G.i.g.a.t.t. In Action (on YouTube)!

Ladies and Gentlemen (echo, echo, echo).  We now present to you…the Gigatt Small Group!!!  Enjoy this short video.

Also find this video and more pictures on our FACEBOOK profile.

Seeds for a Purpose — Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead

I was back in SNR after a long SNS – Saturday Night Slumber. I was with Frederick, my brother, indecisive over going to SNR or taking my brother out to town. I didn’t want him to feel that I was saturating him with church, yet I was happy that he was enjoying it so much. He even asked me if there was a dream center in Pennsylvannia! The charm of the dream center is like a fast oncoming train — it hits you and runs over you hard. But because Christ is in it, you rise again. I felt a tug in my heart. I could not bear to be right next to Angelus Temple and not go. I had been “robbed” way too many times of this awesome weekend night service.

SNR – April 5 was about seeds. Seeds and Purpose.

Matthew 17:20
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Pastor Brad Reed carries a container of sunflower seeds challenges the audience. Jesus does not use “seed” accidentally, because it is a pretty metaphor, or because he decided to be eco-friendly or reach out to the gardener market. Faith is akin to a seed because it is supposed to grow.

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

We don’t get salvation like we get a precious diamond that is too expensive to use, locked away in a safe. We get saved, and then we grow, we mature, and we bear fruit. It was emphasized in the sermon that seeds are planted not to remain in the ground, but to be transferred to another pot and another pot. And finally, the tree can be planted on the ground. “The seed must be cracked to get the life out of it.”

The saddest part is that a lot of people pull out of the ground before the harvest. Stop crawling to the end of the tunnel just short of the light. Stop running the marathon 0.2 miles away shy of the finish line. Pastor Brad said emphatically — “if you don’t finish the marathon, you don’t get any credit!” This is perhaps the most poignant part of Pastor Brad’s sermon – at least for me — because his words hit home. I had gotten out of my comfort zone, stepped up to serve God, yet was giving the doubting and fearful voices in my head more attention than I should. I went through the motions of serving God, hanging by a thin thread.

It’s time to stop running away, and it’s time to face His hands. The hands that will take me gently from my pot and start planting me on the ground. Success, getting there, reaching a goal, scares more people than we realize. Sometimes the finish line is just as scary as the starting line. More than sometimes, we start more races than we finish. The race of our Christian life is a race that’s not negotiable in God’s eyes. We must long for his “well done, good and faithful servant,” the same way that a little girl longs for her mother’s approving smile. Contrary to the popular saying — “Don’t quit while you’re ahead.”

If a seed does not later on produce fruit — it does not fulfill its purpose. If salt loses its saltiness, and light is hidden……

Matthew 5:14-16

14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We are seeds meant to bear fruit. Salt meant to be salty. Light meant to shine. Go, fulfill your purpose.

Back from slumber

Hey dreamweavers! I haven’t posted in a long time due to some avoidable and unavoidable circumstances. God has sent me a new macbook to inspire me to post again.:) I’m fast becoming a mac geek — well I have an excuse to spend so much time on the computer, I work in web marketing. I’d like to congratulate Gigatt because our blog is now a PR 3! Wait, what’s a PR 3? We’re pagerank 3 now according to google — they rank as us 3 out of 10 in website importance. It just feels good, period. A lot of work is done to make that happen. I’d like to make it clear that Google, contrary to what most people think is not god — Jesus is Lord! All the time!

Gigatt has certainly come a long way since its conception. We’ve had good times and more good times. I even have a picture to prove it.:)  Just the lemons on the glasses of water is great proof  that we’re broke, but happy. (Wait, that sounds a little bit like Alanis Morisette).  Kidding aside, we were actually pretty blessed that night, that was the celebration of my and Lori’s birthday — we had a great chinese dinner. Awesome mongolian beef!

Readers, surfers, members, please feel free to leave comments. We’d love to have you.

ArT AttAcK WeeKenD!

Hi Everyone!  And, hope your Thanksgiving was delicious!

But, the festivities aren’t over yet…

Next week will kick-off Gigatt’s ArT AttAcK WeeKenD (Fri. Nov. 30th – Sun. Dec. 2nd)

This is our first ever event like this, so we could use as much friendly participation as you can muster up!

Here’s what’s on the menu!

Friday, Nov. 30th

Open Mic/Spoken Word. @ The Terrace Cafe (626 N. Coronado Terr., 90026)

7p-9p

For all you crazy cats out there who wanna dig this groovy scene.  Bring your work or just yourself and treat your buds to those crazy savory Starbucks drinks, available at Terrace Cafe.  Music, Short Story, Poetry and Lyrics allowed.  All work will be perused before going onstage to ensure appropriateness for our audience.  This little hot spot is nestled on the grounds of the DreamCenter and can be a little tricky to find.  Just look up the directions and keep my number handy.

Chalk-a-lot Mural. @ Family Center. Rm. 202 (Next to Angelus Temple @ 1100 N. Glendale Blvd., 90026)

9:30p-12midnight

It’s a wall.  It’s a chalkboard…Stop. Your both right!  Be a part of creating a unique mural on our specially painted wall.  All the fun without the mess.  Can’t beat that.

Saturday, Dec. 1st

MasterPizza. @ Family Center. Kitchen on 1st Floor (Next to Angelus Temple @ 1100 N. Glendale Blvd., 90026)

7p-9p

Bell Pepper tree trunks and spinach leaves.  A pepperoni sea lined by sandy parmesan shores.  I’ve sometimes seen art so delicious I wanted to gobble it up.  Now, we can.  Make tasteful MasterPizzas that satisfy both the artist’s eye, and your stomach’s!  Dough and toppings provided.  BYOI (Bring your own imagination).

Sunday, Dec. 2nd

Art in the Park.  @ Echo Park (corner of Glendale Blvd./Park)

12noon-1pm

Hey, you’re all familiar with this one!  Free paints, canvas. Writing area and, as always, instruments are welcome for impromptu jam sessons.  This a great opportunity to discover, explore or practice various disciplines.  So jump in while the weather’s still good!