My insane Life...Pastor, Servant, Stupid!

Let's rethink church

2011-10-03T00:50:00.003-04:00

This is the intro of a series where I'm looking at how we do church, why we do church the way we do it, and more importantly talk about what we can change to be the hands and feet of Jesus to more people.

Don't read this and think I'm down on the church because I know the church is how God speaks to people. I don't see a lot of people asking why or what's the purpose of what we're doing.

I'll be looking at different things we and others do at church, examining if we should be doing that, and then discuss different ways we can change what and how we do things if needed.

I welcome any comments or ideas on how these things could be changed. Let's discuss this and make the church a brighter lighthouse for those that need Him.

God Rocks, JTW

Tinker bell & my 2 year old

2011-06-01T12:05:00.002-04:00

My daughter is 2 years old. This means that I unfortunately have to watch Disney things. Most of them are frustrating but sometimes I hear things & God teaches me right then & there. We were watching a Tinker bell movie today & tinker bell fixed some holes in a roof so a little girl could spend more rime with her dad. There was a long, complicated process through which tinker bell did this involving hoses and boots. It was very inventive and she went to a lot of work just to make sure this little girl could spend time with her very busy father.

It was at this moment that I asked myself if I do this for God? Do I go out of my way to help others so they can get to see & experience God? The little girl so wanted her father, & honestly I wish we all had such furor for God (our Father) as this little girl had. Maybe if had a love for Our Father & a willingness to change people's lives then we'd spend less time trying to convince people of God & more time being the example they'd desperately want to be!

Just my little thoughts on How Tinker bell can influence our life for Christ!

What have we come to without love for one another?

2011-01-31T19:32:00.003-05:00

John 13:34-35
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Where have we come as a Christian nation when caring and loving on others as Christ did is now legislated? Today I find myself confused. Has God ever put a passion for helping others in your heart? Well I have that and my passion is leading students to learn more about what it means to be a Generation that wants to change the world for Christ. Well one thing I believe is that they must learn to care for others and serve. Well I've learned that sometimes giving to others involves sacrifice, but it's never more than we can bare.

Today I learned that we've come to a place as a Christian nation that I thought I'd never see. I saw that passion become legislated. This is what I mean; you give your time, effort, all that you have to help others and others from the outside complain. At what point should intentions and the fear of others overshadow serving?

Christ's work was overshadowed by the legalistic people of the day and their fear put on his intentions. It lead him to the Cross, but it did not stop his message. Has our nation come to the place where we're so in fear of what people will think or what we do that we can't allow Christ's followers to serve and to give as Christ did?

What do we do? Do we sit back and wait for God's greater plan to work out while Christians are afraid to share their faith, give to others, or even carry a Bible because someone might see their intentions and bring harm to them? I don't know and that makes me afraid. What should I be willing to give up? At some point where do Christians say enough is enough?

Would you do it?

2011-01-23T22:31:00.002-05:00

I have a quick question that will take you a long time to answer. The question is...would you do something if you were sure that God was telling you to do it? It seems like a no-brainer for sure, but it deeply disturbs me. Here's why, I think about what that would mean. I've made leaps and jumps for God in my life without knowing if He would be there, but he always has been.

Recently I was faced with something that I know God was asking of me. I was posed with this question and it become a very hard one. Would you do something if you knew God was telling you to do it. Most Christians I think would say yes without question; at least until they find out more information. What if it meant you would give up your life. Some people would be lost right there, but others are willing to give up life for God's service. What if it were more day to day than this though. What if you had to give up your job? What if you had to give up your family? What if you had to give up your spouse? What if you had to give up your home? What if you had to give up your reputation? What if you had to say yes when even those that walk daily with Christ told you they wouldn't do it? When it comes to the day to day this fundamental question gets very hard.

I've been a Christ follower since 1993 and would never go back. I'm also a student pastor and love sharing God's word and God's truth with this generation. Recently when I was posed this question I had to make a choice. I decided to sit back and wait. I let the situation that I knew God was saying for me to jump on, just walk away. I don't know if I was just wanting the easy way or if I wasn't ready to stand against the things I may have to give up for that thing.

Here's what I decided and what i'm doing. If anyone ever reads this and finds themselves in this situation, then I hope this helps. Every day since the day I let it happen I've been sad and angry at myself. I understand if you're reading this, you know what I mean. I've decided to keep my eye on what God has asked me to do from a distance. I have multiplied my prayers in this situation and have added this situation to every prayer i have right now. I've not decided to pray that God put me in the situation, but instead for God to change either me or those around me to make it happen. Have I given up? NO! There might be a day really soon where God decides to make this happen and give me a chance to redeem myself. If not I'll be happy knowing that God changed my heart to let me know what I should do now.

Keep me in your prayers for this situation is very hard on me!

Wierd but awesome!

2009-09-29T11:21:00.001-04:00

A few months ago something happened that doesn't happen often to me. I told a few people, but just didn't get a chance to put it on here.

I heard a knock at the door one day. When I went to the door a lady was standing there. This is a lady I've never seen and haven't seen since that day. She told me that someone downstairs wanted her to give me something.

She gave me an envelope. The envelope had a couple of Bible verses on the front of it. After I saw the verses I went outside and looked for the lady, but even though it had only been a minute she was gone. I even went downstairs and there wasn't anyone nearby.

So I opened the envelope. There was $100 inside. I called everyone that I knew that I thought would give this gift to me. No one knew what I was talking about, but praised God with me for what had happened.

It was incredible. We don't know if someone just left us this awesome gift, or if maybe it was an angel. I don't know and won't know this side of Heaven.

Praise God for this gift.

God Rocks, Jtw

Bring it!

2009-09-29T11:14:00.003-04:00

Mark 10:46-52 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.
47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

I was reading this today and it really stuck out to me. Sometimes we feel bad because we bring to much to God. We forget that he doesn't see it that way. He wants us to come to Him and bring everything to Him. He loves us and wants us to be with Him. All we have to do is bring our hurts, our praises, our wants, our needs, our selves to Him.

I often forget this. Then at other times I feel bad when I scream at God. David did this often in the Psalms and he was the man after God's own heart. This is God's will, that we come to Him. That's all we need to know.

Go read the verses again. The blind man came to Jesus when he knew he was there. He came without anyone telling him and didn't stop calling even though he was being ridiculed . He brought it all to Jesus. That's enough!

God Rocks, Jtw

Give Thanks?

2009-07-06T23:55:00.002-04:00

Today I was reminded to give thanks. It's something to simple yet in our culture very very over looked. Tonight I heard a pastor teach about 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Basically this verse says that God wants us to give him praise no matter what.

This reminded me of a situation that I haven't told many people about, mostly because it blew me away. I have seen a lot of things in my life and am not very often surprised. When I talk about being blew away, it means it changed me forever.

Here's what happened. If you know me you know I often dislike my job. The reason I don't like it is because basically I have a pastor's heart and there I'm almost forced to be a jerk. When I'm not a jerk I get fussed at. One day I had an evaluation by someone who doesn't like me at all. They basically said all the horrible things they could think of and how horrible I was at this job.

That day like many days a church volunteer group comes in. I was feeling pretty bad at this point right. So the the pastor preaches like normal and during the song he walks over to me. He leans over to me and says "don't give up now preacher, it'll get better." Before you ask, I've never seen this man before. When I looked at him he just smiles at me and walks away. I quickly realized that I just physically heard from God. I've never seen the guy, or even told the guy that I'm a pastor at all. He's never seen me. A few months later he came back and asked me if things got better. When I said yes he said that I should praise God and wait for the next thing.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says for us to give God praise no matter what happens and that's what God wants us do. This moment changed my life. I began looking at this job as somewhere that God's placed me until I get to the next thing that God has for me. I began giving God praise for the job, and that changed my life. Now even though I don't necessarily like being a jerk, I've changed how I approach the job.

So can you give thanks to God no matter what? Can you praise God when you have to go to a job that frustrates you daily? Can you praise God when you lose a friend? It's easy to praise God when we have something great happen, but how about when our life is falling apart? Think about this, praise God anyways. Often when I get frustrated because something isn't working out, I find out that God had something planned and I see how it was for the best. Sometimes I don't see the outcome, but again I must praise no matter what.

Praise God!!

God Rocks, Jtw

unthink?

2009-05-28T18:49:00.003-04:00

Today I was watching some T.V. and that KFC commercial came on about unthinking their fried chicken. Something hit me like a ton of bricks. Today's culture is all about "unthinking" things and challenging all we know and how we do it. Think about it this way, we've rethought about fuel and come up with cars that run on corn or electricity. We've rethought how information gets passed and we came up with the Internet. We've taken what we've always known and decided it can be better and we asked "why" do we do this this way.

This is what hit me so hard. If we're in a culture where we're asking "why" we do things they way we do and we change things that don't work, then why is the church the same. God's church is God's hope for all of us and it should be the leading component of change and be the decider, not playing catch up.

We know that God's gospel changes lives and God's people (the church) are the people to spread that Gospel. When does change happen with us? When do we start thinking "let's unthink how we do church and how God's people relate?"

This generation of teens have the highest probability of not accepting Christ. They way we've always done things isn't working on this generation as well as it has before. It's time we UNTHINK how we do things. God never changes, but the methods he chooses for us must change.

We've got to start thinking outside of the box if we're going to express the only chance for people to not die and go to Hell. Do I know what that change is....no! Each day I pray that God will show me His methods and His vision for the future of His people.

It's time we pray and Unthink what we've always done. We have a present generation and many future generations at stake if we don't. I for one don't want to take the chance that I didn't do all I could to reach them.

God Rocks,
Josh

On the Roll again...the update!!

2009-04-23T00:03:00.004-04:00

Ok so it's been a while, but a lot has happened since my last update. Also, I spent a lot of my blogging time on Northstar's blog.

Since i last blogged...My church I was serving at merged with another one, my daughter was born, I've moved, the new merged church dissolved my ministry, and I work at a juvenile justice center.

OK, well that's a whole lot in the past few months huh!!

I'm on the roll again because of that dissolving of the ministry thing. You see I'm called to student ministry. When I say called I don't mean I just like doing it. I mean I'll do whatever it takes to go where God wants to send me and share the Gospel with students.

I'm looking for a place to serve. I love God and love people. I spend my life pushing toward my 2 main areas: Worship and Service. These 2 things are what I'm all about and what i put into any ministry I'm apart of.

For now I serve at a church plan (the merged church) and play bass guitar there. I work (TO MUCH) at the kids jail and try to have to much fun with my beautiful wife and gorgeous daughter.

So that's the update...have fun with it and if you have any leads I can pray about let me know.

God Rocks,
Josh

Lessons from Joan of Arcadia

2008-07-25T20:58:00.002-04:00

Tonight I was watching Joan of Arcadia. I know it's an old show but it's still pretty good. I watch T.V. and I see lessons all the time and I wish more people did.

Ok here's what I heard. Joan's mom was talking to a priest...yeah I know...and she was explaining the miracle she wants. She desperately wanted her son to walk again. She was asking if miracles are real and if it's ok for her to pray to ask God if her son can walk again. As a catholic she doesn't believe that prayer should be spent on such small things. That's another topic for another time.

She said "it's like you see something in a store window you really want. It becomes all you think about. Then it's like you start imagining that maybe it's yours and you've just misplaced it." So you're asking yourself where is Josh going with this. Well like most my lessons it applies to God.

I think it's like that before we know God. Think about it...we're looking for significance, hope, purpose, and love before we find God. It's not that God's ever moved and he's there in crystal clear sight. Just like inside that department store window. All these things start to become exactly what you want. It become all you're striving for and trying to figure out.

So at this point it's an obsession really. At this point then there's 2 options. Either you find the God that's been standing there in front of you, just on the other side of the glass or you make something up. Unfortunately for many these days they choose to make something up. This is why we get so many cults, alternative lifestyles, and people that hate the God of the universe. Think about it all that purpose, love, hope, and significance that can be found in God they now find only in themselves. I don't know about you, but I'd make a pretty horrible God. They look inside for all these things and all they find is darkness, hate, and shame. Therefore that's their God.

So now you are your own God and it's you've misplaced. So now you hate everything and when you hear of this wonderful, powerful God that only wants to love you; you take it and hate that God because you've never met him and turn all this hate to that God.

Wow, I know! So now you can appreciate the God on the other side of the glass. I you haven't found that obsession on the other side of that window, I pray daily for you to look for that God and find Him. He's not moving and has always been right there for you.

Just a lesson from T.V. I hope this helps!

God Rocks,
Josh

My first Sermon at Northstar

2008-07-15T15:59:00.003-04:00

Well I'm not sure some people would consider it my first sermon, but as far as on Sunday morning I would. So this past Sunday I spoke because the pastor was gone on vacation.

To be honest I was scared to death all week. I shared my passion for youth and what we needed to do to save this generation. People who preach will often tell you that when they preach the hardest it's often because they are speaking to themselves. Well I know this is the case and hopefully I'll be rectifying the situation soon. I told the people some thing's gotta change and I know that starts with me.

At youth a youth called me on it and I realized I've gotta change. It's funny when you realize that what you believe in and know that people must change are the exact same things that you must change yourself. It's even worse when someone who heard you talk about it calls you on it. It's a great lesson and I'm gonna learn from it.

As for Sunday...it was wicked awesome. I had a blast talking to the adults and youth of Northstar. It's gonna be fun next time when I have to also.

What would happen?

2008-07-02T19:18:00.002-04:00

I heard a unique question today. I saw it on the video for the "One Prayer" series. This is the Question...

What would happen if WE the church across the world UNITED and took all the resources that God has given us?

Wow it's a question that should make you go...huh! I hear questions like this a lot. I hear and often ask question that are meant to inspire and make you wonder why you're not doing something.

Craig Groeschel suggest in this video that All those that are hungry could have food, all those without medical care could get some, everyone on earth could hear about God, and by Sunday Worship would be extraordinary.

If this is the case let's do it. If this is the only thing lacking right now from everyone on earth at this moment to hear about Christ, then let's do it. Why haven't we thought of this before? It's to simple not to work. How in thousands of years since Jesus' death did someone, somewhere not think that maybe we should all get together and change this world?

I know the answer to this question. We're to busy bickering and being mad at each other over denominations and MY beliefs that the world all around us is going to hell. I love Lifechurch.tv. They definitely have some creative people there. Their last video about an interview with the devil is great. It shows what the devil thinks of the church...it's right on. Go see it and be amazed.

What if...it's my favorite sort of Questions because they are the answers. So what if we put aside what we believe that divides us and just decide that it's about God and people knowing about God, and just decide as a world wide church to go tell help the world and tell the world? I know exactly what would happen. World Changed!

God Rocks, Josh

Something's Coming

2008-06-23T10:35:00.002-04:00

Anyone else feel it... There's something coming. It's weird it's in the air like right before a huge summer storm. That feeling of overwhelming pressure as you see the explosive action on the horizon. I don't know what it is...but it's coming. Have you ever been so excited you couldn't sleep? Ever been so excited about something you really couldn't function well? Well it's sort of like that. I feel this feeling inside building. It gets stronger and stronger as the days go on. It especially gets stronger as I pray and learn more about God. I believe they're connected.

It's building and there's something coming. I can feel it, like an overwhelming moment that you're not prepared for but instead become so happy it's here that you scream. It's building and I can feel it right now. Is it God preparing in my something, maybe something to stretch and pull me. It's hard to think about anything else. All I want to do it quit my job and pursue this overwhelming urge. My passion is students. Is this feeling that's building connected to students as well?

If this is true then this building feeling, God, and students are connected. It's been building for a while. I've tried to ignore it, but at times it's so overwhelming that it wakes me up at night and even keeps me from doing things I really want to do at times. It's coming! I have no idea what it is, but I have no doubt that it'll change my life forever and change those around me as well. Will I be prepared? Will be able to handle it? I have no answers. If these three things are connected then it's going to be awesome. We've done a piss poor job of sharing God's life changing message with students in the past decade or so anyways. After all right now we're at 11% of youth are Christians....that sucks! It's building...I can feel it right now! I wonder if other people feel this or just me.

There's something coming. Will I be unbreakable or will it just completely overwhelm me and turn me into a non functioning vegetable. I don't know.

It's building right now...there's something coming!

Anything But Silent

2008-02-26T20:22:00.001-05:00

Today I came upon this video. The video recounts the life of a normal person and their prayer life with God. He tries to use intellect to figure out why he doesn't hear from God but others around him seem to. He ask questions like...What do we do when God seems distant? How do we have faith when we can't prove our beliefs with reason? How do we trust God when we can't see him?

He makes a good point and I'm sure it's something we've all wrestled with as Christians. We've all wrestled with things like if we can't hear God, see God, or touch God, then how do we still have faith? So, what do we do?

This is a question we must individually deal with. For some it means we can look around and realize that all this can't be an accident. For others it takes hitting the bottom of life and when we look up God is the only thing we have left. Yet others find God by experiencing Him physically. Of course the last one was much more prevalent in Bible times.

Just gives us a lot to think about, and more importantly an insight into most student's lives and the lives of our generation of people.
God Rocks, Jtw

Everything Skit

2008-02-13T22:47:00.004-05:00

I've seen lots of skits and dramas in my time. On top of that, I've been in many more. Here I've added a video from youtube that hits me everytime I've seen it. It's an awesome skit that I totally want to do one day. Tell me whatcha think.

Here's the Video Link on youtube... Everything Skit

You Ever been Anxious and overly Excited?

2008-01-28T13:14:00.000-05:00

This week has been a week of prayer, dialogue with mentors and friends, and searching. For the past few months I've been talking to this guy named Tim Jernigan. He's the pastor at Northstar Fellowship church in Concord, North Carolina. I've learned from my bad experiences in churches that I need to be cautious. I've learned that I can't ignore the red flags and I can't settle for something that God doesn't want me to have anyways. So as I've met with people from the church, Tim, and his family, I've looked for those issues that I'm not gonna settle for.

This past week was leading up to yesterday (Sunday). My wonderful wife and I went then to teach the students, meet parents, and have our final meeting to help us decide if we want to go there. All I can say is Wow.

For months I've been searching for the place God wants me. I know how God's made me and what he wants me to do. I also know what I need to fulfill that plan. After numerous discussions on ministry, church politics, and just our lives in general, I've got nothing but Great things from God about this church. This seems like just what God had in mind. I believe God is doing great things here and the future is only going to be filled with greater things.

I can't wait to see where this goes after we move there and really get into these awesome people's lives. I can't wait. Can you see why I was so anxious and overly excited? I appreciate your prayers and will continue with it as you pray for me.

God Rocks, Jtw

Do u watch?

2008-01-11T00:27:00.000-05:00

Today was reading in Matthew 27. I was reading all about what Jesus went through for me. It occurred to me something that I've never thought of before. God is an all seeing God. He knows everything, he sees everything, and without a shadow of a doubt knows what's best. In thinking that Jesus in Matthew 26 and 27 is murdered, what occurred to me is this...God watched this. I know what you're thinking, heartless right. I mean really, I don't think I could sit there while my child is beaten, stripped naked, humiliated, ripped open with sharp objects, nailed to wood, cursed at, and eventually killed. So, in continuing with that thought, why didn't God do something? Honestly I couldn't have stopped myself from doing something.

The priest even comes to Jesus right before death and says if he's really God he should come down and prove it. At that moment you can imagine thousands and thousands of angels swarming the spot and right before they strike Jesus says stop. They all stop and the priest knows nothing of the power and mercy he just escaped from.

To get back to God watching, God watched as his son was murdered by the people he was sent to save. This was the point though. People forget that God's watching, and he never stopped for a minute. He watched because he loved us. He allowed this to happen because he loved us. I can't imagine loving someone so much that you'd let your son die to save them. Well that's us.

I get asked a lot and it's a subject that people love to debate. Why do things happen like people burning up in fires or drowning in tsunamis. This happens because God loves us to much that he gave us free will. With that free will we've sinned and messed up royally. God watches all this and waits. If he stops it the gift of free will is gone. So, just like with his son, he watches and awaits the day when his love can be complete. That day will come and it's coming soon.
God Rocks, Jtw

4% -- HOLY CRAP

2007-12-18T23:25:00.000-05:00

Today I was online. I came across Battle Cry's site and remembered all the excitement I had for going in March. I still may go, but I was going to take the youth group. I was watching some videos about how in only a few years there will only be 4% of people who call themselves Christians when the next generation gets here. That's staggering. It reminded me of a commercial that I saw once about drugs. In this commercial there was a girl in a pond and she couldn't swim. Her friend stood quietly on the dock, merely feet from her friend, watching her drown. The commercial ends with, the statement, "you would do something wouldn't you?"

I write this because it seems to me that many Christians would have to answer that question with a loud "NO." The odds of reaching a person for Christ after they turn 20 is 10 to 1. That scares the crap out of me. This is one of the reasons why I'm a Student Pastor. I want to reach the students with Christ no matter what it takes. Why doesn't every Christian have this point of view? It's a command of God isn't it? How did we go from a society where Christian morals are taught and most everyone was a Christian, to a place where only 4% do?

We as Christians have DROPPED THE BALL. Do you get it? 4% scares the crap out of me. Does it scare you? Battle Cry is a event where students, parents, and all Christians are called to stand up for our generation. They're called to defy what culture has said to us; that we can't be Christians. If you don't believe me just to go YouTube. Type in any Christian video and look at all the hate comments they've received. Go out to the mall and ask someone if you can pray for them or tell them about Christ and see if they don't curse you and spit at you.

How did we come to the point where 4% will be responsible for the spiritual direction of a generation? All I know is that we're called to stand up. Let's do it! God Rocks! Jtw

Prayer over Interview

2007-12-04T14:44:00.000-05:00

Tonight I have a sort of interview with a man named Tim Jernigan. He's the pastor at a church called Northstar Fellowship (www.northstarfellowship.com). It seems like a very cool church that's reaching people. I'm very excited about what this could be. God's awesome and a lot of us have been praying for something like this for some time.

Pray over tonight. Pray that I don't let my excitement blur what God is telling me. Pray that God will give me a very clear answer. Tim seems like a great guy and seems like God is definitely with him. I want what God wants.

I appreciate your prayers, and Thank you God for the chance to be your Servant. Pray with me as I pray please...

Lord, Thank You for this opportunity. Thank you for all you've given me and for helping me to be patient as you send me what you have for me. Lord, tonight might be it, and might not. Either way God praise You. God tonight if this is the place you want me to serve you in, then God let me know. I want to serve you in your place. God, bless this ministry either way, Tim wants to reach people for you. Help him! Thank you again and Praise you Lord. In Jesus name..AMEN. JTW

Feminist and Christians

2007-11-27T15:11:00.000-05:00

Today I was watching a TV show that made me laugh a little. On this show, this guy had a company being boycotted by a feminist group. So this guy made the decision to take the leading woman out to dinner. She spent the meal with the guy telling him how his company just uses women and causes a poor outlook on women. The funny thing came at the end of their meal. When the check came, the guy began to only pay for his part. The woman watched and was perplexed. She asked, why aren't you paying for all of it. She went on to say that "I thought we were on a date and I assumed you'd pay for it." The guy then turned to this woman and said the greatest statement I've heard in while. He said "Welcome to equality, this is what you wanted."

This woman was a feminist because she thought that women are being treated like second class citizens. The problem is that she wanted all the respect, money, and what she feels is rights that men are not giving men, but she didn't look at it from all sides. She didn't want to give stuff up like men paying for dates, or basically the gentlemen mentality.

So, how does this apply to Christians. A lot of Christians are just like this. They want to be Christians because they think they'll get something out of it; a.k.a. get out o hell free card. Again the problem with Christians is the same problem as the with the feminist. They don't look at it from all sides. Being a Christian is being a follower of Christ. This means doing what the Bible says to do, and not just doing what parts you want or do not want to do. Why do Christians and other people's ethics seem to waiver when they are put into a situation where their personal comfort is compromised.

So, what can we learn from this feminist that can be applied to our spiritual lives? I've learned that if we believe and especially if we label ourselves something that we shouldn't do anything to compromise that. When did situation ethics apply to Jesus and His calling on our lives? It doesn't! No matter the situation, no matter the comfort ability, no matter the issue, if you're a Christian act like it.

Don't we have enough hypocrites in our society? I don't want to spend one more second making my Savior look bad. If you're a feminist, then act like on no matter what. If you're a Christian, then act like one no matter what. God Rocks, Jtw

Wow this weekend

2007-10-29T11:38:00.000-04:00

This weekend I was privileged enough to go to Virginia for homecoming at the awesome college that I recently graduated from. I had a plan of going to the football game and some other homecoming festivities, but as I've realized, my plans change a lot. I got there and spent some time with a lot of students. These were students I'd worked with in Va before moving to NC. So I spent the weekend with students, and friends. It was extremely awesome! It did make me realize a few things.

It made me realize that first that God loves me. I realized this because with all the crap that's been going on, to have lots of people come and want to love on you...it was incredible. Around NC i have my family. Other than that, not a lot of people just want to be around us. This is definitely different in Va. The begging people for us to come back lets us know that we're loved unconditionally.

Next it made me realize that God's given me exactly what I need. For years now my wife and I have been working with students. This weekend has made me realize that God's given me what I need to reach students. I didn't do anything but be myself and share what Christ did with the students in Va. It's funny how being real can effect so many people. All the latest things I read that people have realized that works is things we've been doing for years. Being real...it's an opening for God's words to pour out.

Lastly, I have recently been told that a few of the things that I wanted to do weren't needed in youth ministry. A lot of them were said to be wrong because they liked unity of the family and basically their own preferences. This weekend taught me they are wrong. I've seen my ideas in practice and a wonderful student that I got to spend the weekend with validated my ideas. We weren't talking about some of these things. She brought some of these things up in light of the reasons i was fired from my last church. She told me how these things work, and it's what people her age need. She completely validated my ideas and assumptions on the ministry. I thank God for her and His words to me through her.

This weekend was awesome. This was the weekend we were to take the last church's youth ministry up for Scaremare. It could have changed their lives. We were going to take them to the church we also served at before them. They could have seen some of my ideas in practice and a little of my vision. This didn't happen. It's sad when a simple preference of a pastor becomes a crusade to get his way. I pray that God reaches his heart.

If you were involved in this weekend and you read this, then I thank you for being God's love to me and Shannon. This weekend was great and just want I needed from God. Thank You!

Why do churches do revivals?

2007-10-07T23:59:00.000-04:00

Why do churches do revivals? This is a question that came to mind today when a preacher mentioned it at a church I was visiting today. He said that the Lord's supper is a good introduction to a revival. I was kinda confused by this statement. He said some other stuff that was confusing too, but I'll get to those later in another blog.

Ok back to the revival thing. I've grew up in church since I was very young. I've been in many different kind of churches, but most of them have a revival in common. A revival for those that don't know is this. There is a few days (up to a week) where a service is done everyday. Usually a pastor from somewhere else comes in, preaches a whole series, and there is more time given for each day (usually no limit). A revival is used to create a fire under people's butts. That is it's intention, to put people on fire for God. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't

So the question is "why do churches do revivals?" Honestly I have no idea why churches do this. It's been my experience that mostly older people go to these and most people don't make it every night of this extended event. I once had a professor named Dr. Ergun Caner. He knows more about church history than I could ever learn. Once he talked to our class about revivals. He said that "no substantial revival has ever occurred that was not started amongst the students of that area." Holy Crap!! That means that revivals that change lives and history start with the passionate students. So why do churches use programs like a revival that targets the older people? Do they really think that if they schedule in a revival that God will jump on board and say yeah I'll show up on that day or during that week because you say so? That's stupid!

Churches use revivals to try and create passion amongst people who don't have it. As my wonderful wife put it, "they try to create that mountain top Camp experience, because they won't go to camp." Wouldn't it just be easier to go to camp? Sounds to easy. Makes you wonder why the pastor doesn't try to create or at least want to create this type of experience all year long!

Ok so what's the point? Well in a purpose driven society, what's the purpose of the revival? I believe that everything we do in ministry should have a point and should meet our goals in one form or another. This doesn't really fit in. If we use the idea behind the simple church we'd have to cut this out. If we use the purpose driven idea we'd cut this out. So why is it that so many churches refuse to cut this out. Is it because it works? Is it because they know a revival will do what they haven't been able to do during the year? No! They do this because they always have. That disgusts me.

Ok, so I probably won't make churches even think about dropping this most scared cow. So my next question is...why do we target the older people? Most pastors have been to seminary right? This means they've taken church history and have learned about all the great revivals. Surely they've learned they've all started with the students who have the passion and the guts to do it. Then why do they overlook this? Why do they just patronize students instead of using them? Do a revival that reaches out to this group. Get a service where the students come, bring people, and are real. Authenticity is key with students and there's a lot of churches out there that are more fake than most of the girls that Hugh Hefner hang out with.

Also, this shouldn't be a once a year thing. This should be a weekly thing. Sure it's going to take a lot more work. It's going to take a person who cares more about God than making people happy. It's going to take a daily revival in the people's lives to whom are going to create an environment that creates a revival in everyone else at least once a week.

Revival in most churches today isn't needed. It's directed at the wrong audience and used for the wrong reasons. Why can't people just rely on God and become real enough to be a revival daily? It's almost like a contest to whom can can get best speaker. Do they really think God's loving this tradition? The question is, how long will he allow this slap in the face from fake people?

Praise God for real people who want to have a daily revival with God at the center. It'll start with students. It always has started with students. Some pastor's have forgotten. God hasn't ever forgotten. Praise my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! God Rocks -- Jtw

When did God become an Excuse?

2007-10-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

So, When did God become an excuse for doing what you want? Anyone who's worked in ministry or pays attention to news about people and religion know what I mean by this statement. It seems a lot in the past few years that people in religious leadership like to use God as an excuse to do whatever they want. They say things like "We're going to do this b/c we prayed about it," or something like " This s what God wants." These statements have been used to rationalize some of the most horrible things in history. I saw a news article recently talking about a so called "pastor" who thought it was ok for a father to marry his adolescent daughter because it was part of their religion. Holy Crap, what's up with that? How can God be used to say this is ok? Because God's become the excuse. Recently I was fired from a Job where I was excelling at that job. I was fired b/c they "prayed" about it first.

How can we stop this flagrant misuse of a Holy God? It's called accountability. This kind of thing occurs in places where we give one person way to much authority. When did God ever put a single person up on a pedestal? He didn't! The only person He ever gave major authority was Himself in human form, known as Jesus Christ. If the leadership was accountable to people who walk with God daily, then less little problems like this will arise. Where people stop, think, and talk, ideas outside that of God's word start to become evident.

PLEASE for the love of God, stop using God as an excuse. Why do we feel the need to say that God has said something that you know He didn't? I think it's because no one can argue. The people that say these things know that God isn't going to just come down and confront you in public over the stupid thing you just said that He said. It's only an amount of time before you'll have to answer for what you've said. In this life or the next you'll answer for it.

Start actually praying, looking for God's leading, and do that. Regardless of what God's leading is, do that! You've got to be ready to do thing you don't want to if you're going to do God's will. It's not always the easy thing, but it's always the right thing. The right thing also isn't always what we want. Remember that the next time you're going to want to do something just because it's convenient or want to get rid of someone because you're jealous. Remember that it may not be what God wants just because you want it.

What God wants is perfect. Why do we think that just because we want it that God will in turn want it as well? How selfish our sin must be.

Now we must wait for change...God Rocks!! Jtw

Post-Emergent Church Movement

2007-09-21T12:50:00.000-04:00

Recently I've spending a lot of time thinking about the church. I've been to community churches, independent, southern baptist, Pentecostal, and especially dead ones. They all have their issues, whether it's leadership or doctrine, they all do have major issues.

Today I was reading online about this movement called the Post-Emergent Church Movement. Here read for yourself: http://crosebrough.typepad.com/postemergent/about_postemergent/index.html

I've spent a lot of time recently in churches that are not emergent, and I'd say that I like emergent much better. The worship is real and they definitely show God's love. The problem is that they don't go deep. They have very surface level theology, and honestly I hate that. This is where the Post-Emergent comes in.

The Post-Emergent is a movement where you take the authenticity of the people in the emergent church and returns to the authority of the Bible and where it stands. Many churches, especially that reject the emergent, do things because they've always done them. The problem with this is they are fake. People do stuff they don't know about and no one is real. This is evident because they live out of boxes. When they're at work they act one way, when at church another way, and even at Wal-mart they act a whole different way. When did Jesus call us to be Christians only at church? He didn't and I hope that churches that are this fake will wake up before they completely die and leave the area they are in without a light.

A few things that i hope die with this Post-Emergent Church Movement is the emergent church's way of arguing over things that really have no answer, and the decision that tolerance is the best way to reach people.
Why argue? I don't understand why argue about something until you come to the point where neither of you want to talk to each other anymore. Why can't we agree to disagree and agree that we both have valid points that we both don't agree with.
What's up with Tolerance? Ok, I agree that we should listen to other people's opinions, I'm saying that when it comes to what Christ said we shouldn't be tolerant. Jesus was very hard on sin, not the sinner. I can be very honest with someone about their sin, and still show them love. Let's return to that sort of stuff.

I can definitely see the pros and cons of this movement. Only time will tell if this movement will catch on. I believe that it will. I believe it will because a few words are key: Authenticity, Transparency, Love, Honesty, Trust, and most importantly Christ. These are things that define a person's life, a Community's atmosphere, a generation's impact, so why shouldn't they be things that signify a church?

It's gonna be awesome if this becomes a movement that produces churches that reflect these 6 things evenly. And, above that, that the people of these churches create in their own lives these 6 things for everyone to see. No boxes just open space.

God Rocks,
Josh

Now where do we go?

2007-09-19T21:17:00.000-04:00

The question that I sit here thinking now is where do we go? Where exactly do I go from here. Since this whole situation of ... stuff started I've asked God many times "why aren't you doing anything", and "what's next." Since I first posted the entry to get the truth out, I've had people I didn't even know cared actually send me message after message about how they've seen God in me and it was the churches loss to lose someone like me. For those of you who have been sending me these message I thank you and want you to know that you've helped me a lot. It has been an honor serving you.

Something that I have been thinking about a lot lately is this. I think God brought me back here to learn from this situation, but most of all for Matt and Bailey. That friendship and counsel has greatly affected me and I thank God for all the time I had with them.

So now where do we go? Well God's calling has never changed and what God wants me to do has never changed. I must forgive those that have hurt me, and move on. This might sound rather unsympathetic, but it's not my call. I will continue to minister the people of WYBC and especially the students who have found my love. My heart for them hasn't changed just because I'm not allowed to minister to them at the church.

I have a call from God and a vision from God. I've been taught on how to be a student pastor and that plays into my vision. So now all I have to do is find the church that God wants me to be at. I'll be much more cautious about people's answers this time, but doesn't mean I don't keep up the ministry. Maybe this time I'll put my ambitions on paper so there isn't any questions on what I intend to do with God's generation of students.

Keep praying for me...I need all the help I can get
God Rocks,
Josh

Ministry...in a church?

2007-09-03T13:46:00.000-04:00

In most churches that I've been, a ministry is kind of like an accessory. They seem to work like this. There's 2 kinds of churches: a wave church and a tree church.

I call them the wave Church and here's how a wave works. Waves start out small and builds as things get added (like ministries). The wave gets bigger and bigger, and the whole time the whole wave is working towards a goal. This goal is written and some that's not written. The written ones often apply to reaching their community or being well known in their area for something. The unwritten goals are things like, to have this number of people by the end of the year, and even things like making the people who brings in the money happy. So there are good things about this wave church. They don't usually have unnecessary ministries and are very specific on who they want to reach. The problem is the wave church is all going one direction. True they stay on direction, but they also are afraid to stretch out. They are very good at reaching one person, but miss everyone else. They also can't use anything that they haven't done before. In other words, it's not with the direction of the church.

The 2nd church is one I've called the tree Church. Here's how a tree church works. A tree grows by giving it substance, growing out branches, and constant pruning. In a tree church the tree grows. The trunk is the tree, it's the people. In a tree, the trunk doesn't change, but the branches go out from it. The branches are ministries, ways to meet peoples needs, and ways to reach people. This is one major way that a tree and a wave are different. Where a wave all works in one way, a tree works in multiple ways. The tree spreads out, covers a lot of different things, but still works for the same purpose. They all work toward the sun, and they also work to nourish whole tree. They reach many people, but it may look to some people like all the branches are not working toward the same purpose. It's up to those people in those branches to educate those on the outside. The tree church tries things new, and doesn't hold a whole lot of honor for tradition. A thing that most people don't understand about the tree is that pruning is necessary. If things don't work they get cut back. Even if an event or some program seems popular, but doesn't meet the purposes it's cut. Everything has a purpose.

There are 2 types of churches: wave vs tree. I've been in both kinds of churches. The wave works well for most older people, but ignores relevancy. They say "we do it this way because we've always done it that way." The tree church is for 30 somethings or younger. This group has the stigma of changing just for the point of change. They are very relevant, but also ignores some of the harder things from Christ in order to keep a relationship.

Neither are perfect, but both are used today...now it's up to you to decide which you should serve in. Jtw

What if...?

2007-08-31T17:53:00.000-04:00

What if people loved God as much as they love their significant other? Recently I've been looking at lot of people's myspaces. I've been overwhelmed with the number of people's names or motto's or whatever that say something about their girlfriend or boyfriend. They're so open about how much they love these people but if you see them ask them they may have only been with that person for a very short time. I usually leave amazed with these people with how much they will talk about those people, and how important they are to their lives. Normally this would be OK, except when you talk to them about God. They'll go on about how God's first in their lives, but they're lying. They're lying because God can't be first and anything else be first.
So the original question begins again: What what if people loved God as much as they do their significant others? Would we link up myspace and see people's names talking about God? Would we go to their sites and it be a monument to the living God? Would we have churches, communities, countries, and governments that see through the lens of Christ?
The problem is that this will never happen. Most people will never be so devoted to Christ that God's will is more important than anything that happens around them. Jesus said that people will hate us because they hated Him first. Makes you wonder why they don't hate us. Maybe it's because we don't love God enough for others to know it. But...what if...? Jtw

What is a Church?

2007-08-30T12:59:00.000-04:00

I've recently been plagued with the thought "what is a church?" I know from the Bible that God's people are in fact the church. This is awesome and I wish more people knew that. As I sit here reading through the book of Acts I see how the early church and it's people did things. I see how they showed people love, this is how people knew they were believers. I see how they worshipped God without regard for what people thought of them, an element lost in most churches I've been to. I also see people who are servants, who see each of the spiritual gifts as equal and each person having their own part in the church community. This leaves me disillusioned. The churches that I've been in recently have a whole different philosophy. It seems as if they only care for those that care for them, they never truly worship because of their neighbor, and the pastor is put up so high on a pedestal that his word is god to those around him. How did we take the wonderful, loving, caring thing that God created called church and make it into this inwardly focused deity. I pray that God sends me a church where they people work as a team to worship God regardless of where they are, a place where the pastor is just a servant using his gifts to God's glory, and a place that is so outwardly and upwardly focused that everyone will know them by their love. That's what God called us to! How have we come so far? What is a church? I pray each day to learn what that is. Jtw

Matt and Baley Hinson

2007-07-30T21:54:00.000-04:00

Matt and Baley Hinson were two of my best friends. I've known Baley a few years and knew Matt for over 20 years. On July 27th they died along with their unborn little boy. To know them was to love them. They were truly people of God, and one of the best examples of a Christian I could ever hope to have had. This has been one of the hardest times in my life. It's hard to go from talking to someone every week to never gonna see them again on this side of glory. My mind keeps going back to one statement in my head "if it were only Thursday morning again." I realize that this statement is extremely selfish. When Paul saw a glimpse of Heaven God had to send him a demon to bring him back to earth and want to return. How could I ever want that for my friends. I want them back, but I know I'll see them again. I guess it's easier to think of them as just moved to a better place than it is to think of them as permanently gone. Knowing Matt for so long and knowing how alike we are, I think I know what he would like. He would want us to move on, tell people about Christ, and love on students with everything we can hope to have. Well it's be awesome to know these wonderful people. I can't wait until the day I see Matt and Baley again, but what will be better is on that day Jesus will run to me, hug me, and say well done. Matt and Baley have finished well and I hope I do as well. I hope to be the man of God that I saw in Matt. Thank You Jesus for this wonderful example of what you want from me. Praise Jesus. God Rocks, Jtw

Christian Lingo

2007-06-25T22:11:00.000-04:00

Why do some people use Christian Lingo? I don't understand it, it's not like use say computer lingo with someone who's computer illiterate. So again, why do we use computer lingo with either non-Christians or just regular followers of Jesus. Recently I've been asking a lot of questions. I believe that people should not just know what they believe but why. The answer I get to a lot of these questions is the church answer with church lingo. The problem comes when I ask what that lingo means...you guessed it they don't know. So how can you possibly know what you are talking about when you use words that you don't understand? Well you can't and I think that you shouldn't. So the problem becomes how do we change this alarming trend? It also seems to me that this alarming trend also leads to heavy legalism issues. I'm not sure why except that it's easier to seem strong by being controlling than to let others see your flaws and let others do the same as you see a perfect God. Now what? I try my best to not seem like I'm smarter than others, because I'm probably not, or that I'm more holy than anyone, because I'm just a sinner trying to return to my savior. Because of this I surround myself with people that do neither of these things. So in my maybe frivolous attempt to help this I'm going to push. I'm going to stop caring what people think and more on what God thinks. When I hear Christian Lingo crap with no real backing I'm gonna call people on it. I've already made one person mad because I called them on their lies and I'm not here to just make friends but instead to lead people to Christ and help them grow.For this reason I plan to call people on what they say and use the word 'why' a whole lot. So as I sign off I begin the process of toughening my skin and getting ready for the fight that may come. I ask for your prayers as I pray for the answers that I desperately need. God help me to know what to say, when to say it, and when to push. Thank you Jesus for the chance to serve you. God Rocks, Jtw

What is a Servant?

2007-06-01T12:32:00.000-04:00

I started thinking about this question yesterday because I was confronted with a person that says they are by title. I was at a restaurant the yesterday after picking up my wife for lunch. We spent the time there watching our waitress sit with some guy, smoke, and talk. She did come over and ask us if we needed anything a few times. Like most people, when you get something on your plate you aren't going to eat, I put some lettuce from my overflowing salad on a few napkins. Afterward, I went to pay. She sat quietly, watched as the tip was placed on the paper, and then decided she would speak up. She proceeded to scold me over putting food on the table and how rude it was to her. I thought it was funny that she didn't mention anything until after the tip was given. Obviously she hadn't seen the napkins I placed down before putting some lettuce down because she wasn't around, but proceeded to tell me how wrong it was regardless.

This brings me back to my original question: What is a servant? This lady was by title a servant. Well if this was true shouldn't she act like a servant. This is what the dictionary says:

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law
noun: a person who serves others: as a : an individual who performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer b : a person in the employ and subject to the direction or control of an individual or company

So a servant is someone who is in direct control by someone else. This means this lady is a servant to whom: The customer. She on the other hand doesn't really act like a servant because of the view she has of authority. I bring this up because being a servant applies to everyone that calls themselves a follower of Christ.

Christ calls us to be servants, so we've learned what a servant is. We are under direct control of Christ if we are to call ourselves followers of Christ and a servant. Christ gave us the example of a servant when he washed the Disciple's feet. Before this Jesus said...

John 12:26 "Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me."

Anyone who wants to be a disciple must be a servant and must be where Jesus is. So to go back to my story. i can't say whether this lady was a follower of Christ or not, but her example didn't show me this. If she is a disciple like myself, then I pray she never tells anyone. It's hard enough being a Christian without hypocrites being the first thing people think of when you try to tell them about Christ.

So where does this leave us? A servant of Jesus is a disciple and also is under direct control of Jesus. He's given us commands, directions for living, and His word to answer any other question. As far as I'm concerned Jesus gave us the example of servant hood and that example was the Love of others. When Christians were being hunted by Rome it was asked how the Christians would be found. The response was that you will know them by their love. This is the response I give now when I look for a servant. I will know them by their love.
God Rocks, Jtw

Big God....forgot that!

2007-05-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

Do you ever forget how big God really is? I know I do! Here's the issue I have and have others recently talk to me about for themselves. We ask God for something, then we don't get what seems to be an answer. Wierd huh, it seems like if we don't get the answer we want then God's not answering us. The real problem is that no matter what the answer or when the answer comes, that doesn't change who God is. We forget that and we forget exactly how big our God really is. How is it that a God big enough to create the universe, love us enough to send His Son to die for us, and wants to personally know each and every person isn't big enough to care about our problems. Crazy huh? We forget that no matter the size of our problems, God is always bigger. Why then do we worry about things? We especially worry about things that we have no control over and that we can't hope to change. Seems to me that if we truly believed that God is so powerful that we'd just trust Him and not worry. It's much easier said than done. How do we trust God without fear? I guess it comes down to our willingness to grow close to Jesus. It's hard not to trust in God when you're so close to Him that He's all you see. How do we do this then? Well all the spiritual disciplines are a good place to start, but it comes down to our faith and willingness to be a Christ follower. That's the greatest of journeys and worth the most reward. Thank you God for being so Big and Lord give us the chance to be your servant today. Thank you God. AMEN---Jtw

Graduated

2007-05-19T22:47:00.000-04:00

Well I'm officially a College Graduate from a University. I'm a alumni of largest distinctly Christian University in the world. It's more than awesome. Graduation was definitely about Jerry Falwell, but also about the future. The message given to us today is about finishing well and never ever quitting. For a short time now my motto has been "whatever it takes." I truly want to finish well, and that's gonna take everything I have. I will never ever quit doing whatever it takes to fulfill the purpose that God has put me here to do. Jerry finished his race very well, he did was God told him. I pray that when the time comes for me to step out begin really running the race that I can do as well as Jerry. Well I've graduated to a new place in my life and a new race to run. I'm ready to run, I always need more training, but I'll do "whatever it takes" to finish the race well. May God bless my work, give me wisdom and grace, and more importantly give me a chance to run a race worthy of Him. Thank you Lord for everything that You've given me, thank You for a chance to be taught by the best, and thank You for again showing that there's hope for me. God Rocks! Jtw

Jerry Falwell

2007-05-15T23:38:00.000-04:00

Today I got a call and heard the news of the death of Jerry Falwell. My first reaction was...What the crap!! How can a great man such as this, a man who'd been instrumental to the progression of Christ in the world. It's true, Jerry said some stupid things in his time, but no more myself. He just said it on TV and I didn't. I'm definitely surprised at this, but remembering that I'll see him again in Heaven is awesome. I can remember him talking to people at school and him almost running over people in his SUV on a regular basis. His influence over Christians and his contribution will never be forgotten.

I think an expression that I heard when at Liberty is fitting for this great man.

"Today the devil is cheering for this man is no longer in the fight"

This is how I choose to remember Jerry Falwell and I hope everyone else does as well. God bless the ministry of Jerry Falwell, God bless the family of Jerry Falwell, and God bless everyone that has been touched by God's chosen Vessel of the servant of Jerry Falwell.

God Rocks, Jtw

New Job and the Move

2007-05-05T20:24:00.000-04:00

Alright well it's been a week now since we've moved. It's weird, but God likes to freak me out. As some of you know, the place we were moving to fell through at the last moment. The very awesome pastor at the church that I'm now working at found us this cool house. It of course needs a lot of work, but it was at the last moment. God likes to wait until the last moment. For a long time I've prayed for the job i have now. Now we've moved, we have low rent until we get our house, we have family near by to help us out with lots of stuff, and a more importantly a church that loves us to death. I do have to ask, what did I do to be blessed this much. I'm nothing special or anything worth giving all this great blessings to. So, why did God choose to bless me with so much. Don't get me wrong, I praise Him everyday and Thank Him everyday for this. I'm nothing but a poor, horrible sinner. This is where I'm at now. I have the greatest Job ever and really understand grace for the first time. I've always knew in my mind what grace is, but now I know what grace is in my heart. Grace is getting what I deserve, regardless of what I've done. God has showed me Grace! He's given me what I've prayed for and waited for, but I know for no reason do I deserve it. For now I will Thank God and pray now for what He wants me to do with this great present He's given me. I do ask for those that read this to also pray that I get the guidance for what He wants me to do and the wisdom to know it when I see it. Thank you GOD for everything. God Rocks, Jtw

PRAISE GOD I've got the JOB

2007-04-02T23:35:00.000-04:00

If you don't know yet I've got a new job that starts the last week in April. As many people know I went to school to learn how to do the work of a youth pastor. I've excepted the position of Student Pastor at West Yadkin Baptist Church in Hamptonville, NC. It's like 15 minutes from where I grew up. All I can say is PRAISE GOD on giving me a chance to serve Him in this capacity again. So We're moving April 28th, to where I'm not sure yet. I could use every one's help that's willing to come help. Well Thanks for all the prayers and all the help since I started down this road. God Rocks!! Jtw

Good Birthday? We'll see later

2007-03-09T13:19:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. For those that don't know, my birthday was yesterday. I spent the entire day and night very sick. I even had a higher fever than I should have allowed. Today I've called into work b/c I still have a high fever, but I'm getting better. So continue to pray for that. Tonight we're going back to NC for the weekend and I have some good medicine there.

What this e-mail is really about it that I need your prayers big time for Sunday. Sunday I have an interview at an awesome church as their youth pastor. I've been praying about this since the day I got the phone call. I've looked at the pros and cons, but still waiting on the Go from God.

So here's what I need...pray that God will either give me the Go or do like the last interview and make the NO obvious to me. I appreciate your help and thanks for the prayers. God Rocks, JtW

Patience and Pain

2007-01-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you'd do anything for it. This isn't something that you just casually want and can let go, but instead something that overwhelmes your thinking. This is how I feel about being a youth pastor. This is my passion. So much that I and my wife left all we know and completely changed our lives to make this happen. The issue is that now I've come to a place where I can do it, but find that the vision God's given me will not only take a long time but at the same time take a specific place. This means that I must wait. I believe in God and know He's more incredibly awesome than I could ever understand. I wish He'd give me just a little more of what he wants...the how would be nice. You might ask, ok there's the patience part, but what about the pain? Well the pain comes from wanting to get going. I'm like a viper car in a parking lot. It has a need to get out do what it was meant to do, but can't b/c it's not the time yet. I'm ready, I'm willing, so where's the mission? I feel like Isaiah, God's asking who will go for me, and Isaiah is jumping, screaming I will go, send me! So now the patience and pain are mixed. For now I jump and scream...and yet I wait! God rocks, Jtw

I'm Done....THANK GOD

2006-12-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

Well got the most awesome freakin news....I'M DONE with School...YEAH. Thursday was the day I took my last exam of my bachelor's degree. I now have a B.S. in Religion with a specialization in Youth Ministry. Wow that sounds so freakin awesome. God has now gifted me and taught me with this very special training, so now I'm ready to use it. I'm busy looking at some churches, so pray for me. I really want to thank each person who's been praying for me, but since that would take all of time, I'm saying here....THANK YOU ALL. Well praise God for helping me and getting me through everything. God totally Rocks, JtW

A post from Ben Kasica

2006-11-22T10:27:00.000-05:00

Ben Kasica is in a band named Skillet. He wrote something on his myspace that was just awesome and I think everyone should read it. So here it is...

They say that the way to unhappiness is to try to make yourself happy but to truly make yourself happy, you must give your life away in self forgetful love. Its so easy nowadays to always be thinking about youself, How can I make myself happy? What can I buy for me? How many friends do I have on my mspace? What do I get from it? etc etc...Our culture is so self centered. And because of it, we are a discontent people. Always wanting more because that little bit that we did happen to scrounge to devour for ourselves didn't fulfill us in the way that we thought it would. So we search for more. Constantly thinking that the new gadget or the better paying job or winning the lottery or a new girlfriend is going to make us happy. I can save you a lot of time and heartache and tell you now that no thing that you find in this world is going to satisfy you. It was never meant to. However, there is something... someone who can meet that desire inside you. A Love that will fulfill never fail you and it always there to meet your heart's deepest desires. And once you have that divine discontent met, it provides you the opportunity to give of yourself more completely in loving others. Living your life for other people. But to try to love other people in and of yourself can seem impossible at times. Especially if you're trying to love the unloveable. It's like trying to get that very last bit of toothpaste out when you know that there's not really any left... you still try...You try so hard to love people but really you're just dont have the ability to do it. You're empty. But when you love others out of that deeper Love that you have, it makes it easy. Because you're loving not out of a desperation and will to love but out of an abundance of love.And when we are able to love in that way, we can truly find happiness.Go love others. Do something selfless. Go help an old lady cross the street. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Pay for a stranger's groceries. Visit an retirement community just to talk with people. You will find that the joy that you get out of it is worth far more than what it cost you.
Ben

A Christian's Job Description

2006-10-25T14:11:00.000-04:00

Before you read this, you just agree with me that you won't get mad but instead read it in hopes that we can all change to be more like Christ.

A Christian's Job Description

After looking around at people I know and those I respect, I saw something that truly scared the crap out of me; they're Christians. That didn't scare me because I think that's wrong, but because they claimed to be Christians in light of how they were living. So I decided that I would write a Job description for Christians. I don't write this because I'm doing it all or because I'm hyper-spiritual. I do it because, like I hope it will convict you, because it convicts me to do better. So here it goes...

1) Be saved!
Well that seems very easy, but how many of us think we're saved due to a huge emotional experience? I would say that a lot of us are in this boat. I believe that being saved requires a change. I'm not saying an immediate change, but over a period of time you become a whole different person than you were before you were saved.

2) Pray
What the junk is up with people not knowing how to pray and still claiming to be a Christian? How did they get saved in the first place? You need to pray. I'm not saying you should pray so much that you don't get anything done. You should pray and not as an excuse so you don't have to make a decision right now. Telling people I'll pray about is not a valid reason. I've got an idea, pray right now and if you don't get an answer then make a decision and if it's wrong, God will let you know.

3) Don't Judge
Christians today get a very bad rap because some of them judge others and treat them like crap because they sin. Guess what, you sin too! God's the only one that should be judging so you should shut up and keep it to yourself. God treated people with Love, even when he was talking to them about sin in their life. Try being like Jesus and if you can't don't claim to be a Christian. Does this mean that you shouldn't want to help people who are in sin and let them know they are? NO. You should definately let them know they're sinning, but to treat them like crap for it is so overly stupid that some people need to be slapped. Tell them in love, then help them to overcome it IF they want help.

4) Read God's Word
I'm as guilty as anyone in saying that I don't know enough scripture. God's word is essential to your walk with Christ. How can you claim to know Christ if you know nothing about Him? Jesus also used scripture to defeat Satan, maybe that's a good place to start when you want to defeat your sins? People ask what would Jesus do, but I say what DID Jesus do? Let's read God's word before everyone is so scripturally illiterate that Christians start being seen as spiritually retarded.

5) Walk the Walk
If you're going to be a Christian and call yourself a Christian, then freakin start acting like one. Some people are trying their best to be a follower of God and they get all the stupid stereotypes because someone along the way was a major hypocrite. So any time you screw up or just aren't living the life God's called you to live, and someone ask if you're a Christian, then don't tell them about Jesus and bring Shame to God and His people.

6) Stand up
I don't believe that we should be the Christian Taliban, but we should not sit there while people MOCK AND CURSE our GOD. Why do people just sit there and be quiet when people do all they can to make Christianity a stupid game. We aren't that at all. We know that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven and everyone else is going to hell, so how can we just sit there and not tell those we love about Jesus? If you can't stand up for what you believe and change the world, then please don't be a Christian.

In saying all this...
It's not an inclusive list, but instead a list to inspire thinking. I'm not doing this to be a prideful person, but instead to challenge all of us to live up to what I've written here. If this is a problem and you find this list, though not finished, an outrage, I ask you please for the sake of your soul seek after God and think about this list. I'll pray for you and you should respond to this for me. Thank you for reading this and I'll try to update it as I come across things in myself and others that claim to be Christians, that should change.

Remember this verse: Titus 1:16
"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."

Here's a quote from a DC TALK song that you should remember

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians; who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

God's pushing

2006-10-25T13:25:00.000-04:00

Do you ever get the idea that God's pushing and you're not listening? I get that impression in my life right now. I'm finishing up school in 7 weeks and I have no idea where I'm going after that. I don't know if God wants me to stay here, go way far away, or even in this country. I wish I truly knew. All I know is that God's put a passion for students in me that won't be satisfied until I can help students by showing them the love of Jesus Christ. God pushes, but I'm not sure why or how. I'm listening, but not hearing. A lot of people say that God whispers, but I don't believe that. I believe that God screams at us most of the time, and we as people are so deaf because we don't want to hear God that when we want to hear we've become so accustom to not hearing that we don't. I was asked the other day why don't we hear from God like they did during biblical times. My answer is that we don't want to. People say they want to hear from God and want to do His will, but what if he told you to go do something you didn't want to do? Would you do it? What if I actually heard from God and he said go to Iraq right now, find this specific person and when you told them of Me they would kill you. What would I do then? Honestly I'm not sure what I would do. I'd like to think I'd die for my Lord because He died for me, but I can't honestly say I would until I'm put in that situation. God's pushing. Do you ever want to scream to God for an answer or maybe you actually do it? I know I do. To truly be transparent I must admit that I've never doubted God's existence, but at times I do doubt God's listening to me. I know I work on His time and not not the other way around. Recently lots of bad things have happened and it's like I feel God pushing to test our stamina in our faith. So does God's pushing help me? Right now I feel like it could, but doesn't feel like it right now. As I tirelessly pray everyday and I hope others do, that God will soon give me a glimpse of what He has for me, in a way I hope it's soon. Normally I'm a very patient person. I don't usually let things get to me hardly ever, and I work well under large amounts of pressure. This made me a good medic and a good youth pastor. Lately, the pressure has been very high which is fine, but with all these bad things and God's test it's becoming harder to keep up. I end with this prayer: God please help me. I need your wisdom, your patience, and your overwhelming love. God speak to me soon to give me a glimpse of your plan and the path you want for me. Lord I want to be like Isaiah and say "Here am I Lord, send me." Thank you for your protection and salvation. Thank you. Amen. God Rocks, Jtw

What the Junk's with Jesus Camp -- STAND UP

2006-09-25T17:04:00.000-04:00

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=98591593

Ok here's the link to a site for something called Jesus Camp. Jesus Camp is a movie that's coming out that is a documentary of the generation of youth today that's coming up and will bring out revival in America. This sounds great, but it's not. Watch the preview and let me know what you think. Here's what I commented on when I wrote them that pretty much gives my thoughts on the matter.

Well... I really want to see this movie. I'm a youth pastor and I know the next youth of today will be the turning point for the generation. In saying that I am a little scared of this movie based on the preview here. It talks about evangelical Christians, but none are shown in the video. It almost sounds like you're training kids as an army. All you're creating is a Christian Taliban. Is that what you want? I believe this will have the opposite effect that you're trying to get across here. Just like the da Vinci code, the movie will show the exact opposite of it's intended effect. Don't make this nation anymore secular by making Christians seem like extremist. We're not out for Judgment and just because these people are, doesn't mean we all are. I pray that everyone doesn't lump all Christians together to be like you guys, b/c we're totally not. Please don't say we are!

You might think I way harsh, but I doubt you will when you see the preview. The youth of today are the generation that's going to decide if the revival we so desperately need will come about. God wants us to have a revival where we all turn to Christ like we've never before. All revivals in HISTORY that were ever significant were started by people under the age of 18. If you're one of the students then I want you to know that I'm praying for you. If you're an adult begin praying for them. They call our generation a post-Christian generation, there's people on TV everyday cutting Christians down, and there's people who specifically Mock our God and everyone thinks it's ok. They think it's ok because we don't stand up for God.

I wrote the other day a Job description for a Christian that I will soon put up on here. I don't meet all these things all the time, but I'm trying because Jesus calls me to Seek after Him. In this document I think that all Christians should stand live for God and stand up for Him. If you can't handle it, don't claim to be a Christian. I'm so sick of the minority of people setting the rules for the majority because the majority doesn't stand up. Christians are the majority in this country, but unless we stand up we're just silently accepting what they say.

Now for Jesus Camp. You read what I have said above. Don't let this movie be another slap in the face to those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ. EVERYONE is going to use this movie. The people who hate Christians will label all of us as terrorist, Christians will point to a change through the next generation, and the rest of the people will see it and be afraid that we're trying to dictate their lives. I CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER!!!! More evil than good is going to come from this movie. I ask that anyone and everyone stand up and let people know that Christians are not silent, we're not here to force you to do anything, we're here to save your life. I can't take anymore. God Rocks, JW

And then there were 3

2006-09-10T18:27:00.000-04:00

That's right everyone, there's 3 left from our list of churches that we're looking at right now. You can cut out Grace Bible Church. We went there, and it was a long way for a very short day trip, but we went. That church is out, we felt it wasn't the place for us. Not sure how to explain what God was telling us, but it was definately not the place God wanted for us. A couple of days ago I got a letter from them the other day, and it confirmed what we'd known since the day we went and visited. I still left it open and didn't contact them b/c I wanted to wait for God's answer and not my own. Next, a good friend that I get advice from time to time from advised me to get away from the denomational lines. I'm definately considering it in light of the last church... If you wan know what I mean let me know. The only problem is that I owe a lot of my church experience to my old Baptist church that I grew up in. So what do I do? I've decided that I'm going to keep them open, but keep looking for non-denominational churches. Ok as for the second church you can cut out, that's Gayton Baptist Church. Funny thing is that it's a church that we weren't sure about from the beginning. The site was very vague and really didn't say much about the church. We didn't visit the church, but felt weird about it. Well they didn't feel I was the best fit, so that one's out.
OK so... What does that leave? That leaves 3 other churches that we're looking at and I'm going to give you them in order of what I feel is the best feeling towards them.

1) Westover Church (NC) -- I've visited this church and it was freakin awesome. They were very people oriented and even the people in my family got a hug from a complete stranger. They have a large youth group and are focused on missions. What are the drawbacks? I'm not sure there is any except with this large of a church, it's going to be hard to learn all the students and try not to let anyone fall through the cracks. The answer is that I have leaders to be me to everyone...So now it's up to you.

2) NewSpring Community Church (SC) -- I haven't visited this church because it's in SC and hard to travel there with school, work, and a life. The main perks to this job is the leadership. The Senior pastor is a old youth pastor. He knows all the problems and will work with the issues that most people don't understand. They've also got an awesome youth room if you wanna go to the site and look at the pics. They truly love their students. The drawbacks are first the senior pastor. I know I said it's a perk, but let me explain. The pastor would be able to see the issues and be sincere to them, but he'll also have greater expectations. He's been there and done exactly what I wanna come in and do. It's like trying to teach Michael Jordan's basketball team to play basketball with him on the sitting there watching you. It would definately be nerve racking for me. What do you think?

3) Pinecrest Baptist Church (VA) -- I again haven't been to this church. This church caught my eye, but again had a weird site. I know you're gonna point out the denomination, but I'm going to be open. If you haven't visited their site lately, it's much better now. I can't say a lot about this church other than it seemed good. Because of the lack of good, I can't really point out the drawbacks other than the location. This isn't a problem b/c I'm just gonna go where ever God sends me.

So what have we learned? God's taken out some, he's left others, and I'm sure as I keep looking and praying for God's will that he'll send me more. Keep praying, go look at these sites again, and let me know about what you think. Thanks for your help and prayers. God Rocks, Jtw

I'm not alright

2006-08-28T23:39:00.000-04:00

Artist: Sanctus Real
Album: The Face Of Love
Song: I'm Not Alright

If weakness is a wound
That no one wants to speak of
Then “cool” is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune
I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need to impress?
If you want the truth, I need to confess
I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you
Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I’m open wide
With nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on
Cause honestly, I’m not that strong
I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
It leads me to you, it leads me to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...closer to you
And I move, and I move, and I move...
I’m not alright
I’m broken inside, broken inside
broken inside, broken inside
And all I go through
Leads me to you, leads me to you
I’m not alright, I’m not alright, I’m not alright...that’s why I need you

Yo service vs worship

2006-08-21T21:32:00.000-04:00

Yo everybody my new few blogs will definitely be weird so don't freak out on me. I've been reading a book recently that talks about youth workers and how they fall into a trap of spending so much time in service to God that they don't worship God and their personal relationship with God is hurt through it. I recognized that the warning signs listed are totally me and I've become fairly stupid because of it. If you don't know what I mean then that's ok, I'm saying that I've spent so much time trying to be God to people that I can no longer just turn around and talk to God because I've moved to far away. Man I feel stupid, I mean who can't feel themselves moving away from God right? Well a lot of people think that service equals holiness, well it's not and I'm a good example of this. I do a lot of help students, and they don't even know it sometimes. So I've decided to follow the books advice and return to God. I'm going to have to rely on God more, and purposefully return to God. If I start saying NO more to people it's because I'm spending that time in worship to God and getting myself back on track with God. Please don't be mad at me if I refuse to do something, but it's only because I can't honestly teach you something that I don't feel. This is why I've decided that my personal relationship with Jesus will now come before others. This is the way it should be but I've forgotten that. I've become a stranger to God and now I MUST return to a brother and a disciple...I hope you understand...My God bless you all and I'll be here for everyone. I've not abandoned anyone, just cut back on the yes in order to say yes to Jesus instead...Thanks Kbye God Rocks, Jtw

yo visited a few churches

2006-08-07T19:26:00.000-04:00

Well for those of you that actually read this and want to help, I visited 2 of the 4 churches and found one other for your viewing. I don't want to tell you which is which because I want you to keep praying for all of them. The first one I visited shannon was going there with very low expectations. She didn't like it from the site. It was a large church, and frankly it was awesome. It was very inviting, I even got a hug from a perfect stranger. They were geared toward helping others and huge on prayer. This one has a lot of pros and cons, so keep prayer for this one going. The one I went to last Sunday wasn't as good. It had a few things that were better than the first church, but there was a problem. We only had one person talk to us and we are the one's that started talking to them. A huge problem was the service. It had a lot of older people in it trying to be something they're not. They were trying very hard to be relevant to the culture and they weren't and shouldn't have been. It's easy to pick out a fake a mile away. So now what? I'm keeping this church open because we could help if they'd let us and I'm not going to say no to God if he choses that place. Keep praying for both of these churches, regardless of what I may think of them.
Ok here's the new one that I wrote to the other day, but not heard back yet. This one is a church started by a youth pastor, which is cool and scary at the same time. Let me know whatcha think.
www.newspring.cc
Let me know whatcha think. Well Thanks for all the prayer and I look forward to hearing from you on whatcha think and what I can do about this. God Rocks, Jw

Youth Pastor Search pt 2

2006-07-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Ok here's the update on what's going on with the search for a church. I've completed my resume and cover letter. I've sent them out to 6 churches. I have 4 left because one church already filled the position and 1 didn't meet the criteria after talking with them. Ok here's what I need from all those weird people who read what I write and will be willing to help.

First off, pray! Pray that God will send me to the right one and all the others will not be anything like the vision that God has given me.

Secondly, I'm going to give you the websites for the remaining 4 that I'm currently looking at. All of these have have been sent my resume and have responded that they will let me know something soon. OK here's the sites

1) Grace Bible Church www.vbgrace.com
2) Pinecrest Baptist Church www.pinecrestbaptistchurch.com
3) Gayton Baptist Church www.gaytonbaptist.org
4) Westover Church www.westoverchurch.com

Let me know what you think, regardless of how important you think it is. I appreciate your help on this, and I know that God will use all your comments to help me decide on which ones to cut and which to keep. Thanks peeps. God Rocks, Jw

Need I say more?

2006-07-02T00:40:00.000-04:00

This song pretty much expresses my heart at this point in my life. So here it is and enjoy

Yearn
by Shane and Shane

Holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

CHORUS
Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

Chorus

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

Chorus
(Acts 17:25-28, Hebrews 12:28-29)

The Search

2006-06-29T19:22:00.001-04:00

I'm in the search for a youth pastor job? I've wrote many churches already, but I need help. If could keep you ear open and more importantly pray that God will open the door somewhere that He finds perfect for me. I'm praying for just that. It's hard and I'll tell ya why. I know what vision God has given me and basically I'm trying to be picky over the location. I want a place close to where I'm from because I want someone to take care of my kids when I'm away on trips or whatever. This is me limiting God and His work in my life. I've come to the point where I'm just saying "whatever you want God." I'll go anywhere and do whatever you want, just send me. So this is where I'm at in my overwhelming search for a future for me in ministry. As long as I'm ministering to Student and I'm doing what God wants, who am I to question HIM. Well Thanks for the prayers and I'll keep ya in the loop. God Rocks, Jtw

The Next Generation

2006-06-18T21:36:00.000-04:00

First off I'd like to say that if any of my students read this please understand that this probably isn't about you, so don't think it is. This is some of my observations that I hope aren't true. The more and more i learn about student the more scared and the more i realize the utter importance of my job. Growing up I was a complete idiot. I did some of the stupidest things ever. I don't expect the next generation of students that come up to do anything less. There was a difference though. The truth was still the truth. It's come to my attention, and it's only got worse, that the truth has become a personal issue. I've actually heard people say well what is right for you, may not be right for me. If you believe that and you're reading this hit yourself in the head right now. The truth is the truth no matter where you are or who you are. There is no "well it's right for me" truth out there. This is something that I'm hearing and it seems like the truth has somehow become blurred. Since God made the truth, He gets to decide what's the truth. If He says it's wrong, then it's wrong; end of story. Another alarming trend is the amount of sexual things that is so open in our culture. I've had this conversation with lots of students and leaders. I remember asking one student one time that if he knew it was wrong why would he have sex? The response was "I felt like it." I was like WOW!!! Isn't that crazy. It's like they know it's wrong, they'll tell you it's wrong, but when it comes to playing out what they believe it doesn't matter what they believe. Does that not scare you because it scares me. The attitude about sex is that it's just fun, but it should be much more than that right? Another thing that might just be with pastors is that the generation has a major lack of biblical knowledge. I have to admit that I don't know enough and never will. It takes a lot really learn something for me, except when it comes to students. I learn quickly, and I hope I give good advice when they come and need it. I know they don't see me as judgmental or condemning, because I've been there and not afraid to tell them of my struggles. I think that this lack of biblical knowledge seems to be maybe the root of some of these other problems I've listed. If they knew what God found right and wrong and what HE really thought about it it, would they be able to ignore Him? The last thing that bothers me is the lack of wanting to learn and think. It seems like they want the answer now without finding out the knowledge for themselves. If you've ever asked a student a question that doesn't really have an answer, maybe to just talk about you'll know what I mean. They get frustrated at not having the answer. Try it sometime. In saying all that I have to say that there's hope. God has not given up on this generation, nor will He let Himself be forgotton. More students than ever are seeking for answers, and GOD is the ANSWER. There's a spark of hope for the future. Will they embrace the God of the universe or seek after themselves and everything but God? I will do everything that God tells me to ensure that I can give them a chance to hear from God. I was a complete idiot and God found the time to get my attention. It's freaking awesome that the God of everything wants to talk to me. I wish this next generation would learn this. When you realize just how BIG GOD really is then how can you want to do anything but do His will and want to please Him. If you're apart of the next generation and you're reading this, again don't think it's about you. I do hope it changes your life and that you stop wanting to do everything you want and start wanting to seek God for who He is and please HIM only. My prayers will be with you and for this generation. I'm usually very optimistic, but sometimes the truth is what you need to hear. God Rocks, Jw

Mississippi

2006-06-18T20:35:00.000-04:00

Well this week I spent a week with some awesome people in Mississippi. I went down there to serve those who had nothing due to hurricane katrina. My wife and I were 2 of the 4 leaders that went. There was a lot that went right and a lot that went wrong. I learned much more than I could have ever wanted to learn. First, I learned a lot about people that I didn't know. I learned that sometimes I have to hold my tongue and sometimes people can misunderstand when they don't care to learn all the information. I learned that leadership doesn't come easy to everyone and I must be patient. These are among some of the things I learned about people. Second, I learned that God's plan is freaking awesome. We climbed on tall roofs, constantly had to jet out into intense traffic, was chased by dogs, spent days in 95+ degree weather, and everyone constantly had nails through their shoes into their feet. Now in saying that no one was hurt more than a bandaid. Scary thing is that God waited until after all the students were gone to side swipe the van. A lady hit the van that I was driving with her car on the way to take it back. Nothing more than a very small dent. No one got a ticket, only one very pissed off lady. Thirdly, I learned that people will mess up and probably lie about it, but the truth will always come out. We had some students do stupid stuff, but hopefully a lesson was learned. If anything was learned is that Integrity is something that's very easily lost, and extremely hard to get back. Lastly I learned a little something about Control. Some people have the theory that In order to have control you must have everything under control. This is crap. Control isn't achieved with trying to control every part of someone's life. Control is acheived by respect. When it comes to students they want people to try to control them, they need honesty and help with choices. Sure they mess up from time to time, but isn't that how people truly learn right from wrong? God I know speaks to some people the way he does to me. He doesn't speak in a small voice, but a random Bat attack to the back of my head. This is how I've learned to deal with students in my 6+ years in youth ministry. I got a lot of time to talk to a lot of the students and I'll continue to pray for all of them each night. So when I got back I was asked if this trip was a success. We helped a lot of people and received a chance to serve. The real point was to see God in a new way and grow closer to Him. Did they learn this? I have no idea, but I know that I grew closer because I saw a spark in the next generation that I hope all of them have. This gives me hope that the next generation will not let God go away, but instead grow up to Love God and want to express that love to others. I will write more on this later. I would say that the mission trip was a success, at least to me. I just hope that all the students that read this will think about this and pray to God for change. God Rocks, Jtw

The ignorance of Pastors

2006-05-27T14:08:00.000-04:00

That's right I said the ignorance of pastors. A couple of months ago a friend of mine got fired from her job. She was working as a youth minister at a church in Gretna, VA. The pastor there got her fired because it was said that she took the youth to acquire the fire to learn to speak in tongues. Ok that is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. My guess is that she had the respect of the youth and the parents and he didn't. When he lost control, he couldn't have that. This reminds me of the church in rustburg. No matter how much yelling the pastor did at me, I didn't want to give up on the youth there who were so awesome. When it came to me doing what God says in his WORD and what he said, then he couldn't have it. When he told me that I'd do it his way in his church or I can leave, well that was the time when I told him it was God's church, not his, and I couldn't disobey God to do his work. He didn't like that. Just like the church my friend was at, it was a control issue, God's or someone else's. It's pastors like this that make Christians leave the church and the next generation not even want anything to do with God. I don't hate anyone, but I dislike with a passion those people who try to put themselves above the God they serve. When did the office of pastor become a place where people went to before God. That's a catholic thing, not a Christian thing. Any pastors who read this and act this way should be ashamed and do everything in their power to go from the egotistical people they are back to God's servant. As for these 2 pastors that I've mentioned here, may God have mercy on them, may God change their hearts, and may God put people in their path that will tell them the truth about the way they are behaving. God Rocks, Jw

Since I last wrote...a lot has happened

2006-05-27T13:55:00.000-04:00

Well since I last wrote I've experienced worship...that one is obvious. I've finished school with not straight A's this time. That's God's little plan to teach me that I don't have to do everything perfect like I want, but just doing my best is good enough. Funny thing is that my boss told me the other day that my best wasn't good enough for him...funny huh. That's right I got chewed out again. This time it was for asking off for vacation 3 month in advance and giving him notices so he doesn't forget. The answer I got was that he doens't look at it until he's going to do the schedule...sounds like a stupid thing to me, but that's just me. I also started my internship, which is going good. I do lots of busy work, but hey that's the unglamorous part of the youth ministry world. I'm also co-leading a mission trip to Mississippi in a few weeks as part of my internship. That's going to be awesome. And finally today I'm leaving for a week in Tenn for Vacation...YEAH YEAH YEAH. I can't wait, It's been a very long year and I deserve a vacation. Well that's what's going on and there's other stuff that's coming up soon....God Rocks, Jw

All worship isn't created equal

2006-05-05T20:21:00.000-04:00

Well I just finished up my semester and after all my research into worship it all comes down to all worship isn't created equal. I refer back to cain and able. They both brought their sacrifice and both worshipped, but both didn't please the Lord did they? I went to many different services, and practiced worship on many different types of worship. I uped my prayer life, my service, my Bible reading and how much I worshipped through music a lot. So what did I learn? I've already expressed what i've learned, that worship isn't created equal. I've come to realize that worship is simple. Worship is just whatever we do to give God the glory he deserves. If this means praying, then pray, if it means reading your Bible more, then read more, if it means that you go to a service and just go crazy for God, then you need to do that. I ended my semester of worship per say with a worship service at church. I've been to churches before with what some people call crazy worship. This just means you act like you actually feel inside. If you feel like you're about to jump out of your skin then why sit there and be quiet. That's stupid and totally not what God wants. What makes people think that if God has blessed them that they should not tell people? What makes people think if God makes them feel like they wanna SCREAM His name that they shouldn't? The conplaincy among Christians today is sicking in my opinion. If you agree then let me know; if you don't, then let me know. What on God's earth makes people get to the place where they hide what God gives them and tells them. I get so pissed off sometimes at people that I talk to sometimes. They talk of God like He's sitting beside them making them want to conquer the world for Him. Then we go to church and they sit there and hardly even sing when the band plays. If God had a stomach, it would definately be turned by this type of worship. To get back to my story and off my soap box, I went to a service. Of course there were some of those at that service that I was talking about that pissed me off. Then there were those that suprised me. These were people who seemed to be quiet people, but when we started singing, they acted like they were worshipping God. When we sang, people screamed the songs to God, they jumped, they danced, and the feeling that was created let me know that God was totally there. I could feel the presence of God like a thick smoke cloud in the room. It was different and I've only felt this a few times in my life. This was a service of worship and everyone knew it, and more importantly everyone acted like it was a service FOR worship. So I've learned that worship is different to different people, but God sees it different. God sees it as if your not going to give it all then why bother. Cain brought his gift to God, but Able brought more than a gift, he brought a life of worship too. This is the point. Worship is a lifestyle and is expressed when you give it your all for God. If you're reading this and think I'm out of line, that's fine. When you get to judgment and God says, why didn't you give it your all, why were you afraid to be made fun of, and I pray that God lets you remember what i've said here. I'll end my ranting with one simple sentence. If you're going to Hide God, be silent instead of really worshipping, and simply being a person who has God, but doesn't act like it I want you to stay away from me. If you're going to be a normal Christian, just one that's got fire insurance., then stay away. I've always been told that the people around you impact your life and help you decide right and wrong. This is why you can't be around me. I want to live a life of worship and live a life like God matters in my life. If you're not going to live like that, then why did you even ask for God to save you in the first place?

In the Quest for Worship

2006-04-13T16:30:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend (Apr7-9) I went to a thing called Spring leadership for our business. On Sunday we had a church service. Prior to going God had a big emphesis with our businesses and this just showed more of that. I heard people that had been talking about the business and the awesome thing it is; At church we find out why. They all gave glory to God for the businesseIs. This wasn't the part that really impressed me, I had heard this before. The main guy did the preaching that morning and we sang songs. The worship was definately not what I was used to. It was all vineyard stuff and slow. Normally this kind of stuff is ok, but not really for me. Instead of being bored it was great. The atmosphere made you feel that we were all worshipping God and he was there. After the preaching an invitation was given. Like 1000 people came forward. There were so many people down at the alter that there wasn't enough bibles for the ones who were saved. It was freaking awesome. The music was different, and the preaching different, but the worship was great. Makes me wonder, what is worship. I've spent the last few weeks trying to experience different kinds of worship, and each time I've found stuff that's good and bad. I hope that one day I find a church that will incorporate all the good from all of these different styles. I've noticed that if the worship is awesome then no matter how the preaching is, people will still come back. I wonder why this is? Is it because through worship we somehow get closer to God? We pray and have quiet times, then why is worship the key to closeness? When you add music and singing it even becomes stronger. Could it be that God has developed a way that no matter the culture or location that people can find a closeness in God. I think this is the answer. We'll see more later...I'll let ya know....God Rocks, Jtw

Ever hear God say "See....I told ya so"

2006-04-01T21:29:00.000-05:00

This semester has been unbelievably hard. It's been rougher than any semester I've ever had and I went to nursing and paramedic schools. On top of this we've worked a lot, but for one reason or another we haven't had the chance to save any money up. This sucks because for some reason we have to pay $750 a piece for my wife and I to go take an internship this summer so we can graduate in december. We've prayed for the money and for some reason no matter what we tried, it just never happened. For the past few years we've gone out of our way to help people. When we were in NC we did a lot for people, even if we had to sacrifice some. This isn't to brag, just giving some background. This I know will sound bad but in honesty, we wondered if anyone would help us or if we'd just be taken advantage of our whole life. Is that transparent enough for ya? We'll since getting married we'd had trouble with money much like most newlyweds. Thank God for my parents who has helped us out so much. But as for the internship that we need no one could help. We even went to the church that we were at in NC and I think they'll help out when they can. Then Tonight God gave me one of those "See...I told ya so." I got a call from someone that heard how good we'd been doing in school and wanted to help out with our internship for this summer. I told them how much it was just hopeing they'd give a little, but they're gonna give it all to us. WOW...what the crap! I nearly peed myself. So next time you aren't patient on God, just remember me and how stupid I am often. Just trust it's so much easier. God Rocks, Jtw

worship

2006-03-24T23:28:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about worship lately. I just did a paper on it and I'm inclined to believe that most people don't understand it. I'm not saying I fully understand it. I've been doing some research into what worship has been and especially what it was to the early church. I think what we have today and what people think is worship is really just a service of praise. It may be a form of worship, but the only form. For the next 30 days I'm practicing worship, and I do believe that I'll try some of the old sort and some of what we do today. If I can I'm going to try to mix the two. A lifestyle of worship is going to be quite hard so pray for me. I get bored way to easily, so the old style of worship from the bible will probably bore me to death, but some of the new kinds seem so fake. If you haven't seen some of the new worship styles, then do a search for alternative worship and see. Seem a little to focused on the person's comfortability in order to worship God, and less on God' worship. Well we'll see and I'll keep ya updated. Look for a new blog soon and what has recently annoyed the crap out me...that's coming very soon. So God Rocks....Jw

The wierdest dream ever

2006-03-20T22:53:00.000-05:00

I only tell this dream because as only a few people know around 75% of my dreams, that aren't just demons trying to scare me come true. Well I was in this house and the walls were blue. There were a couple of young guys sitting at the table eating some cereal while this guy in a long coat is talking to them. I can't remember what they're talking about, but at the end he gives them some forms and says ok here join the world citizenship. Then Shannon (my wife) hands me some hamburgers and tells me to go out side and make some more on the grill. I go out on the long porch around the house and when I get to the grill I look up and the sun turns red. There is almost a loud band, and the ground shakes. Then I look up and the whole sky starts to turn red. Then everyone that was inside is now outside with me. Then as I wake up all I hear is someone beside me yell Jesus is finally back. Well there's my extra wierd dream. Take it as you will, but don't let it go by without changing you. Bye God Rocks, Jw

Worthiness...who said we get to decide

2006-03-10T00:23:00.000-05:00

This week I've had to really think about worthiness. I've been taking a long look at the people that I'm around each day that are called by God to do certain things. I started thinking, why should God chose me, and what was he thinking? When I look back at the disciples I sure wouldn't pick these guys to become the leaders of God's people. I've noticed that just like myself, God chooses the foolish to confound the wise. Am I the foolish? Yup I'm an idiot! So now that i'm called, now what? For me it was coming to college to learn and perhaps become a little less ignorant. This week of classes was especially hard and at times I really wondered if I can do what God has called me to do. Can I do it? I'm never sure I can, but then I remember I'm not the one that's speaking, just the body being used at the time. This makes me feel better b/c I know I can do it. This doesn't really make it any easier. This is still an impossible task that I'm called to, so don't forget that. Now the question is will I? I must press ahead and do what is asked of me. Now I must listen and wait. God Rocks

I learn, I stupid, Why can't God just tell us these things

2006-03-07T15:20:00.000-05:00

Today I learned something. For those of you that know me it might sound remarkable. If you know how I am when it comes to school work then you know I'm a perfectionist. Today i learned I'm an idiot...no amen's please. I've prior to this point at LU been working hard, but only by God's grace. Last semester I got all A's. This was awesome and I told everyone b/c I'd never done it before. Well this semester is different. God is trying to teach me not to be a perfectionist. Well he's doing a great job of it. I've been constantly hit with sickness and more work than humanly possible. I know this is an attempt to teach me that only God is perfect and I should lay off. I got it now God. Why can't God just tell us these things. Well I know why! how many times growing up did our parents tell us not to stuff and we just didn't learn until we tried it ourselves or at least talked our brother into it first....that's right a lot of times. This is why God teaches us through problems and crap in our lives. Remember that next time you're going through something really hard, that it's b/c we couldn't learn any other way and God really does have our best at heart. So back to this semester. I'm doing ok this semester but won't do as well as I want, but that's ok b/c I'll still finish up and graduate on time. Sometimes when God explains these things I feel stupid. Why do I need to be so stupid to learn?

You ever just slap them, yeah Peter that's you

2006-03-04T23:32:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody. Today I got annoyed. You ever talked with someone to sure that they're doing the right thing that they ignore everyone around them and what they say. The worst part is that the incident today came to me as a "God told me and what he told you doesn't matter." That's right God is a squizo now. Well first off this is crap. What he tells you, if it's God, is the same and he doesn't change his mind. Ok, if you ever get so close to something that you can't see any part of it, and friends are telling you this and you ignore them, may God have mercy on you. You'll never hear another YP say this but if you're gonna go do something after asking advice, ignoring it, and then ending up doing something stupid; you deserve the consequences that come along with it. I just wanna slap people like this sometimes. When Jesus was here I'm sure he thought the same way. You know the disciples messed up. When ever I read of Peter I just feel better about myself b/c he was so dumb at times. He's a lot like me. He trust God so much that he jumps into things without thinking, and doesn't think to ask God if he's supposed to do it, just trust God to use it. Trust me it'll get you into major trouble. So did Jesus ever say he wanted to slap them....no but doesn't mean he didn't think it. Jesus loved everybody. My professor says I have to love everyone, but I don't have to like them. Ain't that the truth. Remember that when you get around those people who you just wanna slap...God knows I did today!!

Yo my first one

2006-03-04T10:28:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody. This is my first attempt at letting people see the insaneness that is my life. I would say that there are very few people who know my life and what i'm actually thinking. Here's an example, if you know i like fire you're in the 80%, If you know Brad caught my head on fire once you're in the 40%, and if you know that I once got in a fight some boy scouts over an ax I'd say you're in the top 5%.
Ok now that that's clear, let's give you a clear indication of what's gonna be on here. I'll just randomly post things that irritate me, make me happy, and things I just don't get. If you think that Christians don't feel the same way about stuff you do, then you might wanna start reading b/c you're smoking crack.
So enjoy the crazy messed up things that are my life, leave a message from time to time to tell me if you feel this way or just wanna tell me I'm Insane and need help.
Thanks, Jw