AL Abdulla


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Dec
21

A CHRISTMAS DATE WITH MY SPECIAL PRINCESS

“You can be my prince and I will be your princess, Daddy.”

Saturday night was a night I have looked forward to all year long. Throughout the year I try to make a regular habbit of taking my four year old daughter Nevaeh out on mini-dates, journeys, and outings. But once a year, during Christmas time, we make it an event! I’m sure that my wife will blog about the details later (She’s into details). For me, I will simply summarize by saying it was a night that I will never forget. She looked so cute, and many people agreed, commenting to me, “my what a beautiful date you have.” She ate it up. Dressed in princess attire (makeup and all) We went ice skating, played tag, swung on swings, putted around a mini-mini golf green, had in-in-out, and got ice cream and talked. It was a great day.

Nov
26
THINKING BACK TO DIRE STRAIGHTS & THANKFUL FOR MY NEW JOB I am a child of the 80’s. One of the first MTV video’s I ever saw was called ‘money for nothing’ by Dire Straits. It was revolutionary. Both to the 80’s and to me. I think about it often these days. In the video are a couple of cartooned bonehead furniture movers and installers (see picture) singing about how they should have learned to play instruments so that they wouldn’t have to work so hard ‘installing microwave ovens,’ doing custom kitchen deliveries,’ and ‘moving refrigerators and color t.v’s.’ These days, I think on it often because I am now a furniture mover. If you would have asked me a year ago what I would be doing for work, I probably would have never answered ‘moving furniture.’ But that is what I am doing, and I’m very thankful. The teaching job became so heinous (a story in itself) that at the counsel of many godly people, and a sense of release from the Lord, when offered a job with the moving company that moved my family and I from Santa Ana to Carp, I took it. It has been interesting to see the twists in this story, but one day we will peer above the loom and see the tapestry that God, the Grand Weaver has been weaving together. My new job definitely makes for interesting days, and it is fun to have a drill and hammer in hand again. The company that I work for picks up and delivers to some of the most elite houses and designers in the Santa Barbara and L.A areas, specializing in antiques, art, and high end furniture. Just today I moved a rug worth over $150K. The job is physically pretty demanding. Please pray that I will be able to stay healthy and injury free in order to work for as long as necessary. Many have said that they are following our story and praying for us, and for that we are so thankful.

THINKING BACK TO DIRE STRAIGHTS & THANKFUL FOR MY NEW JOB

I am a child of the 80’s. One of the first MTV video’s I ever saw was called ‘money for nothing’ by Dire Straits. It was revolutionary. Both to the 80’s and to me. I think about it often these days. In the video are a couple of cartooned bonehead furniture movers and installers (see picture) singing about how they should have learned to play instruments so that they wouldn’t have to work so hard ‘installing microwave ovens,’ doing custom kitchen deliveries,’ and ‘moving refrigerators and color t.v’s.’ These days, I think on it often because I am now a furniture mover. If you would have asked me a year ago what I would be doing for work, I probably would have never answered ‘moving furniture.’ But that is what I am doing, and I’m very thankful.

The teaching job became so heinous (a story in itself) that at the counsel of many godly people, and a sense of release from the Lord, when offered a job with the moving company that moved my family and I from Santa Ana to Carp, I took it. It has been interesting to see the twists in this story, but one day we will peer above the loom and see the tapestry that God, the Grand Weaver has been weaving together.

My new job definitely makes for interesting days, and it is fun to have a drill and hammer in hand again. The company that I work for picks up and delivers to some of the most elite houses and designers in the Santa Barbara and L.A areas, specializing in antiques, art, and high end furniture. Just today I moved a rug worth over $150K. The job is physically pretty demanding. Please pray that I will be able to stay healthy and injury free in order to work for as long as necessary. Many have said that they are following our story and praying for us, and for that we are so thankful.

Oct
23
STAND AND DELIVER-THIS IS NOT! My lunch semi-1/2 hour was cut short today. The kids started a fire today during their lunch period. Then they went back into their class kicking basketballs around the class and riding their bike around the classroom. One student was arrested for running from the cops who were called because of the fire. He was confirmed to have been blunted (i.e., keyed, stoned, peeled back, cheeched, toasted, chinese-eyed, crunked) before class along with 3 other students. Two days ago this student told me he was going to stab me. Today he could barely keep his eyes opened, until his mom came to pick him up before he ran out the door only to be slammed to concrete by pursuing officers, with his mom looking on crying, “Johnny!” Prior to that, a student asked another student what happened to the “screw-driver?” leaving me to wonder is someone was getting shanked today, and to search them. After all, there is a girl in my class that was expelled for having made a shank out of a toothbrush and taking it to class to shank the students. Yesterday with a teachers subbing for me, some students set off the fire extinguisher, and a student (about 200 lbs) pushed the sub 2x’s. As far as being called names, it was a fairly mellow day. Normally before the first hour is up I have been called nearly every foul name in the book (even some that aren’t in the book). One student, who dictated to me that he wasn’t leaving the class after I asked him repeatedly to leave, was expelled. He has been suspended a total of 18 days. I found his weakness though…his mom. He was crying like a baby when she took him away. Everyday, from 8 to 3 pm with a half hour break for lunch, I am with the most heinous class you can think of. Many people, when I tell them of the circumstances, and that in a program that is only a year old 4 aids and two teachers have quit (one having had a brick thrown at his head), they tell me, “you gotta watch stand and deliver.” Let me say, this ain’t stand and deliver. Prayer and the Bible that get me through. It is all I desire, all that give me peace, and all that I have time for after an insane day where every day is a battle, and getting to 3 o’clock is a victory. For you see, I am virtually alone in the class. My aide is a late 60’s man with a colonoscopy bag under his shirt. Other than him, I am the only male on the premises. I am the only teacher on campus, and mine is the only classroom on campus of a migrant health building. O what a season this has been. And to think I have only been working there for 3 weeks!

STAND AND DELIVER-THIS IS NOT!

My lunch semi-1/2 hour was cut short today. The kids started a fire today during their lunch period. Then they went back into their class kicking basketballs around the class and riding their bike around the classroom. One student was arrested for running from the cops who were called because of the fire. He was confirmed to have been blunted (i.e., keyed, stoned, peeled back, cheeched, toasted, chinese-eyed, crunked) before class along with 3 other students. Two days ago this student told me he was going to stab me. Today he could barely keep his eyes opened, until his mom came to pick him up before he ran out the door only to be slammed to concrete by pursuing officers, with his mom looking on crying, “Johnny!” Prior to that, a student asked another student what happened to the “screw-driver?” leaving me to wonder is someone was getting shanked today, and to search them. After all, there is a girl in my class that was expelled for having made a shank out of a toothbrush and taking it to class to shank the students. Yesterday with a teachers subbing for me, some students set off the fire extinguisher, and a student (about 200 lbs) pushed the sub 2x’s.

As far as being called names, it was a fairly mellow day. Normally before the first hour is up I have been called nearly every foul name in the book (even some that aren’t in the book). One student, who dictated to me that he wasn’t leaving the class after I asked him repeatedly to leave, was expelled. He has been suspended a total of 18 days. I found his weakness though…his mom. He was crying like a baby when she took him away.

Everyday, from 8 to 3 pm with a half hour break for lunch, I am with the most heinous class you can think of. Many people, when I tell them of the circumstances, and that in a program that is only a year old 4 aids and two teachers have quit (one having had a brick thrown at his head), they tell me, “you gotta watch stand and deliver.” Let me say, this ain’t stand and deliver. Prayer and the Bible that get me through. It is all I desire, all that give me peace, and all that I have time for after an insane day where every day is a battle, and getting to 3 o’clock is a victory. For you see, I am virtually alone in the class. My aide is a late 60’s man with a colonoscopy bag under his shirt. Other than him, I am the only male on the premises. I am the only teacher on campus, and mine is the only classroom on campus of a migrant health building.

O what a season this has been. And to think I have only been working there for 3 weeks!

Oct
18
Moving Day We will have officially lived in Carp for 1 week tomorrow. We moved in on 10/12/09. It has been crazy, trying, and hard and a blessing, all at once. God is good. After a week and a half away from my family while I started my new job, we are together again, and in our new apartment. We are so grateful for the Carp homies coming to help us on that moving day. We gathered together in our new place and sang praises and prayed together. Then we moved boxes and furniture-a lot of it. We look forward to more memories with the crew at Carp.  With our new surrounding, new home, area, and job (which is insane) it is now a one day at a time adjustment. We love our new church and are as excited as ever to go meet with and worship Jesus with the body in Carp. P.s A special thanks to our Reality homies for helping us move in. Couldn’t have done it without you! We love you guys! Also a special thanks to our Refuge homies for helping us move out a few weeks ago. Love you guys too!

Moving Day

We will have officially lived in Carp for 1 week tomorrow. We moved in on 10/12/09. It has been crazy, trying, and hard and a blessing, all at once. God is good. After a week and a half away from my family while I started my new job, we are together again, and in our new apartment. We are so grateful for the Carp homies coming to help us on that moving day. We gathered together in our new place and sang praises and prayed together. Then we moved boxes and furniture-a lot of it. We look forward to more memories with the crew at Carp.  With our new surrounding, new home, area, and job (which is insane) it is now a one day at a time adjustment. We love our new church and are as excited as ever to go meet with and worship Jesus with the body in Carp.

P.s A special thanks to our Reality homies for helping us move in. Couldn’t have done it without you! We love you guys! Also a special thanks to our Refuge homies for helping us move out a few weeks ago. Love you guys too!

Sep
25

Miracles do happen

This morning I realized that I had witnessed two miracles yesterday. One supercedes the other by far, but both nonetheless are miracles still. The superceeding, super awesome miracle of the day of course was hearing of Daisy Love Merrick’s (daughter of Britt Merrick) sugery and recovery . Many of you know, of course, that the cancerous tumor that filled her abdomen was completely removed by doctors and that the surgery went amazing. Many people gathered for prayer not only at Reality but also in many other parts of the state, country, and beyond! Please continue to pray for 5 year old Daisy’s recovery. http://prayfordaisy.tumblr.com/

The second miracle, though less amazing, is amazing still. After 4 months of searching for a job in the Santa Barbara/Ventura county area…”I GOT A JOB! I will begin next week as a teacher for the Rio school district in Oxnard. Because of the economy soooo many good teachers are being or have been let go. For me to get a teaching job, after school has started no less, is a miracle. When I first began looking for teaching jobs, I told a friend, “it will be a miracle from God if I get a job as a teacher.” But God is a God of miracles, and it has happened. I am scheduled to sign my contract next week Wed and begin on Thurs.

Things seem to be rolling along now as we plan to load our boxes into a truck on Tuesday. From there, I will go to Oxnard to begin my new job, and Nina and the girls will go visit and stay with family for a couple of weeks until we move into our new apartment on Oct 12.

The journey continues…and we are finding God to be very faithful.

Sep
11
“

We sin against Christ and we misrepresent the Gospel when we suggest to sinners that what God demands of them is moral improvement in accordance with the Law. Moralism makes sense to sinners, for it is but an expansion of what we have been taught from our earliest days. But moralism is not the Gospel, and it will not save. The only gospel that saves is the Gospel of Christ. As Paul reminded the Galatians, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” [Gal. 4:4-5]

We are justified by faith alone, saved by grace alone, and redeemed from our sin by Christ alone. Moralism produces sinners who are (potentially) better behaved. The Gospel of Christ transforms sinners into the adopted sons and daughters of God.

 Albert Mohler- Taken from www.albertmohler.com
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THE SECRETS OF WAR-TIME FAITH Since my family and I find ourselves in a season of faith steps, have felt compelled to re-visit the lives of some modern men who knew what it was to press on well, taking risk for the glory of Jesus, trusting him with their lives, family, and ministry. I’m compelled to re-visit, and in some cases, for the first time, visit the lives of men known for having a war-like, war-time faith. I am making it my aim to hit a new biography per month and scribble some notes of two things, 1) What were their struggles and 2) What was the secret to their war-time faith?

THE SECRETS OF WAR-TIME FAITH

Since my family and I find ourselves in a season of faith steps, have felt compelled to re-visit the lives of some modern men who knew what it was to press on well, taking risk for the glory of Jesus, trusting him with their lives, family, and ministry. I’m compelled to re-visit, and in some cases, for the first time, visit the lives of men known for having a war-like, war-time faith. I am making it my aim to hit a new biography per month and scribble some notes of two things, 1) What were their struggles and 2) What was the secret to their war-time faith?

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THE DAY MY DAUGHTER WENT POSTAL & OTHER LESSONS FOR ME Two days ago, while I was in Santa Barbara testing for yet another hopeful job, my 4 year old Nevaeh blew a gasket. It was her first time at the dentist. Enough said. The surprise came however in her behavior. She completely flipped out. Her fear of someone sticking their hands in her mouth as she sat helplessly overtook her and everyone became her enemy, even mommy. Nina told me that she couldn’t believe our sweet hearted, gentle, even timid baby girl flipped a switch like a star in a horror film, but at that moment she went postal. Nina’s discipline threats, which normally is enough to strike fear into her tender heart, didn’t even phase her. She couldn’t believe that her mommy who is supposed to protect and defend her could let this happen. So Nevaeh, thinking all things were against her, in fear, flipped out. She knows how We find ourselves as parents wondering, why doesn’t she trust us when we know what we’re doing. Herein lay a lesson for me. My daughter’s lack of trust in her parents to not forsake her in danger, but instead to freak out and give into fear, forgetting that we know what is best for her is a lesson for me. The day before the dentist incident, though not outwardly or angrily, I kinda started to flip a switch as well. Waves of doubt crashed over me as yet more rejection from jobs came, and as the apt we thought was ours came into doubt (they want proof of income-without having a job), and as I realized I’m now in month 5 of trying to find a job in the Santa Barbara county. I didn’t outwardly or angrily flip out, but in my mind with my head in my hands, I spoke out loud to God, “what are you doing? I am sooo sick of looking for a job, trying to figure out how we are going to make it work. My response the the Lord was somewhat like, “God, here I quit my job, trusting you to provide, and my insurance is up at the end of this month. How will I get my wife and kids to the doctor if needed? I’m so tired of looking for work. We are supposed to have moved already and here we are, in boxes and suitcases still, and probably will be for another month. What are you doing (fist pounding on desk)?” Having been in this place before (taking steps of faith), yet maybe not with kids on the line, you would think that I would’ve learned not to succumb to doubt, fear, frustration. Times like these expose my idols, and my self-sufficiency. As my friend says, “It’s all about the process.” Just embrace it and don’t fight against it. Just know it’s weird and difficult but enjoy the process and roll with it.” That is good advice, spoken like a true surfer. The problem is I am a grappler, by sport and at heart. I don’t roll with things well, I like to try to fight it. I guess that is what I am learning through this. How to roll with what God is doing, trusting Him, and enjoying Him and His gifts the whole way. As Steven Seamands explains in his book Ministry In The Image of God: “I have found that God is always faithful and His mission is accomplished through me when I step out in faith and take risks. However, often the very success engendered by taking risks for God makes it difficult to risk again afterward…taking risks as I seek to participate in God’s mission never seems to get easier. Even though God has proved himself faithful in the past and has blessed my steps of risk obedience, I am always scared. I worry about the outcome and what other people will think. It seems as if every time I let go and reach for the new trapeze bar God is sending toward me, I have to let go of all the reputation and security and success I’ve accumulated up to that Point! So I always have to overcome doubts and fears.” Why can’t my daughter trust me when we say she is going to be fine at the dentist? Why can’t she trust me when I say, “jump to me” in the pool. Doesn’t she know that I would bleed myself dry before letting anything happen to her. Why would she instead freak out? Why hasn’t she come to understand our track record as parents who love her and do what’s best for her. Why? Because she is like me. What is cool is that she is growing. Just yesterday she jumped to me in the water without a fuss. And what is cool is that by God’s grace he is taking me and you from glory to greater glory. And he will finish the job. Children are a blessing from the Lord-for many reasons.

THE DAY MY DAUGHTER WENT POSTAL & OTHER LESSONS FOR ME

Two days ago, while I was in Santa Barbara testing for yet another hopeful job, my 4 year old Nevaeh blew a gasket. It was her first time at the dentist. Enough said. The surprise came however in her behavior. She completely flipped out. Her fear of someone sticking their hands in her mouth as she sat helplessly overtook her and everyone became her enemy, even mommy. Nina told me that she couldn’t believe our sweet hearted, gentle, even timid baby girl flipped a switch like a star in a horror film, but at that moment she went postal. Nina’s discipline threats, which normally is enough to strike fear into her tender heart, didn’t even phase her. She couldn’t believe that her mommy who is supposed to protect and defend her could let this happen. So Nevaeh, thinking all things were against her, in fear, flipped out. She knows how We find ourselves as parents wondering, why doesn’t she trust us when we know what we’re doing. Herein lay a lesson for me.

My daughter’s lack of trust in her parents to not forsake her in danger, but instead to freak out and give into fear, forgetting that we know what is best for her is a lesson for me. The day before the dentist incident, though not outwardly or angrily, I kinda started to flip a switch as well. Waves of doubt crashed over me as yet more rejection from jobs came, and as the apt we thought was ours came into doubt (they want proof of income-without having a job), and as I realized I’m now in month 5 of trying to find a job in the Santa Barbara county. I didn’t outwardly or angrily flip out, but in my mind with my head in my hands, I spoke out loud to God, “what are you doing? I am sooo sick of looking for a job, trying to figure out how we are going to make it work. My response the the Lord was somewhat like, “God, here I quit my job, trusting you to provide, and my insurance is up at the end of this month. How will I get my wife and kids to the doctor if needed? I’m so tired of looking for work. We are supposed to have moved already and here we are, in boxes and suitcases still, and probably will be for another month. What are you doing (fist pounding on desk)?”

Having been in this place before (taking steps of faith), yet maybe not with kids on the line, you would think that I would’ve learned not to succumb to doubt, fear, frustration. Times like these expose my idols, and my self-sufficiency. As my friend says, “It’s all about the process.” Just embrace it and don’t fight against it. Just know it’s weird and difficult but enjoy the process and roll with it.” That is good advice, spoken like a true surfer. The problem is I am a grappler, by sport and at heart. I don’t roll with things well, I like to try to fight it. I guess that is what I am learning through this. How to roll with what God is doing, trusting Him, and enjoying Him and His gifts the whole way. As Steven Seamands explains in his book Ministry In The Image of God:

“I have found that God is always faithful and His mission is accomplished through me when I step out in faith and take risks. However, often the very success engendered by taking risks for God makes it difficult to risk again afterward…taking risks as I seek to participate in God’s mission never seems to get easier. Even though God has proved himself faithful in the past and has blessed my steps of risk obedience, I am always scared. I worry about the outcome and what other people will think. It seems as if every time I let go and reach for the new trapeze bar God is sending toward me, I have to let go of all the reputation and security and success I’ve accumulated up to that Point! So I always have to overcome doubts and fears.”

Why can’t my daughter trust me when we say she is going to be fine at the dentist? Why can’t she trust me when I say, “jump to me” in the pool. Doesn’t she know that I would bleed myself dry before letting anything happen to her. Why would she instead freak out? Why hasn’t she come to understand our track record as parents who love her and do what’s best for her. Why? Because she is like me. What is cool is that she is growing. Just yesterday she jumped to me in the water without a fuss. And what is cool is that by God’s grace he is taking me and you from glory to greater glory. And he will finish the job. Children are a blessing from the Lord-for many reasons.

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REALITY VENTURA UPDATE!

From a distance we have been following the plans, prayer, and updates for the new Reality Ventura campus. For more than a year the church has been praying for God to birth this church, and as Britt explained on his blog (Brittmerrick.com) the Baby is ready to be birthed. More than ever we are awaiting our move to Carpinteria to be a part of this exciting time (more info on our move to come). What God has done with this church plant has been amazing. Listen to Britt as he shares.

Aug
29
“ Hello…My name is Al