That you can subscribe to this blogs feed, by clicking on the link to the left that says . . . surprise, surprise . . . "subscribe to this blogs feed" - then you can get emails with new blog posts. OR, go to www.bloglines.com and type in all your favorite blogs. Then, just go to bloglines and you'll see all your blogs listed with any new posts in bold. It's one stop shopping. Pretty nice. So, don't say I never offered you anything. Oh, and bloglines is FREE.
« November 2008 | Main | January 2009 »
December 30, 2008
December 27, 2008
I am Second
There's a new website I went to recently - it has video stories from people like Brian Welch formerly of the band Korn. Josh Hamilton, baseball's homerun derby champ. Joe Gibbs, hall of fame coach, and numerous others. It's pretty cool and the videos are really well done. Listen to Brian Welch's, and check out some others as well. Check it out by going HERE!! to www.iamsecond.org.
December 25, 2008
December 22, 2008
December 21, 2008
Crazy, wintery, blizzardy, generosity
It was a crazy day yesterday. We cancelled our 9:30 am service, kept our 11 am service. The weather was crazy: cold, lots of snow, blowing and drifting of snow. We've had about 18-20 inches of snow in the last few days!! I hate having to decide whether to cancel a service or not. It's always a tough call.
We had around 200 crazy Journeyer's who braved the conditions and came out at 11 am. I'm sure they were glad they did - in spite of our technical difficulties. Where else can you go and as a way of celebrating our Operation Chicken, you get to do the "chicken dance"?!!
Journeyers - you all are amazing!! There's a bunch more to come in, I'm sure (because of all the people missing), but we have already raised over $700 for building a well! That's 70 children we've brought clean water for - for life!! On top of that, we're helping 10 families in our community with over $250.00 each through groceries, gas, etc. - that's $2,500.00! But, it doesn't stop there - we're also providing 50 chickens and a chicken coop, two trucks of wood and 30 bags of coal for the House of Hope Home in Kenya, Africa. That's another $1,500.00!! On behalf of families in need, of kids in need of clean water, and orphans in Kenya - thank you, thank you, thank you!! It's an honor to pastor at The Journey and to do life and ministry along side of you all!
December 19, 2008
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Yes, that's Jen . . . yes, that's a lot of snow (10 in. and still falling) . . . yes, that's me taking the picture from inside, in the warmth!! Hey, it's a work day - I've got things to do.
Enjoy the snowy day (and the start of Christmas break) everyone!
When times are tough (part 5 - final!)
All week long we've been talking about living the Jesus way when times are tough. Tough times mean we stay engaged with Jesus and with others who are walking the Jesus way. We support and encourage one another - we challenge one another. When times are tough, we are called to be wise. We're called to be generous. We're called to trust God as our provider. We're called to stay focused on the mission and look to meet needs.
Trends through history show that when times are tough, people come back to church. They are looking for some hope, some encouragement, some good news. We'll see if that plays out in our future. But, as people come back, they need to see people who aren't afraid of the future, people who aren't scared of our economic crises - but instead our trusting God for the future and who are caught up in living out this epic story of God by being involved in the story and making a difference in the world around them.
During tough times, we want to know that we are a part of something bigger, something beyond ourselves. And, we are. Be ready - to bring hope, and encouragement. To be a light to those around you.
December 18, 2008
Give relationally
This past Sunday Matt talked about giving relational gifts. The week before we talked about spending less. It's all in an attempt to refocus and to move from consumption to compassion. So, this is one way that we're giving relationally and spending less. It cost us $3.18 (plus ink). You can do something similar by going here.
New Journey site
If you haven't been to the new Journey web site, you need to go and check it out! Go ahead, I'll wait for you . . .
Then, let us know what you think. You can do that right here in the comment section!
When times are tough (part 4)
DON'T SHRINK BACK!! DON'T . . . SHRINK . . . BACK! Not from spending (we all can shrink back there) - but from making a difference, from being involved in the mission of Jesus. That's why, even though times are tight for us as a church right now - we're not shrinking back - we're making a difference in the lives of families in need, we're helping to build a well in Africa for clean drinking water, and we're providing chickens and a coop, and coal and firewood (for a whole year!) for the House of Hope Home in Kenya, Africa. It would be easy to say "we can't do that this year". It would be easy to say that we need every dime to meet the ongoing needs of The Journey. But, it wouldn't be right, and it wouldn't be engaging the mission that God has called us to, and it wouldn't be living by faith, and it wouldn't be generous. The mission is as important as ever (and I'll talk about that next). So - we, as a church, and my hope is - you and I, as individuals - will not shrink back. Because if we do, the Bible says these words.
So, when times are tough . . . don't shrink back from the mission. It's as important as ever.