. After an
extensive background check I was accepted into the elite Catholic
Speakers Bureau, CMG Booking.
CMG Booking represents some of the top Catholic Speakers like the surfing priest, Father Donald Calloway; the writer of the Bible Timeline, Jeff Cavins; and the Filipino Priest/Chef who was featured on the Food Network, Father Leo Patilinghug.
What
does it mean to me to be represented by CMG Booking? Well now my
material that was once only shared within my own circle influence will
now be seen by Catholic Churches and groups from around the world
looking for diocesan approved speakers.
It is so exciting to see
the doors that God is opening in my life. I have to honestly tell you
though it has taken a lot of door knocking, prayer and patience on my
part. You see, I've sent my material to many venues in the past with no
success.
The only reason I persevered is because I hunger to do
the will of my Father and I remember His words from Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask
and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door
will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks
finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
What do
you hunger for? Are you asking? Are you seeking? Are you knocking?
More importantly are your desires and dreams in line with the Father?
You see my son can ask me for a dog all day long and you know what, he's
not going to get one. It's not that I don't like dogs, it's not that I
don't want to give my son everything he wants, my son is just alergic
to dogs and I wouldn't be a good father if I gave him something that
would do more harm than good to him.
If you want God to answer
your dreams, align them to His word and remember these wise words from
Galatians 6:9, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due
season we will reap, if we do not give up."
To a Faith Beyond Ordinary!
Orlando Javien Jr., Author
God Made Me Pick Up Underwear
Going through the motions with God
This month I am celebrating two joyous occasions. Today I celebrate my 5 year anniversary with the Lord. On August 14, 2007 I committed my life to Christ on that day my adventure began. In 4 days I also celebrate my 11 year marriage with my beautiful wife Beth who has filled my life with joy and laughter. To celebrate the two joyous events I want to share a new story with you all.
Do you remember the time when you first started dating your spouse? Do you remember the amount of time you prepared to get ready, the amount of time you spent trying to impress them? Then the big day came, they said, “I do!” And then it wasn’t long before things began to change. You didn’t work so hard to impress them. The amount of time you focused on them diminished. You got so comfortable that you felt like you didn’t have to work so hard on the relationship. You just began going through the motions of everyday life.
Yes, sadly I can truly relate to the above scenario in my own marriage. I can also say that most recently I’ve noticed it in my relationship with God.
Today I find myself examining my journey and find that lately I’ve just been going through the motions with Him. I continue to pray and read my Bible daily, I go to church on Sundays, Bible study on Fridays but at the same time my fervency in my time with Him has wavered.
There was a time in my walk with the Lord that I would rise early every day and begin praying and writing out my thoughts. God’s word was doing such a work in my life that I couldn’t wait to share what I had learned.
I look back at the last few months and realize that I haven’t been taking the time to actually sit with God. I would just go through the motions in the morning rushing to get my day started. I would pray sporadically, but I never sat down much to listen.
I’ve learned in my own marriage that I could just go through the motions and remain married. If my goal was to just be married with a subpar relationship then going through the motions would suffice. But I don’t want a subpar relationship with my wife. I want an Extraordinary marriage. A marriage filled with joy, laughter, and adventure. Because that is what I desire than I have to check myself regularly to see if I am nourishing an Extraordinary marriage. One of the main ways for me to feed an Extraordinary marriage is sitting down to listen to my wife. You see by sitting down and actually listening to her; not talking but listening; I can hear her heart. When I can hear her heart than I can win her heart.
In my attempts to get more accomplished in my day I’ve found myself skipping the listening part with God. I would pray and then on my way. I never gave God the opportunity to speak to me. I wanted God to hear my heart but I neglected to hear His.
Just as I am unwilling to settle for a subpar relationship with my wife I will not settle for a mediocre relationship with God. So today as I celebrate my commitment to the Lord I will begin again and make the effort to sit and listen to the heart of the Great I AM, the one who breathed life in me this morning.
I pray that you too choose and Extraordinary life and take the time to examine it, because it’s been said that what you can measure you can improve.
Called to farm not save lives
To this date my journey with Christ has been over 4 years. In my walk, God has asked me to do some small duties like pick up trash, put away shopping carts and even pick up underwear.
He has later asked me to do much larger tasks like pray for complete strangers, share my testimony to a crowd and then share my dirty laundry to the whole world in my book "God Made Me Pick Up Underwear, Finding Faith In Unusual Places."
With all the above activities under my belt one may assume that I've turned many to Christ. To my knowledge I'm not really sure how many have actually changed due to my activities.
In the beginning I desired to see many lives transformed right before my eyes especially the lives of my family and friends. I wanted to see a revival because of my handy work. To my dismay I found myself very frustrated when I led someone to say the sinner's prayer without any true sign of change.
I have come to realize that my job is not to save souls but to sow seed. The seeds that I sow is my witness of a changed life, my smiles, my hellos and my prayers for others.
I've come to realize that it doesn't matter if lives change right before my eyes. It is probably better if it doesn't. If it were than I may think I did it.
I've come to realize that it is not my job to save the world because I am but a farmer. Jesus Christ saves that is why He is the Savior. I am to just continue sowing seed as it is said in Mark 4:26-27:
"The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.... and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know."
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