The ignorance of Pastors

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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!!