I have neglected Blogger.com for many weeks now. I have been using xanga.com. Since I have been gone things have changed around here. Things looks a lot better and it's more user-friendly. Someone got the hint.

Anywho, for those who don't check my xanga site here goes. Since I last blogged on Blogger.com Noah arrived. Noah arrived last Thursday. He was a wooping 8lbs and 20 in. He is a beautiful baby. God is good!

Our corps ministry is going well. I can't believe a year ago this month we had no one in church and now we average 20-25 people each Sunday. Yes, to God be the glory. He is doing great things in the lives of so many families in our church. Shannon and I are truly grateful for this appointment and the people that are a part of it.

Gotta go! Shannon is napping and Noah is waking up!

Blessings!

We're home again! For the past week Shannon and I have been on vacation in Southern California. What did we do?

- We Rested, I got sick

- We attended the commissioning of the Bridgebuilder session. Way to go! Specifc kodoos to Tolani Finley and Jennifer Schapals.

- On Sunday Shannon was surprised with a Baby Shower. All thanks to our dear friends: Joanne & Christopher Golden, Beverly Martinez and Tolani & Bill Finley. It was awesome!

- Then right after the Baby Shower we attended a BBQ hosted by Bill & Tolani. Tolani's mother's ribs were the 'bomb'.

- On Monday Shannon and I went to Tijuana. We parked on the U.S. side then caught MexiCoach bus to Tijuana. We walked around and did some shopping for suvenirors. Shopping in Tijuana is interesting because the shopkeepers will do whatever it takes to get you to shop in their store. Now I can say I have gone INTERNATIONAL.

- Today, Tuesday, we drove home. Six wonderful hours of fun.

So that's where I have been for the past week.

On a final note: Noah is coming soon to home near us. God is good!

It's been a while since I have updated this blog.

Since my last update this is what's happened in our lives:
- All my immediate family got together for the first time in three years. What a blessing and joy that was.
- The little one in the oven, Noah, has grown bigger and is trying to kick his way out of Shannon.
- Shannon and I completed another online course with Crestmont. Ethics was actually kind of fun.
- Last but not least God continues to bless us with a new day.

If you are reading this how are you? How has the Lord been blessing you?

Baby's Update:
Today we went to the doctor and the baby is doing great! He is going to be a big baby!! What joy!!! Pray for Shannon.

Personal Update:
I am tired! We have travelled to/from Southern California this week. The conference we attended was beneficial and fruitful. However we are just exhausted from all the driving.

Ministry Update:
We finished our Sunday School campaign with great success. We now have a good number of people coming to church on Sunday.

Let's praise God! Let's praise God in everything we do!! Let's praise Him with every fabric of our being! Why? Because He is God, our Creator, our Father and our Leader!!

New things are in the works for us.

First, on Monday our architect delivered the prelimenary building plans for our corps building. The plans are awesome. Here are a few highlights:
- 1st floor chapel
- larger multipurpose room
- larger food pantry
- new, bigger and code compliant kitchen
- a nursery
- 4 new classrooms
- half-court basketball
- playground
- new parking lot
- picnic area
- new landscaping and signage
- and the list goes on

Second, the reality of the baby's arrival is stronger. Yesterday, I painted Noah's room. It's a baby blue room with a Noah's ark theme. Today we are putting together the baby's crib. We're excited!

Now on a not-so-good note. Please lift the following people up in your thoughts and prayers: Shanon Hawkesworth and Bill & Tolani Finley. Both are good friends of mine and have experienced some type of loss this week. What they are going through is tuff and not many words can console them at this time. So I ask that you join me in interceding on their behalf before the Lord. Pray for comfort, understanding and strength to make it through.

Where do you put your trust? Put your trust in God!!

THE BABY IS ON HIS WAY

This morning before church Shannon found this cool website: www.lilypie.com. It's a site where you can create a Count Down Clock for the baby's due date. It's cool. We've added to our blog. Scroll to the bottom of the blog.

Church today was great. God has blessed our Sunday School campaign richly. We are coming up on the final week of the campaign and I am happy to report that we've had a huge success. Give to JESUS Glory!

I have a question to ask. I've already asked it on my Xanga site but no one has replied to it. The questions: What are your thoughts on revival in the Army? What are the implications? What will it take on our part, the officers and soldiers in the Army, for God to send forth a revival?

I am interested in continuing this conversation Tolani Finley started on her blog. So let's talk by simply clicking the comment button below.

GIVE TO JESUS GLORY

This blog thing is catching on. Leslie & Victor Powell just created blogspots. Christopher & Joanne Golden are now online with blogging. I think this is a great avenue of communication for large groups like the Army. Plus its cheap too!

I have another blog at www.xanga.com/jsmurph

I DID THE UNTHINKABLE!

Yesterday I went to Home League Camp. A man at Home League Camp is unusual in this division. I took my wife for the day because she currently unable to drive solo for long distances. I played butler and chauffeur for a day! The day was actually fun.

Blessings to all!

Opening a corps (church) is not easy. We started out great but then there have been many times when it was only Shannon and I in church on Sunday. Then we started a Sunday School campaign in March and we've begun to see some growth in our corps. Instead of having a regular Sunday morning adult worship (holiness meeting) Shannon and I conduct an extended Sunday School. At 10am we have breakfast, then at 10:30 we start the assembly. At 11:30 we do a craft or play game that is applicable to the lesson learned. Families are coming and being introduced or re-introduced to Christ. Everyone is NEW. Praise be to God we've had from 6 to 22 come on a Sunday. God is good! In three weeks we finish our first Sunday School campaign then we start a Sunday School series on the Fruit of the Spirit.

Where the church goes from here is unknown to Shannon and I? We are not particularly sure if the church will develop into a traditional or non-traditional corps. Frankly, our main concern right now is simply bringing people in the church and introducing them to Someone who can save them. Have I mentioned that God is good?

This past Friday was very encouraging to our ministry and church development. On Friday, the divisional commander, divisional secretary, divisional business director, county coordinator and an architect came to our building to review and develop further plans to remodel our building. It was very encouraging to see the support and receive the input and expertise from Army leadership. The plans are extensive and will cost a considerable amount of money. Praise God our corps has a trust to pay for it all. Things are moving so fast that by next Friday the architect will have prelimenary plans drawn-up and to the city for prelimenary approval. The hope is start the project in late July or early August. God Is Good! God is Great!

Blessings

Comment at jules_bs@yahoo.com

Congrats to Chris & Joanne on 1yr. of marriage. I can't believe it's been one year since these two almost burned down the chapel at the Escondido Corps. Yes, while lighting the unity candle they almost set the whole place on fire.

Anywho, the ministry at the Tri-Cities Corps is going well. Instead of having a regular Sunday adult service we have Sunday School for two hours, from 10AM-NOON. And we are having a blast. Parents attend w/ their children and they all are learning more about God. God is good!

Baby update: Noah is growing, kicking and beating on Shannon's internal organs. He's having fun! Shannon on the other hand probably doesn't like being beat up by her baby. Doctor's appt. later on this week so we'll update you Shannon and Noah's health next week.

Comment at jules_bs@yahoo.com

God is good!

Before our vacation last week Shannon and I learned that we are having a BOY. We're excited! His name was determined way before he was conceived; it is Noah. Each of our children will have two middle name: 1 traditional and 1 Hawaiian.

Remember that God is Good!

My name is Julius Murphy. I am a minister (officer) in The Salvation Army. I am currently responsible for The Salvation Army in Tri-Cities (Newark, Fremont and Union City, California). My responsibilities include: restarting the ministry here from ground zero, remodeling a dilapidated building, revamping the existing social service ministry and rebuilding community relations. It looks easy but it's a lot of work for a brand new Salvation Army officer. Nevertheless we, my wife and I, are on fire for God & His service and are up to the challenges our current responsibilities present. My hope is that Salvation Army leadership leaves us here for at least 3-5 years so that we can see tremendous growth and change in The Salvation Army's ministry here.

I look forward to sharing & discussing life, faith, ministry and stuff.