Encounter with Christ.

I didn't go this semester, but I did go last semester on my school's retreat that is called "Encounter with Christ"

The retreatants from this semester came back today from their weekend treat. In the best way possible, they broke my heart. To see some of my friends come back from a weekend that I know changed my life and see that God had done something with them was the most awesome thing ever.

I love it when God works through people, especially when he makes it known that they were worked through. Those slight changes in their character - God worked through them. This genuine need to want to be a better person - God worked through them. This realism about the person - God worked through them.

I would love to talk more about EWC, but it's such an awesome retreat that the slightest information that slips out of my mouth may ruin it for those that will eventually go on it them self.

I'll leave you though with these two clips:

Fall 2009 Encounter with Christ Theme "By Your Side"


Spring 2010 Encounter with Christ Theme "Love is Here"


- Rick Baleros

Who's to judge?

"She looks like a skank"

"He looks like a douche"

"She has no morals"

Phrases that are so common today. I honestly don't think I can go a day without hearing someone say those words. Sometimes I catch myself saying those words about people behind there back. This is where I out myself to you guys, ha.

So in the beginning of the school year there were obviously a few people that right as I saw them these words came out of my mouth:

"She looks like a skank"

"I'll never be friends with him because he looks like a tool"

"He looks like he has no self-respect for himself"

Sound familiar? It wasn't until a week ago did I come across these three people. It wasn't until a week ago did I come across these three people in the same place.

Last Wednesday I was leading worship at my school's "Youth Group" called FISH.

Boy was I in for an awakening that night.

That girl who I said looked like a skank. She was on her knees alright, but she was on her knees worshiping to God. From where I was - it was genuine. She was being real.

That guy who I said would never become my friend. Probably one of the guys that I'm really close to here on campus. He's not a tool one bit.

The guy who doesn't have self-respect for himself. BOY WAS I WRONG. He just dresses different and I have yet to meet someone who is so comfortable in their own skin. If anything at all I have self-respect issues compared to this kid.

All I'm saying is, it's funny how God uses people to let us know otherwise.

Rick Baleros

James 4:12
"God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?"