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
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Bring it!
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
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
Monday, July 06, 2009
Give Thanks?
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
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
Thursday, May 28, 2009
unthink?
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
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
Thursday, April 23, 2009
On the Roll again...the update!!
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
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
Friday, July 25, 2008
Lessons from Joan of Arcadia
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
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
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
My first Sermon at Northstar
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
What would happen?
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
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
Monday, June 23, 2008
Something's Coming
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!
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!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Anything But Silent
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
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