Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving.... the day set a side to honor and praise God for all the many blessings of the past year. (Like we really need a holiday to remind to do that? Oh yeah... we are American’s) The Turkey is barely been digested and our new holiday.. “Black Friday” is all the rage around the USA.
Really after saying thank for all our blessing we need run out and buy MORE!
Run out a 3 or 4 a.m. because that’s when all the best deals are happening.
I think Satan is laughing his head off at our materialistic world.
Rather than sleep, get rested and enjoy family... we’d rather get up crazy early, push and shove in order to try and get that “door buster” or “super savings on select items”.
Really having more is really worth it!
The average person live on $2.00 per day in this world, while we are in line today.
Between Black Friday and Christmas Eve, we in America will spend more than 400 billion dollars. By Dec. 15th, we won’t even remember who gave us half of our new stuff.
Now I am not against gifts. I love both giving and receiving gifts.
But when we must get up long before the sun wakes up.... something is wrong.
When we go from thankfulness to credit card debt in 24 hours or less.... something is wrong.
Ask yourself who created “Black Friday”.... the retail outlets of America.
Who benefits from “Black Friday”.... the retail stores of the USA.
Ask yourself did the long, early morning, crazy shopping line radically change yours or anyone else's lives to day?
Maybe “Black Friday” is the best name for what is happening today. Maybe it best describes our hearts. Dark and black from the love of things, rather than the love of people.
But then again as a friend of mine mentioned this morning... “maybe this is like the fishing opener for women.”
Friday, November 27, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Crazy Love
This week we kick off a new discussion / book study based of the national best seller "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. The book starts off at an easy pace and then at Chapter 4 explodes with some serious challenge stuff.
Chan rights "this book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do."
I personally have been renewed, re-energized and deeply challenged by this book to take my faith up several notches. My prayer is that what we as individuals and a church community experience between Christmas will forever change us into living out an even deeper, crazier love for God and others.
Are you ready to get crazy?
How crazy is too crazy?
Chan rights "this book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do."
I personally have been renewed, re-energized and deeply challenged by this book to take my faith up several notches. My prayer is that what we as individuals and a church community experience between Christmas will forever change us into living out an even deeper, crazier love for God and others.
Are you ready to get crazy?
How crazy is too crazy?
Friday, November 06, 2009
Improved Podcast
Exciting news. This week Journey re-launched our podcast page. (Thanks to Joel H.)
This new podcast page is much more universal and will allow people to subscribe to itunes and always stay connected. (that part is in process now)
Check out the new podcast by going to our Journey Church front page
www.journeychurch.net
click on the podcast icon button.
Look for more video content via our Youtube account coming soon.
This new podcast page is much more universal and will allow people to subscribe to itunes and always stay connected. (that part is in process now)
Check out the new podcast by going to our Journey Church front page
www.journeychurch.net
click on the podcast icon button.
Look for more video content via our Youtube account coming soon.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Out of tbe darkness
It's been a few weeks since I have posted. The past few months have been some of the darkest, toughest of my ministry years, the life of this church and my personal family.
Spiritual warfare is real and it takes alot out of you...on so many levels.
But now I sense that we are moving out of that darkness and rolling again.
Personally I am more focused. I am feeling confident in handing things off to people, current and newer leaders. There is something to be said for coming through tough times together as a family, with the Holy Spirit. It pulls even closer. Oh yeah we've had some really intense interactions as of late... but we are also stronger for having not run from them. It's not fun, but it's been beneficial.
I believe that there is a new desire to advance again, welcome and intergrate newcomers as well. That is exciting. I am excited, because once again I have seen God work through hard times, I have seen His people rise up and I am freer to do what I am called to do.
It's good to see some light!
Spiritual warfare is real and it takes alot out of you...on so many levels.
But now I sense that we are moving out of that darkness and rolling again.
Personally I am more focused. I am feeling confident in handing things off to people, current and newer leaders. There is something to be said for coming through tough times together as a family, with the Holy Spirit. It pulls even closer. Oh yeah we've had some really intense interactions as of late... but we are also stronger for having not run from them. It's not fun, but it's been beneficial.
I believe that there is a new desire to advance again, welcome and intergrate newcomers as well. That is exciting. I am excited, because once again I have seen God work through hard times, I have seen His people rise up and I am freer to do what I am called to do.
It's good to see some light!
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