Hey all, just got back from a Facilities conference last night. The conference focused on the use, maintenance, purpose, and versatility of facilities. What I especially liked was that it all, no matter what it is, should point to the purposes of the Church and bring God glory. We as a church exist to tell, show, and demonstrate the love of Christ to our world. This is why we have dinners, donuts, conversation, Life Groups, and ministry teams, just to name a few. To enlighten the minds of our community that they do not have to be lonely and spiritually hungry. To en flame hearts to discover purpose and meaning in life.
I have just started a new communication device through the web called twitter. Funny little name, and very different in its purpose. I just thought I would give it a test drive to see if it will help me to better communicate with many. I will provide a link on this blog. Twitter simply asks "What are you doing now?" So throughout the day, I will be letting the world know, what I am doing? Right now I am reviewing notes, and blogging.
Today in National Day of Prayer, come on down to Stafford Courthouse to join a group of people that will pause and pray.
J
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wow
I am saying Wow a lot this past week. Why? Good things and bad things. Right now I am at home with my sick little one Chloe. She is never sick. Never has had anything more than about a 24 hour bug. The strange thing is that she got sick early Saturday morning right before her 5Th birthday party. We managed to get through it, but we are not out of the woods yet. Wow, why would my never sick child get sick before the most important celebration of the year (in her mind).
Wow! I am blessed by our church family. The Grace series that Pastor Rich did was great. I hope that you all have had a chance to hear some of those message. We all need to be encouraged that God's grace is sufficient. I am blessed that we had such an amazing response to the Compassion project. Our totals were in the double digits of kids sponsored and that is a total home run.
Wow! My kids are growing and showing some great maturity. Kaitlyn has announced to Christa and I what she wants to be, and where she intends to go to school. Landon has been doing great in school and an awesome help around the house. Our kids are real kids, there are ups and downs but Wow they are awesome.
Wow! Christa has a birthday next weekend (about all I can say). I have a wonderful wife. Wow it is Spring, nice weather. Wow, its spring but not nice weather.
I do start a new series called "Unforgettable" this week. My prayer is that it will bless our church as it has me in the preparation. I am convinced our life on the earth is important, not for what we get, but for what we give and even leave behind. Come hear some wonderful stories of heroes of the faith and American history.
Be blessed everyone - because rain or shine - you are blessed.
J
Wow! I am blessed by our church family. The Grace series that Pastor Rich did was great. I hope that you all have had a chance to hear some of those message. We all need to be encouraged that God's grace is sufficient. I am blessed that we had such an amazing response to the Compassion project. Our totals were in the double digits of kids sponsored and that is a total home run.
Wow! My kids are growing and showing some great maturity. Kaitlyn has announced to Christa and I what she wants to be, and where she intends to go to school. Landon has been doing great in school and an awesome help around the house. Our kids are real kids, there are ups and downs but Wow they are awesome.
Wow! Christa has a birthday next weekend (about all I can say). I have a wonderful wife. Wow it is Spring, nice weather. Wow, its spring but not nice weather.
I do start a new series called "Unforgettable" this week. My prayer is that it will bless our church as it has me in the preparation. I am convinced our life on the earth is important, not for what we get, but for what we give and even leave behind. Come hear some wonderful stories of heroes of the faith and American history.
Be blessed everyone - because rain or shine - you are blessed.
J
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Hole in your sandal
So Chad Bledsoe and I were talking at lunch. We were both commenting on how it is so true that when God does amazing things hard times follow. We reflected on the how the Israelites are moving into the promised land, but blowing it all the time.
We laughed when we thought of the Red Sea miracle. The Israelites are looking at God's miracle of the parting of the red sea. Is it possible as they traversed the dry land between the seas there was some complaining? Do I ever in the midst of God doing some amazing things, notice the little issues in life. Just as we have heard in the series that Pastor Rich is doing, Grace is sufficient and it surrounds us. Do we notice? Or do we stop and notice the hole in the sandal.
The mountain top experiences are seemingly always followed by Monday morning issues. Jesus knew and lived that out. When we experience the hardships, like Christ did, we need to learn to receive His grace - because He understands.
Just thinking that as human beings we get a lot of opportunities to grow. Let' grow.
J
We laughed when we thought of the Red Sea miracle. The Israelites are looking at God's miracle of the parting of the red sea. Is it possible as they traversed the dry land between the seas there was some complaining? Do I ever in the midst of God doing some amazing things, notice the little issues in life. Just as we have heard in the series that Pastor Rich is doing, Grace is sufficient and it surrounds us. Do we notice? Or do we stop and notice the hole in the sandal.
The mountain top experiences are seemingly always followed by Monday morning issues. Jesus knew and lived that out. When we experience the hardships, like Christ did, we need to learn to receive His grace - because He understands.
Just thinking that as human beings we get a lot of opportunities to grow. Let' grow.
J
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Let Hope Rise
Hello everyone
It has been a few weeks since my last blog. So much has happened. Some good, some bad. I know that many of you can relate. I must confess I have had a hard time staying up. It weighs on me to talk to so many that are hurting and going through difficult times. Especially true when they are people that are close to us.
Last week the family dog, Thurston, was hit by a car. He had been staying with my parents in Florida. They are heart broken to lose such a dear pet that was truly a friend to the family. I will never forget bringing him home to meet the kids about 5 years ago. It is tough to see him go.
As I look around I can see that Spring is trying. March came in like a lion, and frankly outside of a few days, stayed pretty cold. In fact today - April 3- it is sleeting outside. Neverthless the cherry blossoms have blossomed and I even wore shorts just a few days ago. Spring is coming. Let Hope Rise folks. We are here for each other. Let's pray and continue to journey together.
On that note - Horizons provided 728.7 lbs of food for the Serve organization. This was amazing, and the director was just flabbergasted at the amount our church brought in. Great job everybody and thanks for all your contributions to the Kingdom of God.
Let Hope Rise, His Grace is enough for all of us. I think Pastor Rich's message this Sunday will be very timely. Grace to stand. That is so true, but sometimes hard to do. Stand. His Grace will provide hope to carry on. Let's keep going folks God is awesome.
Keep watching our land, some exciting stuff is going to be happening in just a few days.
Shalom
Jay
It has been a few weeks since my last blog. So much has happened. Some good, some bad. I know that many of you can relate. I must confess I have had a hard time staying up. It weighs on me to talk to so many that are hurting and going through difficult times. Especially true when they are people that are close to us.
Last week the family dog, Thurston, was hit by a car. He had been staying with my parents in Florida. They are heart broken to lose such a dear pet that was truly a friend to the family. I will never forget bringing him home to meet the kids about 5 years ago. It is tough to see him go.
As I look around I can see that Spring is trying. March came in like a lion, and frankly outside of a few days, stayed pretty cold. In fact today - April 3- it is sleeting outside. Neverthless the cherry blossoms have blossomed and I even wore shorts just a few days ago. Spring is coming. Let Hope Rise folks. We are here for each other. Let's pray and continue to journey together.
On that note - Horizons provided 728.7 lbs of food for the Serve organization. This was amazing, and the director was just flabbergasted at the amount our church brought in. Great job everybody and thanks for all your contributions to the Kingdom of God.
Let Hope Rise, His Grace is enough for all of us. I think Pastor Rich's message this Sunday will be very timely. Grace to stand. That is so true, but sometimes hard to do. Stand. His Grace will provide hope to carry on. Let's keep going folks God is awesome.
Keep watching our land, some exciting stuff is going to be happening in just a few days.
Shalom
Jay
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Not already
With disbelief in staff meeting this week we discussed the tragic "Spring Forward" daylight savings time is for this weekend. I can say that not a single person has been joyful or excited about this Saturday's moving time forward. Yes friends, this weekend, a very early March 8th is that weekend to set your clock ahead one hour.
Makes me think how valuable is that hour to each of us. For most it means a loss of sleep. For others it means know SNL for Saturday night. One hour can be very meaningful in prayer. It can be wonderful for communication and relationships. One hour is something that we often waste, so think about your preparation for this weekend.
I personally will find it hard to get up on Sunday morning, and especially one hour earlier. Let's remember to pray for all of our team that is there first thing on Sunday's, they do a great job.
I am very shocked that we are in March. 2008 is rolling right along. Christa and I are making plans for the spring and summer. Trying to find a little time to get with family and have some fun. It can be hard to come by.
I am a Disney fanatic. Recently on the Travel Channel they had a full day of Disney, visiting parks, ranking rides, showing new attractions. It was awesome, wall to wall Disneyworld. My family just watched, staring in silence. Chloe would occasionally let us know that she would like to ride this and ride that. My research tells me that if we can make it there this year, she will be tall enough to do all the rides except two - Rock and Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest. There is a small debate on if we should expose her to the Tower of Terror. Feel free to let me know what you think her. It could be fantastic or traumatic, and probably both.
Blessing to all - Here comes Spring.
J
Makes me think how valuable is that hour to each of us. For most it means a loss of sleep. For others it means know SNL for Saturday night. One hour can be very meaningful in prayer. It can be wonderful for communication and relationships. One hour is something that we often waste, so think about your preparation for this weekend.
I personally will find it hard to get up on Sunday morning, and especially one hour earlier. Let's remember to pray for all of our team that is there first thing on Sunday's, they do a great job.
I am very shocked that we are in March. 2008 is rolling right along. Christa and I are making plans for the spring and summer. Trying to find a little time to get with family and have some fun. It can be hard to come by.
I am a Disney fanatic. Recently on the Travel Channel they had a full day of Disney, visiting parks, ranking rides, showing new attractions. It was awesome, wall to wall Disneyworld. My family just watched, staring in silence. Chloe would occasionally let us know that she would like to ride this and ride that. My research tells me that if we can make it there this year, she will be tall enough to do all the rides except two - Rock and Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest. There is a small debate on if we should expose her to the Tower of Terror. Feel free to let me know what you think her. It could be fantastic or traumatic, and probably both.
Blessing to all - Here comes Spring.
J
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Seasonal depression anyone?
Wow, I have heard a lot of comments lately on being down, depressed, tired, and other such words. Yes it could be one of many things. One thing I did not know until the other day was that vitamin D is important to our well being. Obviously we need vitamins, but do we know how to get specific ones? I did not, but I am learning. Vitamin D is manufactured by our bodies from the sun. No sun, no vitamin D. So if you are feeling blue, a simple solution might be adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet.
Now let us pause and see if their is any other significance to this time of discouragement.
Personally I have been fighting the 'blues' for the past few weeks. I am overcoming, by praying, by choosing to smile, and by trying to offload some of my stress through fitness and family. I don't know why, but this time of year is very tough. I love the fall seaon and the holidays, but once we turn the calendar it gets tough. I/We start to get a little cabin fever and want to get outside. We ache for summer, swimming, golf, and late sunsets.
Here is the good news, Spring Break is just four weeks away. The weather as crazy as it is, has been warmer over the last few weeks and it looks like an early spring (writing this we have a forecast for snow and ice in the next 24 hours). In the meantime, choose happiness, smile, spend some time with family, and remember as a follower of Christ we have the one who sticks closer than a brother. Let's go to Him to receive a fresh blessing.
How about some new music- I am really loving a new song called "Moving Forward". You will hear it soon at Horizons. Let's keep moving and believing for God to use us to change the world.
Shalom
Jay
Now let us pause and see if their is any other significance to this time of discouragement.
Personally I have been fighting the 'blues' for the past few weeks. I am overcoming, by praying, by choosing to smile, and by trying to offload some of my stress through fitness and family. I don't know why, but this time of year is very tough. I love the fall seaon and the holidays, but once we turn the calendar it gets tough. I/We start to get a little cabin fever and want to get outside. We ache for summer, swimming, golf, and late sunsets.
Here is the good news, Spring Break is just four weeks away. The weather as crazy as it is, has been warmer over the last few weeks and it looks like an early spring (writing this we have a forecast for snow and ice in the next 24 hours). In the meantime, choose happiness, smile, spend some time with family, and remember as a follower of Christ we have the one who sticks closer than a brother. Let's go to Him to receive a fresh blessing.
How about some new music- I am really loving a new song called "Moving Forward". You will hear it soon at Horizons. Let's keep moving and believing for God to use us to change the world.
Shalom
Jay
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Oops
I guess you could say that I stuck my foot in my mouth this past Sunday. In the 11am service, while talking about the tongue, I made mention that my beautiful wife was holding up well for her age. Yes, I know, it just came out. I had several people comment to me afterward. You know that I did my best to explain it away, but only dug deeper. I am paying for it this week. I make this promise to make it up to her as we go into Valentines day.
The funny thing is that I just had made a point to tell the truth with tact. The quote I used was that "everything that is said must be true, but not everything true must be said." I guess you could say I should listen to my own advice. It really is tough to be caught in your own words. The scripture is very true that the tongue is full of life and death, so be careful out there.
Speaking of Christa though, my wife looks great. She is doing much better than I am. I look at pictures of Christa and I from just a few years ago, and think what happened to me. The hair thing is what it is. Everything else I do have control over. I have renew my commitment to health. I want to get better. I know how to, now the hard part, doing it. The doing is hard for all of us, but the payoff it great.
I am learning and growing. Keep on keeping on.
J
The funny thing is that I just had made a point to tell the truth with tact. The quote I used was that "everything that is said must be true, but not everything true must be said." I guess you could say I should listen to my own advice. It really is tough to be caught in your own words. The scripture is very true that the tongue is full of life and death, so be careful out there.
Speaking of Christa though, my wife looks great. She is doing much better than I am. I look at pictures of Christa and I from just a few years ago, and think what happened to me. The hair thing is what it is. Everything else I do have control over. I have renew my commitment to health. I want to get better. I know how to, now the hard part, doing it. The doing is hard for all of us, but the payoff it great.
I am learning and growing. Keep on keeping on.
J
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