COURAGEOUS MOVIE

“A man cannot be passive about what Scripture tells him to do for his family and expect to be found faithful to God in the end. He must see with spiritual eyes and realize that future generations are directly impacted by his daily decisions.”

—The Resolution for Men

This past Monday… I saw a movie with North Richland Hills Baptist Church at Rave Movie Theater. This movie made me cry throughout the movie. I will not say too much of the movie
because I do not want to spoil the movie if you haven’t seen it recently. I will say that my
father Dan Rodriguez was Courageous man of his house. He was a man who would protect his
family in prayer or if something bad happen to any of us. I remember one time my dad
would not leave to go to work until this strange car left that sat in front of our house. That
was courageous man! He was a man of prayer. When things went bad in life… dad would call you
up and pray for you. My dad prayed and blessed you even on his last days. My cousin Charity
wrote a blog about my dad on his last days @ http://displacedcaliforniahippie.blogspot.com/2011/09/true-christ-
follower.html .


I am wondering where are the Courageous men of the Lord are? Have Courageous men taken a stand
in their homes? Some men fall into the selfish ways. I remember one time my dad shared with me
on how he had fallen away from the Lord. Money and success started to take a turn in his life
and he forgotten the Lord. His family was not first. Dan was first.
Then, things started to fall apart in many ways until my grandma and his mother passed away in
1997. Dad had a wakeup call on his life with the Lord. I know many men are not perfect but remember you have to leave a legacy for your family. You have a short time on this earth and make every moment count with your family and the Lord. My dad made every moment count and he would tell us when I am gone…. You will remember the words I have said to you. He was right and my dad lived as the Courageous man even at the end. My dad will live in my heart forever.

Today, please make your stand as Courageous man for your family, if you are single for your future family, for your nation if you are in the services, if you are in law enforcement for your city or state, or even for yourself on to the Lord.

Isleen Rodriguez

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Resources:

http://www.courageousresources.com/youandyourhouse Taking a stand in your home with your family

http://www.courageousresources.com/officialresources Resources on what to read

http://www.courageousthemovie.com/themovie Information about the movie

http://www.griefshare.org/ If you are in the season of grief

A 30 year old woman lessons

I am turning 31 years old this week...


My 20’s was to explore new adventures in my life such as going to Bible school, travel, ministry, school, living with a family, and friendships. Being 30 this year was quite different for me. These are some lessons that I have learned this year that I did not know when I was in my 20’s:

Jobs come and go but they do not identify who you really are but G-d knows who you really are. G-d will direct you in that dream job no matter what economy looks like from a distance. I watched my dad being successful in his job. My dad brought new ideas to his company and did not worry about being laid off. My dad continued to wake up each day at the age of 57 and went to work happy. I saw my dad modeled this attitude for me and I will continued his legacy to my next job.

Home is a place for a time and season. I learned after three moves that you cannot place yourself forever because it is temporal. There will be new seasons when it comes to a new home. I am ready to be stable but I don’t think I would ever be stable in a home because I feel there is a mission in some unknown country or in a new home.

Material does not revolve my world. My pastor brought up a good point today in church he said are  you a different person than you were last year. I was… I did not realize it but I have allowed my life to revolve material. I had so many shopping moments that I can’t count them. This year, I haven’t had many shopping moments and very few of them. I had more moments with my family or friends that I did not need to allow material to take my life or my time.

Children are a gift. Children are a gift but at this point of my life I don’t see myself having children anytime soon. My season with children is to adopt them. My two nieces and my nephew have been my world. I sing and dance with them when I babysit them. When they there are fussing then I give the children back to their parents. I wonder to myself if I will be a good parent one day?….but not right now.

Marriage is on everyone’s agenda but mine is to be one day. I have a wedding planning magazine that I bought myself if I ever need it but at this point no. When marriage will come for me but at this point I am not pushing myself until the right guy asks me even if I am in relationship with him. I want to make sure this special guy wants to grows with me and wake up each morning with me when I am married to him. I can’t push marriage on anyone for now I wait.

Parents are here on earth then they are gone. I learned to appreciate the moments with my parents no matter how much they bug me. My dad used to call me every morning to say good morning and I would say hello in sleepy voice at the beginning of the year. I wish, I had those moments again but now I only have voice mails of my dad saying good morning to me. Everyone if you have two parents still living please tells them that you love them no matter how much you hate them or spend time with them. I had so many wonderful moments with my dad and I wished, I had more wonderful moments with my dad again.

As I turn 31, I will look back of what I have learned this year and continue to grow another year.



Isleen

Ordinary Individual who was a Hero

Today is a new day for me because it is a new beginning without my dad. A determination to move forward with my studies, and to work again because this is what my dad wanted from me if he was living today.  

As, I move forward in my life today, I leave this speech on my blog I wrote for my dad call, “Ordinary Individual who was a Hero.”

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve

This was my dad, Dan Rodriguez. He was a hero to all of us. Our Superman. He was also our best friend including me. I had the honor to be his daughter. My dad was a best friend to many of us. Many of us can relate to Dan being our best friend.

For 30 years of my life he taught me so much about life, school, writing, speaking, career, family, sports, to be hero, but also of the Lord. The Lord was close to his heart. He spent many of his days with the Lord on earth and in ministry to others. Dan was a man of prayer and reading the Bible. He spent his last days with his close friends and family praying. Dan had the honor to give blessings to us even though he was in pain. Dad was a giving man. Once dad told me that he never wanted his children or grandchildren to go through cancer. He was willing to die for us if we caught cancer.

Life- Dan was a teacher to all of us. Words can't express how much my dad taught us about life. There were many wisdom lessons that my dad taught us.

Writing- Dad was a writer. Many of you may not know but dad loved to write. My dad & I shared something common with each other, one of them being our talent to write. He wanted to write a book many years ago but did not pursue it. In his last days, we spent some time at night reading his own stories.

Speaking engagements- Dan was involved with Toastmaster when he worked for Mobil Oil. Dan had a way with his words as he spoke in public with confidence. It taken him a lot of years of practice to speak in public but he accomplished being excellent speaker.

Career- Dan obtained his bachelor degree at the age of 30 from Pam Am University. Dad worked for Mobil Oil for many years. My dad loved working Mobil Oil and took us to work sometimes. I remember one summer I got a temp. job working with Mobil Oil at the age of16. My dad and I spent our time together that summer going to work and having lunch together. Those were priceless moments for me working with my dad.

In 99, Dan was laid off from Mobil Oil. Dad went to EDS from 1999-2001. Laid off again because of the economy after 9-11. I watched my dad for 6 months look for a job. My dad was not giving up to find a job and to help his family. Then, my dad landed the Wal-Mart job as assistant manager in 2002. My dad worked a few years with Wal-Mart. He learned a lot about the retail business that made him stronger as person in life. Then, my dad went from Wal-Mart to Safety-Kleen in the Accounting position. My dad was the happiest person when he got Safety-Kleen job because he was back doing what he loved, which was being challenge with numbers. When he landed Safety-Kleen job that is when he got colon cancer and continued to work with Safety-Kleen after he beat cancer. Then, my father moved from Safety-Kleen to QuickSilver. I remember my dad telling me that he was happy to work in the oil industry again. He was happy to being his field again. He felt like he was working his first job at Mobil Oil. My dad loved what he was doing in his career because of the colleagues, the challenges, coming up with new projects, and friendships. Some people strive to be the best and make money but my dad was the opposite. He was man who had humility, who wanted to serve others and give of himself.

Family- Dan was a family man. You bet that my dad received # 1 father's day gifts each year. My dad would not miss any of our important events. As a family we traveled together each year on our family vacations. We ate as family, went to church, and watched lots of movies. Dan was not only a father to us but a father to many. Many of us will miss my father.

Sports- During his off time dad loved to watch sports in person or on TV. Dad told me once that he watched the cowboys when he was young boy and that is why he had a love for the Dallas Cowboys.

To be hero- My father helped us children in times of trouble. When we went through scary moments in our lives which our father was there with us to pray and read the Bible. I remembered as a child being scared when there was tornado in our area. My dad prayed with us to drive the storms away. He did the same thing when I was coming back from China this summer to pray for my safety when there was a typhoon in China and I came home with no issues.

A hero sometimes through weakness with his health...In 2006, I watched my dad as he dealt with colon cancer the first time. It was the hardest moment of his life of going through long weeks of chemo and radiation but my dad wanted to live and go back to work. Dad did eventually went back to work in 2007. Dad went through cancer 2^nd time in his lungs. Dad was a fighter as he went through hand full of surgeries in the past month but my dad continued to fight until he was called home.

Man of the Lord- My dad was man of the Lord. He prayed for you even though you did not know it. He would spend early mornings as he drove work to praying for many of you, at his desk, or in his quiet place. My dad was not flashy about his religion. My dad was not in ministry or pastor but he shared his faith when you were going through something in your life. My dad accepted you for who you were. My dad had unconditional love for you even if you did wrong to him. My dad taught us to be like Jesus and to share your faith no matter.

Dan will always be remembered in our hearts, and as my dad would tell me in his last days, “Look to Jesus”.

Written by Isleen Rodriguez
Picture taken by Nina Perales

Did you feel the mountains tremble?

One of my favorite songs is by a group name Delirious? “Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?”

In the beginning of the song the instruments are playing in the back ground which it sounds like you are in desert parts of Australia.

Then Martin Smith comes out and says….

Is it true can G-d save a nation?

Well it is true or I must believe it?

Is it true that G-d can break a nation?

Yes, it is true and I feel it……..

Did you feel the mountains tremble?

Did you hear the oceans roar?

When the people rose to sing of

Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?

Did you hear the singers roar?

When the lost began to sing of

Jesus Christ the risen one

And we can see that G-d you're moving

A mighty river through the nations

And young and old will turn to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play

Let the streets resound with singing

Songs that bring your hope

Songs that bring your joy

Dancers who dance upon injustice

Did you feel the darkness tremble?

When all the saints join in one song

And all the streams flow as one river

To wash away our brokenness

And here we see that God you're moving

A time of Jubilee is coming

When young and old return to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

In my world right now… I feel like I can’t do anything to cure my dad’s cancer but I can only believe in G-d. I don’t know what I would do if did not believe in the Lord right now. I could see myself in the bar drinking away my pain and sorrows. The pain right now is unbearable that your tears start to dry up and you don’t know where to turn only to hear this song right now. 


One part of the song says

And we can see that God you're moving

A mighty river through the nations

And young and old will turn to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play

Let the streets resound with singing

Songs that bring your hope

Songs that bring your joy

Dancers who dance upon

Hope! My dad is always there for me even I was in the deepest pain in my life. My dad was a phone call or away.. or he would pray for me. This time, I am here for my father by his side. I hold his wrinkle hand and told him, “I love him.” Last night, I could not sleep because so many things in my mind. My dad put his hands on my head and prayed for me to sleep. I felt the power of G-d all over me and I became sleepily. Sacrifice for one another. I was honor as his daughter that my dad would pray for me. I wish, I could do the same for him but only I can believe in the great healer and not give up for my dad to be heal.

Isleen

China

Since I arrived from China 2 weeks ago, life has been crazy for me. In my last entry, I said my life was going to forever change when I was in this unknown land. When I came back to the states my dad was diagnosed with cancer 2nd time. It was hard on me and my family. For the last 2 weeks, I was feeling low but I have to be strong for myself and my family. I have to trust in the Lord in my life with everything. Now, I am going to write about China. Everyone wants to be on the mission field but it is harder than one can think because there is a lot of sacrifice involved with oneself. These are things that I have learned while being on a short term mission this summer in China. The reason I went to China was to teach English to a bunch of kindergarten kiddos. ( I miss all the kiddos that I taught this summer). Food…. You are not used to eating at your favorite food or restaurant in your hometown. I have found cheddar cheese was hard to find in China. I did not eat much cheese in China. There were times when my team went out to eat @ McD’s, KFC, Burger King, and Subway. I did not complain but I found the difference in the fast food in China compared to here in the USA. I did not care to eat Burger King in the states but in China I did appreciate whatever I ate even if it was rice each night. My favorite dish was fried rice and I found out that I can survive on fried rice with eggs for almost a week. I did try new dishes such as Hot Eggplant that I like to eat. Clothes-I bought a few cute dresses in China, t-shirts, but very few clothes. I did not buy a lot of shoes but a few. In China.... American clothes are cool to wear for the Chinese people. English T-shirts are cool to wear. Chinese people wore name brand t-shirts. I even saw guys wear Apple brand T-shirts which I thought was cool. I haven't seen anyone here in the states with the Apple brand t- shirt yet. Hair- Some women in China like their hair a different color. I found it was very expensive to color your hair at the salon which is around $133. I was thinking of coloring my hair from the box which was a little too expensive for me. I allowed a few of my grey hairs to show. I did get a haircut in China which I found very cheap. To cut your hair which is around $5.00. Very Cheap! The guy who cut my hair did a great job. I did not take my Chi straightener or Chi blow dryer but I learned to manage without it. I always put my hair back and use Bead head gel to keep it in place. Very little maintenance on my hair because there were a lot more things to worry about then my hair. Environment- It was hard to not be in our own environment. I did not bring a pillow, a blanket to feel at home. It was hard not to have your own car or even talking on your own cell phone. Facebook was not the site you could go on to say hi to your friends or family. It was hard to manage without the stuff from the USA . I did not watch TV in China except to explore what the Chinese people would watch at home. I found there were more things to do because there was less technology used in China. I was not on my Facebook 24 hours of the day ( China does not allow Facebook). I did spend some time watching the news online for about 10 min. I spend more time fellowshiping with new friends, eating my favorite ice cream, watching the sunsets, walking, riding the bus, eating dinner, laughing, shopping... I had time to think and enjoy the moments in China without being distracted with technology. As Americans... We keep ourselves busy with technology that we forget there is a real world with real people away from our computers or our smart phone. Language- I felt like a lost person without speaking Chinese. We had our friends help us translate when we went out in public. There were times when I had to point or act out of what I was trying to communicate. I did try to speak one word or two but Chinese language is hard to learn. Family & friends- I missed my family & friends at home. I could not speak with them on Skype because of the time difference. I found a family member who lived in Japan that I had Skype with after the school day had finished. It felt good to speak with a family member in the same time zone. One person I missed was my dad. My dad & I exchange emails almost every day and my dad was very encouraged by his words when in China. Friendships- I met a lot of great friends in China. One of my favorite times was watching Notebook movies and crying with my Chinese friends. I enjoy speaking with my friends about shopping, hair, shoes, guys, careers, family, babies, school.. etc. I miss those times with my Chinese friends, especially getting our hair done at the salon. My own space- No space in China. As Americans... you have your own space in America but not in China. When you go on the bus, store, subway or anywhere else there is no space except in the bathroom or when you went to sleep in your bed. I learned to be flexible with the culture and to accept and not complain. My emotions- No time to cry being home away from home. When I taught.... I had to be patient with my children and be understanding with them in the classroom. I was tired a lot of times and I wanted to sleep but I could not because I had to keep moving until 9pm. Religion- Americans are very blessed to live in a place where religion and churches are free. We can preach or speak to anyone about the gospel in America. China has a lot of restrictions on religion. In China, the churches have to be under the government. My teammates and I were lucky to go to church in China. We went to Christian church called “Passport Church” on Sundays. We had to show our passport as we walked into church on Sunday. No local people could not show up to church without a passport. It was amazing to worship in a church in China. Also, I was happy to carry my IPhone with my Bible on it. If I was feeling down then I could pop out a verse to encourage me in public in China. Coming home- Coming home was hard on me to say goodbye to my teammates and my new Chinese friends. I miss my Chinese friendships. I cried as I said goodbye to my close friend in China. My roommate in China, which I missed even today. China has forever changed my life.... even today. My life will never be the same again. You can read more about my China trip with my teammates from Dallas Baptist University @ http://overthepacific.blogspot.com/

Breath of Life

Everyone….There is soo much I am dealing with right now with my dad being in hospital right now that I can’t say too much but I am hurting inside. I feel it like 2006 all over again for me & my family… I am fighting with tears right now ….. I found a book that my dad wanted put together one day in his office this morning. He had written a piece call “Breath of Life” on 07/27/99. I wanted to share it with everyone because this is what he wanted you to read it at this period of this life.


Breath of Life

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

John Wilson is a crop duster pilot who sometimes handles pulling banner for advertisement. This assignment for pulling a banner wasn’t anything new or unusual. He had just fuel his tank full to assure enough to compare the job. After connecting the line to the banner being in flight to fly the advertisement, something went terrible technically wrong with the connection and the plane. John noticed he was going straight down toward two men into the airport airstrip. He tried his best to crash where there was no people. Immediately, after hitting the ground, flames erupted everywhere setting the whole plane on fire. When all the flames burst out, he notice an Angelic being as 8 feet tall with curly blonde hair with a white tunic in front of him holding back the flames from touching him. He could hear the two men outside saying, “John has to be dead by now”. It had been at least 4-5 minutes while the fire was burning sending toxic fumes into the cabin and he still had a full tank that could blow up any second.. While this Angelic being held the flames, he also saw the Lord Jesus approach him and start to breathe fresh clean air into his mouth for his survival. The men yelled out at him, “John, if you’re still alive, open door.” John pushed the door open to their amazement. John had escaped from the flames of death with God’s help changing his life forever.

I heard John’s testimony this weekend where he also testified on talk shows of how God delivered him from assured death. He says he longer needs to believe just by faith because he has seen the Lord Jesus Christ with his own eyes who breathed life into him. He was taken to the hospital and not a single of toxic contaminants was found in his lungs. Praise God.

While this testimony is tremendous of the awesome power of God in a time of great trouble, God has been giving us our every breath we breathe everyday since he created Adam and Eve. A drug or medicine can never work on us if God is not in the midst of our recovery. If its your time to come home to the Lord, You will not recover from sickness or a terrible accident if God does not deliver you. “ WE MUST LIVE AS IF THIS IS OUR LAST DAY ON EARTH BECAUSE IT COULD VERY WELL BE! There is no guarantee of live for you or me for the day of tomorrow. We must live for today because tomorrow may never come. The Bible says there is an appoint time of death, then there is judgment. You and I do not know our final day on this earth. EVERY BREATH, EVERY HEARTBEAT, EVERY PULSE BEAT BELONGS TO GOD. It is by his ultimate love and his everlasting mercy that we still live each day given to us. John Wilson had no idea this accident would occur to him, but he is extremely grateful to God that he will testify about him everywhere he goes. God’s delivering power will always pull us from the flames all around us wherever we are. Believe in him because you are believing in VERY BREATH OF LIFE ITSELF THAT HOLD US DAILY.

GOD HAS GIVEN YOU LIFE WHEN YOU HAD NO MORE BREATH IN YOU MANY TIMES. You thought you couldn’t go another day when new life sprang forth in you. When a man/ woman decides to walk on their own without any help from God or anyone, he had decided against life itself because without God’s help, we are out naked and alone in the dark in the middle of devouring sharks ready to feast on our foolish native flesh. Yesterday, seven people responded to our pastor’s call to salvation. “There are still three people who have not responded Yet!” remarked Sony Conaster. Slowly, I saw three more people stand and go forward to receive the Lord in their hearts. It was as if the spirit of the Lord spoke saying, “Resurrect from death, resurrect from sin!” These people heard that voice and RECEIVED NEW LIFE, NEW BREATH INTO THEIR VERY SOUL BRINGING EVERYLASTING LIFE FROM THE ONE WHO GAVE US LIFE THROUGH ADAM FROM THE BEGINNING.

BE READY!

Dan Rodriguez

Prayer warrior please keep my dad, in prayer at this time, Thank you Isleen Rodriguez. Hug over the internet.

I am proud to be American!

This 4th of July is going to be special to me for many reasons. One reason is to look back on our nation and remember those who is serving or served our nation.  We are free in this nation. Looking at my money which says, " In G-d We Trust".  You may have traveled to many states in our nation and look at the history of each city. When I traveled D.C, I am amazed of our history and where we have come from since 1776. I am proud to say that I am American and live in land of freedom. One of my favorite songs is America The Beautiful>>>> I love the lyrics to this song>>>

(lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates; music composed by Samuel A. Ward on the poem and music) American The Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness.

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

A Little Bit of History....

The lyrics to this beautiful song were written by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929), a professor of English literature at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, after an inspiring trip to the top of Pikes Peak, Colorado in 1893. Her poem, America the Beautiful first appeared in print in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal, on July 4, 1895. Ms. Bates revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913. In addition to those changes in the words, it is notable that the poem was not always sung to the tune presented on this website ("Materna," composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882, nearly a decade before the poem was written). In fact, for two years after it was written it was sung to just about any popular or folk tune that would fit with the lyrics, with "Auld Lang Syne" being the most notable of those. The words were not published together with "Materna" until 1910, and even after that time, the tune to be used was challenged to some degree. For example, in 1926 the National Federation of Music Clubs held a contest to put the poem to new, reportedly "less somber," music, but no other entry was determined to be more acceptable. Before her death in 1929, Ms. Bates never indicated publicly which music she liked best, but it now appears likely that America the Beautiful will forever be associated with "Materna."