what's up CHE

Working on a new project!

2010-02-11T13:37:00.003-06:00

Ok, I have to say that it's been a while since I took the time to write on my blog. I've been doing lot of singing, studying (Liberty Univ), parenting (This job is much more difficult for Carla than for me; she spends MANY hours a day doing it) and Facebook has been more the way that I communicate most of the times. But there is something about blogging that makes it a little more private that occasionally I miss it. All this to say I am back and I will try to write more often.

I need to say I am working in 3 projects right now. I will tell you the first; a new CD is on its way, a different taste, a different producer, a different style and with a lot of surprises. The other 2 projects would remain "secret" until God opens the door for me to share it, but I am very excited

Singing in Daystar TV (Cantando en Daystar TV)

2009-05-19T17:17:00.001-05:00

Testimonio de Julio Arriola en Youtube (Julio Arriola's testimony)

2009-02-04T17:08:00.002-06:00

Mi nuevo Video Musical (My new videoclip)

2009-01-30T22:35:00.002-06:00

Finalmente pudimos terminar el video!!! La chica rubia que sale caminando al minuto 1:15 es mi amada esposa!!!

Nuevo CD de Julio en USA y latinoamérica con Grupo Canzion/JSR

2008-11-22T08:25:00.002-06:00

Solo para avisarles que mi nuevo CD "Nada Se Compara" está siendo distribuido por Canzion en USA y latinoamérica. Así que vayan pronto a pedirlo en su librería Cristiana mas cercana!!!

Just to let you know that my new CD "Nada se compara" is already being distributed by Canzion Group in USA and Latinamerica. So now you can go and buy it in your favorite Christian bookstore!!!

Julio's new CD is now available in itunes! (CD de Julio esta disponible en itunes)

2008-10-08T14:26:00.004-05:00

We want to let you know that Julio's new CD "Nothing Compares" is now available in itunes and we would love for you to write a review in itunes, thank you

Queremos hacerles saber que el nuevo CD de Julio en ingles "Nothing compares" ya esta disponible en itunes y nos gustaria que escribieras un comentario en itunes acerca de esta producción, gracias

Awesome evening in Sugar Land Town Square!!

2008-08-11T12:29:00.003-05:00

Great evening this past Friday (August 8th) at Sugar Land Town Square. Over 2000 people were there worshiping God with Julio and his friends. Stephen Miller started the concert putting everyone in tune with God (But specially the young crowd). Then Lisa Pierre and her vocal team made us "Dance for Jesus" with those praise songs. Julio and his band made a stop-n-pray moment right after Lisa finished her last song just to get ready for the rest of the evening which was AWESOME. We felt God's presence there, weather was perfect, we had some clouds, but specially one was lighted-up and it was right on top of the city building shining with a very special brightness. Some treats of the night: Julio and Lisa singing "The Prayer", Julio and MJ Kochen singing "Redeemer", Pam Parker dancing the song "Only You", and a young Evangelist from Argentina, Pablo Daut (19 years old) preaching the gospel with boldness before thousands of people!! No doubt GOD WAS THERE!!

August 8th, I'll see you then!!!

2008-07-16T12:44:00.000-05:00

New CD coming soon

2008-05-29T16:50:00.001-05:00

Guys I just wanted to let you know I'm working on my new CD that's why I've been out for a while, here you have the CD cover. Please pray for this project!!!

Clean Water!!! VS Global Warming

2008-04-01T15:13:00.010-05:00

Did you know 1.1 BILLION people lack access to CLEAN WATER???????????

Today I had to go to a place where God touched me a lot for the information I received. I went to Living Water International to drop something off. As I was waiting at the front desk I read some of their pamphlets and I was shocked!!!

1.1 Billion people with no access to clean water

2.6 Billion people without BASIC SANITATION

1 CHILD dies every FIFTEEN SECONDS

Preventable water-related deceases KILL more than 5 MILLION EVERY YEAR!!!!!

Also today I listened on the radio that Al Gore will launch a campaign of $300 million dollars (of course, he will get paid 30 million) to help reduce the global warming!!!!! That is ridiculous. Global warming is not a threaten for human being, I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT ANYONE DYING BECAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING, I guess I'm an ignorant on this but I think we all should focus in all those millions and millions of people dying just because they don't have clean water. Some people are more concern about the whales and polar bears than PEOPLE period. If you are one of those who are concern that our planet will be in danger in 100 million years because we are driving an 8 cylinders Truck, please feel free to comment and teach me about it because I don't understand. Global warming is a HOAX!!! I' am really angry, I'm sorry, God bless you.

"Resurrection Day" songs

2008-03-25T15:40:00.005-05:00

I personally don't like to call Easter to Resurrection Day, but if you want to know why we can talk about it, or you can google the real story of easter and then you could have so many answers there. This past Sunday (Resurrection Day) our church had an awesome program where we celebrated our Lords resurrection. Man that was beautiful!!! I had the opportunity to sing some songs and specially I loved to sing with MJ Kochen, she is a great singer and every time I sing with her or I listen to her she blesses my heart and I'm sure to many more. If you want to listen to the song we sang here you have it.

Here you have another duet, Lisa Pierre is one of my favorite Singers too (And I had the opportunity to sing with her too in Jan 6th 2008) The Prayer.

By the way, I'm working in a new production (CD) and the 2 songs are going to be part of it.

Unusual things in Mexico!!

2008-03-16T15:07:00.010-05:00

After the first night of our vacations in Mexico everything was much better. We´ve had fun!! After several years of not living in Mexico (Since 2000) I forgot about several things. For example

You can drive at over 90 m/h on the freeway without any problem...well watch out with the holes on the road, ha, ha

Gas is also expensive here in Mexico. How long we have to wait before we do this in the US!!

We took our kids to the elementary school where I went as a boy. We arrived to one of the classrooms and as soon as I said ¨Buenos dias¨all kids stood up and answer back in one voice ¨Buenos dias¨, I talked to them for a little while until I remembered they would stayed in that way until I gave them permission to sit. In this town there is only one elementary school and a kinder garden (that´s all) but because there are not many kids they have mixed groups. 1st, 2nd in one room 3rd and 4rd grade in other and 5th and 6th in other.

We didn't bring toys to Mexico for our kids, but do you think they missed them???

Ok, I have to admit I´m not a good fisherman, 99 % of the times that I go fishing I dont catch anything, but this time was different. I even caught 2 fish at a time!!! And my mom who always brags about her ability to fish she did a great job too, but instead of catching fish she got 2 snakes (and that was after our son Daniel said he prayed for her to catch a snake) ha, ha, ha

Perhaps you have heard the story of Moses crossing the red sea with the Israelites, but have you heard about ¨Mooses and the rest the cows crossing the sea??? his happens as we were fishing, a cowboy sent his cows to cross the sea... and they did it.

Vacations!!!!!

2008-03-14T03:59:00.004-05:00

Vacations???????

Right now it's 2am Guasave, Sinaloa Mexico time (4am Houston Time). We woke up 24 hours ago (actually 23 1/2); we left Rosenberg at 6am (...Kids playing and crying). I drove for over 8 hours to Monterrey, Mexico (...Kids still playing and crying). We left the van in Monterrey (after some...let´s say... restrooms accidents (poop and vomit) in the car by 2 of our precious kids) and got in a taxi for 40 more minutes to get to the airport and catch our flight Monterrey-Culiacan... In Culiacan Vicente (my step-father), Carmen (my only sister) and Fernando (one my 2 brothers) were waiting for us. Finally, I drove Vicente´s truck 2 more hours to get to Guasave (...Kids still playing and crying)!! My mom was waiting for us with one of my favorite meals, mmmmhh. That was delicious! Our kids were tired, or at least 2 of them were... because David ( our 3 year old) was not!!! He decided to continue with his night life... awake. After Carla fought (almost literally) for almost two hours with him trying to get him to go to sleep, I had to take him to the kitchen, where we had some snacks, played cowboys, had a nice 3 year old level conversation for a while, laughed together for about an hour and a half, and now I'm in my mom's home office unable to sleep and (finally) with a sleeping beauty boy on my side, snoring as a pig, ha, ha.

It is so good our heavenly father never sleeps. He's there whenever we need Him and he is actually just waiting for that moment when we want to be awake for Him only!!! ¨He is our sheperd, we shall not be in want¨ I often thought about Psalm 23:1 as a verse to remember He will provide...money, food, shelter, etc. But today I learned the best He can provide is His presence in our lives. No matter what, I will never be in want of Him!!!!

Ok, now I'll try to take David back to bed. Good night everyone, or actually Good morning everyone since it's almost 5am in Houston!!!

Words of Encouragement...are U used to that???

2008-03-12T17:11:00.003-05:00

I really love to encourage others, and motivate them. I still remember encouraging my litle brother Alvaro to have better grades in school (Highschool) He was not doing good... no, it was not a brain problem... He was a smart young man fighting with... Laziness? or maybe self esteem? or girls? I can't remember. I don't remember how long we talked but MAN!!! I felt so good when after our conversation he decided to go for it, he finished his Highschool, finished college, he finished an intensive English as a Second Language course, and I can't remember what else, and now he has a good job in a good company, as well as his wife (sorry ladies!!) he is one of the smartest man I know, and I'm very proud of him. I'm not saying all that happened because of that conversation we had, but Alvaro and I still remember that day...right Alvaro?? Why am I saying all this????

In Joshua chapter 1 you will find God giving amazing words of encouragement to Joshua. After Moses died Joshua would be the next leader of a couple of millions of stubern and rebelious people. Moses was a GREAT leader!!, so imagine the pressure for Joshua. But it is so good to read the words from God himself repeating several times ..."Be strong and courageous", "I will be with you", "be strong", "you will be succesful". When God gives you the opportunity to encourage others, take it and make a difference in their life. I love to encourage others...and it is very special for me whenever somebody encourage me. We are what we are because people encouraged us. When was the last time someone encouraged you?? When was the last time you encouraged somebody??

Now after I read what I wrote, it looks like "My daily bread" devotional, ha, ha, ha. Blessings,

Julio

10000 BC...Date night

2008-03-08T08:23:00.011-06:00

Since Carla and I started dating (more than 10 years ago) we were so glad that we were together all the time...let's say we saw each other every day for many hours. I was at college in the mornings and working with her Dad in the afternoons, so she went to "work" with me. My in laws loved me (I think they still do...) so every place they went as a family...Julio was included in the family!!! Then we got married and left for Argentina (6 months after we got married) to a Bible Institute (Palabra de Vida). That was so cool!! We were there getting prepared for the mission field (never thought it would be the USA) We were together all the time in classes, ministry (Carla and I were part of the ensemble and traveled together throughout all Argentina and other countries in South America), etc. It was an internship (we were not working to make money). And our house was like a little dog house ("Peanuts" house).

I remember that at times Carla and I would have just two friends visiting us at our home and suddenly somebody else would knock at the door. We would open the door and after they looked in and saw that we had "people" in our house they would say, "Full house, we'll come later"!! I'm not kidding you, it was that small. But we were very happy. There was no way we could get upset and not see each other :-), it was our nest.

Then after a few years, we moved to our mission field... the USA (at the beggining not knowing it was that), where we had our first baby, Daniel. And now I had to work to make money after 3 years of not doing it ha, ha!!!!! Because of this, we found ourselves not having time for each other...so we established...OUR OFICIAL DATE NIGHT!!! Friday night. So after having 3 children, working in Church ministry, and singing in some gigs (Beauty and the Beast included), Fridays we have our babysitter come to our home at around 6:30pm and we go out on a date.

Last night (Friday) we planned on going to the movie theater to watch "10000 BC" (great movie, by the way) and when we were about to leave, our son Daniel (5 years old) had a conversation with us, and it went something like this:

Daniel: "Where are you going?"

Me: "Son, we are going to watch a movie"

Daniel: "Am I going with you?"

Me: "No, you are staying"

Daniel: "Why?"

Me: "Because it is our Date night, and you're not supposed to come with us, it's a time for Daddy and Mommy only"

Daniel: "Well, that doesn't make me happy, so next time you plan on doing this again just think about that!!"

Ha, ha, ha. Carla and I just laughted about it. See you!

My aunt Angela Arriola

2008-03-05T08:29:00.004-06:00

I have talked to some of you about my aunt Angela, who introduced me to Music when I was a litle boy (just a few years ago, ha, ha). I love all my family but I have a special love for this aunt. She has been in the Hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico for about 3 weeks now. She is having a cervical problem (neck) which is affecting her whole body, causing her to be under a lot of pain. Yesterday she was going to be in surgery but because the Hospital didn't have all the necesary instruments to work (!!!!!) they had to reschedule it for next week. Please pray for her. I will keep you updated.

The end of "Beauty and the Beast"

2008-03-03T12:07:00.011-06:00

Well, yesterday was our last presentation of the show "Beauty and the Beast", and we had a full house, everybody enjoyed it. I didn't take Dramamine (for the transformation scene, he, he). By the way, Dramamine's formula is: (Taken from Wikipedia)
"Dimenhydrinate is mainly abused recreationally because of its hallucinogenic effects. A person wishing to use dimenhydrinate recreationally usually takes several times the recommended dosage. This results in an intense, long-lasting state of anti-cholinergic delirium with physiological and psychological effects, including hallucinations. The dosage to experience these effects varies, but is generally far in excess of the recommended therapeutic amount.
Users report that in fifteen minutes to an hour, the drug begins to have an effect, which includes hallucinations and a confusing "high". The psychological effects are often described as "dreaming while awake", involving visual and auditory hallucinations that are distinctly different from those experienced with other psychedelic drugs. These hallucinations most often cannot be readily distinguished from reality"

When I read this it made me think that maybe several times during the week of rehearsals I had some kind of hallucinations (and I just took 1 a day!). Somebody introduced me to the Mayor of the city of Stafford right before the show on Saturday and I told him that I heard and saw angels on the stage. But Sunday with no "Drugs" in my body I realized it was not a hallucination...you know what I'm talking about...It was awesome! little girls and boys (and older people too, ha, ha, ha) were like angels bringing joy to people with their talents. It was like "dreaming while awake". Carla and our kids are VERY glad I'm back to my regular life schedule, and I'm happy too but I will miss all, I will keep many people in my heart. The question that many asked me is "are you going to continue doing this?"...my answer:
"I don't know... but if my life was diferent I would not even doubt about it. Right now my main audience my children and my wife (he, he right Carla?) will have a free show every day with me as the monster, beast, prince, superhero...and I get to make them laugh and have fun"

Beauty and the Beast

2008-02-26T08:43:00.003-06:00

2 1/2 weeks ago I got an invitation to participate in the "Beauty and the Beast" musical as...THE BEAST...WOW!!! (Sarcastic wow). What??? Me??? First of all it's obviously in English (my second language). I sing in English and say a couple of phrases when I lead worship at church, but I have NEVER thought about the possibility of Singing and acting in English. Second is that, yes I have had a very important audience when I act as a monster or superhero and they clap and laugh (and sometimes cry): they are my family (ha, ha), so that is my experience in English. God has been working in my life during these past 2 weeks of rehearsals and sometimes I find myself "fighting" with God like Jacob did in Genesis 32. It hasn't been easy to do this but I have been enjoying every day of practice. I met WONDERFUL people and they are so talented. I'm sure that very soon many of them will be on TV, broadway, movies, etc. I have had different experiences with different people there; I have prayed, laughed and cried, been teaching Spanish lessons and reading the Bible. But I have also learned how to waltz (I'm not a good dancer) and to apreciate art; I bought my first original portrait (I paid 75 cents and 5 mexican pesos for it). A nice litle girl (maybe 6 years old) was drawing and selling her art during rehearsals, he, he, he. I have received massages on my back for free (courtesy of GASTON) which was was so funny, because imagine this: Me (The beast) receiving a massage from Casey (Gaston)... now imagine that with our customs on (Beast: OW! THAT HURTS Gaston!, left, left, up, up, to the right, YES).
But what is all this about acting??? When fantasy becomes real and you don't have to imagine that you are there because... YOU ARE THERE and when a good actor is the one who makes you feel that what you are watching is real when is not...WOW

Anyway if you want to go buy your tickets soon http://www.fortbendtheater.com/
See you,

J