My KA DNA - Leesa Bellesi

It’s late and I am too tired to write a proper review of the MJ Movie that Lysa, Amy and myself went to see tonight.  The theater in Foothill Ranch was not exactly a sell out, maybe 30 percent filled.   We sat between a woman that coughed every uummm… 45 seconds, not exaggerating.   And a family that took their 5 kids, ages 5,4,3,2,1 to a 9 pm movie, but I digress.   Ignoring the outside irritation I give it a C+.  I love production, choreography, behind the scenes stuff and getting to see that aspect up close and personal was cool.  They showed a snippet of the audition process for the dancers.  Having been a dancer I really enjoyed that part… but it was just a snippet… would of loved more of that.  Seeing Michael relaxed was fascinating.  Glad I went and some of the dance sequences were wonderful.  It would of been a fantastic show.  Warning!!! and I was afraid of this.  There is an icky crouch grabbing scene at the end that I really could of done without and the “inspirational” moment following it was weird.  A little too much MJ worship for me.  I have to wonder if Michael really would of been very happy that this was made into a movie… not so sure about that.

It’s hard to believe, but our Admin Assistant Lysa has never had an In and Out Burger even though she was born and raised in Orange County, CA.  How can this be?  Our Web Designer, Victor, and I dragged her for a Protein Style (no bun) Burger.  She was given an In and Out Crown for the day.  This adventure was very bonding for our staff

P.S.  Did you know there are scriptures on bottom of the cups and other items at In and Out… also, did you know John 3:16 are on the bottom of the bags at the clothing store “Forever 21?”  In and Out Burger was founded by an amazing Christian Family.  The son that ran the operations was called home during a plane crash in the early 90’s.  The scripture tradition and great service did not change and we are thankful for that.  We love In and Out Burger!

Check out this woman’s amazing Kingdom Assignment… you just never know when God will call on you!

I have been slightly fascinated lately by this new PR campaign for Atheists.  Someone is putting out some bank in subways and on buses to tell people that you do not need faith to do good.  I literally ran into (along side of) one of these people while on side by side treadmills at 24 hour fitness the other day.  Wow!  Seemed smart enough.  He had created his own ideology.  No need for God’s miraculous change agent in people lives, they just needed to down size their lives.  No Nellie Gailers could be doing anything of value, because they just were living life too lavishly.  I’ve been in many a Nellie Gailers home and I could of told him of the good, the bad and the ugly, just like every other community (no dif) but their was no air space between his words.  Judgement spewed from this, seemingly easy going, Surfers mouth.  ”People just need to do good” is what he kept saying, “wish people did more of that”.  But wait where was his joy, where was his servants attitude?  I pondered his goodness as he hogged one of the work out machines, I thought… It must be exhausting TRYING to be so good.  I thanked the Holy Spirit for the power that is instilled in every believer through His fruits: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, GOODNESS, Faithfulness, Gentleness and at the time most importantly… Self Control.   Only God is good… read the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10:17-22.

I also thought it timely as I read my devotions today October 22nd 2009.

Day by Day with Billy Graham:

Romans 3:28 - “So it is that we are saved by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do.”

Many people still cling to the notion that man is naturally good. We did not get this from the Greeks, Aristotle said, “There is no good in mankind.”  We did not get it from Judaism.  Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  We did not get it from Christian teachings.  The Apostle Paul said, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  We got this illusion, I believe, from the philosophers and psychologists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who taught the false doctrine that man is a helpless victim of his environment.  The Bible says that man is not naturally good.  All human experience confirms it.  Man is rebellious by nature.  This first rebellion in history happened in the Garden of Eden, where the environment was perfect and there was no heredity on which to blame it!

Prayer For The Day:  Each time I become obsessed by the idea that my deeds are so noble, let me remember the magnanimity of Your perfect life.

From Billy Graham’s Devotional Day by Day for August 26th:

“And the disciples were called Christians…” Acts 11:26

In the third century Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage, wrote to his friend Donatus, “It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world.  But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people, who have learned a great secret.  They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life.  They are despised and persecuted, but they care not.  They are masters of their souls.  They have overcome the world.  These people, Donatus, are Christians… and I am one of them.” If you have repented of your sins and have received Christ as Savior, then you, too, are one of them.

Prayer For The Day:

Today, Lord God, I remember all those Christians who have gone before me and thank You for all the inspiration of their memory.   May I never take for granted the heritage I have in Christ Jesus.

I know it really won’t matter to anyone else, but myself… but there is this pressure… you bloggers know what I mean… it’s when you have not updated your blog and you feel so behind and have no idea where to catch up.

I try to be respectful to the AI kids when they are here and not post anything until they are gone so that has been some what of my hold up.  Jason Castro’s girlfriend Mandy and Michael Castro’s girlfriend Mackenzie have been our Interns for the Kingdom Assignment for the last two months living here with us in Lake Forest… so it has been a revolving Castro door for quite some time now.  The girls parents came out and stayed at the Beach House and then here last night.  But yesterday we sent a fond farewell to the girls with a big thank you for all their help.  We gave them each a special gift of jewelry to remind them of the importance of prayer in their relationships and it was a blast to match it up to their personalities.  If you see them ask them what they got

So more pics will soon follow.  I have had some wonderful daily Billy Graham devotionals… time to share those again… whew… I am far far behind.

Okay so we are clear with a fresh start… let the blogging begin again

This post is long in coming… so much about AI I have not even gotten to, but I will.  Got to go to the Finale and sit with the Gokey’s, After Party, Limo… all good and fun (pics to follow).  But what I had to throw myself into the day after was the 3rd Annual WELL DONE Awards that I was producing.  Millions of details including publishing and printing 3 new books.  Kingdom Assignment 3 “What Will Do With The TIME God Has Given You”,  Children’s book “I Have A Special Purpose” Daniel Goes On A Kingdom Assignment, and a pictorial book telling the story of the Kingdom Assignment and how it came to be… whew!  Miracle… something only God could do and He did!

A few AI people were there… Phil Stacey, Jason Castro, Michael Castro, Warm-Up Artist from AI Cory Almeida, and from iCarly Nathan Kress and Noah Munck…

If you go straight to our website www.kingdomassignment.org     you can check out the latest on the WDA, below is the thank you I sent to all who served us and the Master so so well.  WELL DONE!

We will be in touch, but wanted to get this off to you asap!

Please check out Todays and last Fridays article in the OC Register.  

Lori Basheda did a wonderful job covering this years WDA story. 

Check it out at:

  

http://strangeoc.freedomblogging.com/2009/06/01/well-done-awards/16479/

Video/ intro of the night…

http://kingdomassignment.com/getmedia_video_wda2009_intro.php

Also, Darren Kings Pics (taken by Joe Ohman, thanks Joe) from the night…

fun to relive it all

http://gallery.me.com/crossline#100171

I don’t have everyone’s email so please pass this on and please forgive me if some of you get this twice or even three times

Love, love, love to you all - Leesa and Denny

Jeremiah 333

“call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

 

Check out the latest Article on the AI Ministry and the WELL DONE Awards, Sunday May 31st at the Grove of Anaheim… do not miss it

Danny Gokey clan hanging in the OC - Offbeat OC - OCRegister.com

But thank you for the compliment  On Tuesday of this AI week I was invited to sit with Danny’s family. His Sisters, Angie, Janell, Gina and Tracey had all been out to stay with us (see post below) and then a few weeks later their Husbands (Danny’s Bro in Laws) Rick, Rob and Brandon, sans one (Janell’s Husband Tony) arrived.  I was honored and privileged to be asked to sit with the family and represent for “the Danny” as we, no I guess it’s just me, likes to call him.  

I sat next to Kris’ Dad Neil and the rest of his clan… so nice… such a wonderful family.  I noticed the AI Camera was there a lot, but having done this before I knew that that meant nothing and that the “booth” makes those decisions and that they might take a quick shot of the family when Danny sang, and that would be it.   When I got out of the show my phone was flooded with “oh my goodness” they showed you more than the Kadarshian Sisters, no, more than Simon, no, more than Adam…right… I have funny friends…. I have not watched the show back yet, can’t bring myself to do it… too embarrassing… all I can do is laugh about it and hope I did not look too much like a dork…. so back to the point of this post.  

The next day, at Wednesday’s Show, the sweetest people came up to me with this look, this gentle, precious look and these same words, as they took my hand, moved in close and said; Hi… “Are you Danny’s Mom”? “Oh no just a friend I would respond”. They would go on,”Well they showed you so many times on Tuesday… I was just sure that you were his Mom”.  Understandably, curiosity would get the best of them… “well then WHO ARE YOU they would eventually ask”… which gave me opportunity to tell them about the AI Ministry and the Kingdom Assignment and the WELL DONE Awards.  By the end we had exchanged information and were friends for life  

That is the way I roll people!  If I am given an opportunity to brag about my Lord and Savior I am going to take it.  No one is going to get away from me with out hearing how much I love Jesus and if they don’t love Him already, it’s my hope that someday they will love Him too… rock on AI Ministry… rock on!

The Guys…Rick, Brandon, Rob on Tuesday night after watching Danny’s rendition of “You Are So Beautiful”.  I seriously used to hate (that’s too strong, let’s say highly dislike) the Joe Cocker version and now… well now, after hearing “the Danny” version, it is one of my favorites.  Go Gokey Go! iTunes download for sure…

What handsome boys… fun and in the moment of it all Smile Brandon Smile… “I am Smiling”…

Okay.. if you will scroll down you will see the Gokey Girls doing this same pose… had to get it with the guys… it was my goal… Sweetie thank you for filling in for Tony… you are such a good sport!  Note: Denny and I also celebrated 35 years of marriage this last week.  Honey… you are such a gift to me… okay now I’m crying…

Stream of consciousness…Crazy day at American Idol this week… Tuesday Margie , Lizette and I made our way into the line for the performance show… it was an especially hot day… I was dressed in all black… what was I thinking… after an hour of standing in the line longer than most… the CBS Page told us it had been a strange day… just to hold on.  Hold on we did as Ambulances started filing into the sound stage and then right behind me a young girl fainted… more ambulances… more medics… we filed in an hour late…. got our wristbands… turned in our phones to then hear we weren’t getting in… bummer, but that we instead would get tickets to the finale to make up for it… nice  Heard today that Stage Manager Debbie just needed stitches, but it was a very very serious fall.  Thanking God for a good report…the young girl also made it back into the line only to not get in… all was well with her…Margie made it in and had many ministry opportunities and fun surprises as I did out on the street… met these two fantastic people (below)… became quick friends… they attend the Dream Center where Danny is attending right now and had also NOT gotten in… was there to root for the Danny…as we talked found out Adrian is a singer and he busted it out… fantastic… while Sherry is a Red Carpet Photographer.  They both asked what can they could do to help at the WELL DONE Awards… what a wonderful surprise to find the replacement singer I needed and the Red Carpet Photographer I had prayed for just that morning out on the street… God is so good… gotta have eyes to see and anticipate them… their coming at us all the time… Please enjoy this string of pics from the last two weeks at AI.Singer and Photographer Adrian and Sheri… my new friends I met on the street after we all “did not” get in to AI… God had other things in mind for us…what a blessing

Unexpected prayer time out side CBS…

Beautiful pic of Sherry (Danny’s Cousin) waiting in line for the Dress Rehearsal two weeks ago… what a blast

Had to…couldn’t miss this opportunity to do one of our JUMP SHOTS with the CBS sign in the background… were 50 something and happy

Convincing the others was not difficult…

Lysa, Jenn, Sherry, Margie, Jenn and Lizette’s famous sign…This sign has a life of it’s own… everyone seems to want to pose with it… Lizette,Damadis and Lezzit (Sophia Gokey’s Sisters) Sherry (Danny’s Cousin)… later that night the girls introduced Lizette to her favorite American Idol Danny… fun memory huh girl…

AI Home Girls….Okay… so Margie got into AI Tuesday Night… while she was there she over heard an associate Producer talking about auditions for “Smarter Than a 5th Grader”… my Reality Star friend… remember “Mama Fogal” (google it) piped up… gave her a copy of her book “Tales of Crazy Pastor’s Wife” and right there on the spot the Producer auditioned her, fell in love with our Margie, gave her her card, told her to call the next day…which Margie did today and tomorrow Thursday Margie has a audition in front of the other Producers to be a contestant on “Smarter than a 5th Grader” …woo hoo… Margie you’re amazing….and God is so good… He loves to surprise us…

What can I say… when I picked up the Gokey Girls (all 4 of Danny Gokey’s Sisters) at the Airport in Orange County I was in for a good time. It was the first time EVER that they have been on a vacation just the 4 of them.  They love taking pictures, they love laughing, they love laughing, they love their families and they are understandably super proud of their brother Danny.   Their parents did a fantastic job raising them… I could not believe how much they liked each other… the pictures say it all.

I insist…first stop… Frozen Banana’s on Balboa Island…

I think they have done this before Tracey, Gina, Janell and Angie

Pretty in white… Babies due to Tracey and Janell in a few months… praying for easy labors girls.

I don’t know how this picture came to be… but I love it and the moment was hysterical… as you will see in this next picture… these darling girls became my trick ponies… I would say come on girls let’s do this and they would enthusiastically say… okay let’s do that…

Seriously… they did this over and over again…. I was like… Girls, you’re pregnant …  and they would say let’s do it again nice form… huh!!

Long (happy ending) story after Janell’s purse is stolen out of my car at Saddleback Church.  Thanks to the excellent Security work… purse, wallet (sans money), perpetrator found… quite a bonding adventure wasn’t it girls…

Later that night… Danny with his Sisters… Happy B-Day Danny!

Hollywood and Highland… 

Let’s jump with Danny… okay

Happy!!!   Girls… Mama Lee, as you named me loves you and I miss your wonderful, rich, true, honest, infectious laughs and sweet faces.  Your ability to find humor and beauty in everything makes me smile daily… come back soon

Sophia Martinez  Gokey was one of  four Sisters.  We got the privilege of hosting another Sister, Margarita with Ivan, Petto and Marilyn (Mari)… Don’t miss the jumping shot… it is one of my favorites…

Whoa!  Nice height  :-)

See below to meet more of Sophia’s family.  And please check out Sophia’s Foundation at:  www.sophiasheart.org