The Youngs

Had dinner last night with Micheal and Lindsey Young ( I probably spelled her name wrong. She also has great blog, but in mind sleepy state I cant find it)

Anyway, what a cool couple.



We laughed and had a blast. They are from Omaha and yes like the Huskers, but that's ok. maybe. Anyway, really connected and laughed a bunch. I don't plan on taking Micheal canoeing... ask him why when you have a minute to crack up.

Thursday

Wow, what a week. My computer blitzed this wek, and I have felt like a lost puppy with out it.

I am not sure how much it can really be saved with out a ton of money being spent. Well it can be saved and I probably will save her, but... I ordered a new Mac yesterday! Actually a refurb, but it should be sweet! I cant wait for it to get here.

We are getting ready for our first planning meeting as a team for 07. We are looking at a lot of things for the year, and I am stoked. We have spent a ton of time getting things planned and in the works. I am so excited about what our church is trying to accomplish in 07.

More to come.

sick baby

There is a 4 month old baby who is in Pediatric Intensive Care at Blank. She is there becuase she is has recieved some head trauma this week. Her little brain is bleeding and she has blood behind her retinas. Just terrible.

Please pray for her parents.

Our church dropped off a cooler full of drinks and goodies for the family. It is a new compassion ministry that I think will just love people right where the are. Whether a person is a believer or not the hospital is not a fun place.

Pray for this family. They are looking for faith.

Blog Hiatus

Just like any good television show, my blog took a hiatus for December.

I have to say that I have really missed sitting down and collecting my thoughts in the blogosphere. A whole lot has happened in the Josh brain the past month. WOW!

First I have been taking a class called Christ Life. Absolutely amazing. You can check it out at here. I am going to recommending that all of the church team leaders begin the classes in 2007. It radically changes your thought patterns about nearly everything. It begins to renew your mind as the Word teaches to really let Jesus be the source of strength, vision and encouragement in your life. So many of us have let our past experiences determine who we are today, and not really live in the promises we find in Jesus.

It isn't an easy process, but it has been life altering for me and my family. I also have had a lot of time to begin planning the 07 year for JCFC. Really evaluating who we are and what we want to do for the kingdom this year.

It is paramount that we are intentional about several things. One of the those things is discipleship. From the very beginning of JCFC, even in the dream stages, "disciple tracks to run in" so to speak have been on my heart. To this point we haven't put the emphasis there that needed to be there. So we are going that direction now! The Buzz and our new life groups (especially Alpha) are going to really drive us to that.

It is important that we keep the main thing the main thing. If not we just end up with chaos. The main thing is leading people into a personal relationship with Christ. I think that this community is going to be eternally changed by the Church. Not just JCFC, but the church of Jesus.

I have partnered with and meet with several pastors here in town and we want to change our city. It is the heartbeat of God to be at the very center of the lives of this town.

God it is my prayer that I am centered on you. That you lead and direct my footsteps everyday.

My scripture for at least January is Romans 8:28. All things work together for the good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.

All things, God is working on all things for our good. What a God.

Erwin Again "brilliant"

I was going to try to regurgitate this from Erwin McManus but he is too eloquent here...

taken from "Unstoppable Force"

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother saying, "Know the Lord," because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest." (Hebrews 8:10-11)

Gods purpose has always been about redeeming a people. But the modern church has reduced it the conversion of individuals. And there is a radical difference between leading one person to faith and leading a people to faith. The former produces a follower of Jesus Christ; the latter produces a movement of Jesus Christ. The first requires one heart bound to God. The second requires many hearts bound together in God. We know that there is a mystical connection between man and God, but we seem to have forgotten that mankind was created to love in a mystical relationship to each other. It takes on many shapes: family, clan, tribe, village, commune, gang, sect, community, society, nation, people. At the center of each expression is a culture born out of cult. people are bound together by an ethos that shapes not simply actions but minds and hearts. God sent his Son not only to call individuals to himself, but also to transform culture. And he prays for us that we would be one even as he and the Father are one.

"all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that nay of his possessions were his own, but the shared everything the had" (Acts 4:32)


All Erwin but great. I added the emphasis. Let that simmer for a few minutes. It will change your thoughts maybe...

Sickness messes up your week

Wow, I am finally recovered from being sick and now working late into the night on Friday to play the catch up game. Tomorrow looks nearly unbearable with the amount of things I need to get done, but I have a nutty week.

I know post said I was going to fill everyone in about the car crash we saw, and Dara more than beet me to it, so check out her blog and read all about it.

Sorry.

Ready for Sunday

Well, we are back from the Holiday trip. We had a blast. I will fill in the details late Sunday night.

I am expecting a great Sunday tomorrow. It is the last sermon in the why series, simply called, "Why Are We Here?"

I can't wait to preach it!

Turkey for me, turkey for you, turkey in a big brown shoe...

Here we are tonight at my inlaws house in Neosho, Mo. Had an interesting trip down, a blow out, bathroom breaks, and puking little boy. Wow.

But the short story is, its great to be here for a few days of relaxing and seeing our family!

As a side note we had 125 Sunday morning! Hurray.

Phone Book AD

Just thought I'd give everyone the update just in case you check out the ad in the Dex phone book. Don't worry we arent going to three services. The ad is totally wrong.

Check under churches in the phone book. You'll see our beautiful ad, that is wrong in everyway...

The phone book is working on solving the issue for us.

Colin the Narcissist

Colin and I were in my truck yesterday and pulled up next to a Semi. On older grandfatherly looking gent was driving. Colin loves trucks and especially big trucks. He was waving great big at the driver. Once the driver saw him, be kindly waved back.

Colin then looked at me, pointing to the driver and said, "Thinks me so cute." And a great big smile erupted on his face.

It was hilarious.

Affirmations Your Infant Needs to Hear

1. Welcome to our family, dear little (name). I am so glad you've come to be with us. We've been waiting for you and its wonderful that you're finally here.

2. (Name), your are such a beautiful, perfect little girl(boy). I like everything about you.

3. We've prepared a very special place for you to love and grow (name). We're so proud and happy to have you. You are such an important part of us.

4. (Name), you're goign to grow up to be a wonderful person. You have everything it takes. God gave you all the talent and equipment you'll ever need to have a wonderful life.

5. No matter what happens, we'll be here for you (name). You are completely safe. You are going to be well cared for. Dont worry little one, everything is going to be fine. You're goign to be safe and happy.

6. I want to take good care of you little (name). You are such a sweet baby and I love you so much.

7. We want to take good care of your every need. We are happy and anxious to feed, change, and clean you. We love to spend time with you, be with you, and look after you. Your needs are very important to us.

8. In all the world, there is none like you. No one can could ever take your place. You are unique and very special to us. You matter more than life itself to us. You are our baby (name), and nothing will ever change that.

9. (Name), we're you family. We're going to be here for you no matter what. We are going to prepare you for life. We'll see that you are well taught and that you recieve the right example. You're goign to have a wonderful life becuase we're going to take excellent care of you and see that you get everything you need to get ready for life.

Take a few minutes each day and affirm your children in these things. It is amazing to see the response in their eyes and body. I have said these things in the last week to both Awnna and Colin and it is great to see them light up!

Blue Man

Blue Man was amazing. I can't even begin to describe how cool it was. The band was fantastic. The had a full drum kit, plus two full percussion kits, a bassist, keys, two guitars and of course the blue men...

The show started with Tracy Bonham singing and playing guitar and violin. She was ok in my opinion, but better with the band. (Dara liked her though.) After a 35 minute set or so then lights changed and the backdrop dropped -out come the Blue Men.

The next two hours was jamb packed with percussion and lights, that only the Blue men can do. If you ever get a chance to see a show take it. Amazing music and production, comedy and seriousness ( a tribute to 9/11).

Ed Sustala cousins Wes is one of the lead Blue Men, and he got us some great tickets and backstage passes. I have no idea what the cost would have been on the floor where we sat, but we were in the second section from the stage.

Great show, definitely a must see.

Weekend Update

WOW what a great weekend!

We had a great service with amazing attendance. 113 with no "event." Awesome!

The bummer about the weekend is that the phone book came out and the ad is totally wrong! Pretty much everything about the ad is wrong.

It has us listed for 3 services on Sundays. I spoke with Jeff Mullen, lead pastor at Point of Grace, and he said maybe it was prophetic! Aghm.. No.

We are "working out" a deal with them to make it right. I willl keep you posted.

I am off to see Blue Man Group tonight. Gotta run.

Overseers at New Life Findings

I just read the Press Release that deal with the findings about Ted Haggard.

It is really a sad day for the Church right now. I think we need to all pray for New Life Church in Colorado Springs. You can go to their website at www.newlifechurch.org

I hate to hear about his kind of scandal. Actually any kind of scandal at all with in the church. It frustrates me, hurts me, and leaves me broken on the inside. I am broken that a the leader of a church he started could get so messed up that it comes to this, I am broken for the congregation, I am broken for the staff, I am broken for Colorado Springs...

I sit in my office, and pray that God helps me to maintain what I know as truth. I am fully aware that each of us can fall just as he has, but it is my prayer for my family that I stay true so they aren't subjected to this kind of pain.

Honestly it scares me to death. Not that I am on the verge right now of some kind of failure, but I don't want to fall into the traps that can lead to that kind of thing. As our church grows, as I grow, pray for me and for my family.

Satan wants nothing more than to destroy the church. It is the stronghold that keeps him from thriving.

Pray for New Life Church.

Ted Update

Wow, I am sure many of you by now have heard that Ted Haggard has admitted to buying meth from Mike Jones, the male prostitute. I don't really know what the truth is here, but I can only hope that it all comes to a head right now, so that that church can receive the healing it needs.

I think we need to continue to pray for this situation. I find it very disheartening, and my heart is heavy for the Church right now. Sad times, when leaders who have had such an impact, now have such am impact.

I can only think of the 80's and the scandals in Christianity and how that has hurt the church so much.

I don't really understand, except that satan literally wants to destroy the Church and the easiest way to impact an entire church is to take out the leader.

I am at a loss for words.

Colin's funny comments

The other day Colin was leaving with me, and he grabbed several things to take with him. (his trains of course, a frisbee, and a toy frog). Well once we got to the truck I put him in the cab, and was getting his carseat adjusted. He then said to me, "Hurry up Dad, this junk heavy."

It has hilarious.

Ted Haggard

Amidst the controiversy surrounding Ted Haggard, the lead pastor at New Life Church, my heart breaks for his staff and the whole issue.

This I know about the situation, he has in place a structure that if any allegations are made, a group of overseers will step in and do an exhaustive inquiry to the situation. I pray this turns out all right. Not just for the sake of Ted and his family, but for the church as well.

It makes me get a lottle introspective about where we are headed as a church. I really want to stay devoid of scandal as a church. I want our team and our church to stay in God's will. I want to be exactly what God wants me to be, all the time.

My prayer is that we would have clean hands and pure heart toward the work of God. Keep us under your covering, God. Help us to follow after your heart, and when we struggle we can work it out together with forgiveness and correction.

God keep me, and make me more like you. Help this church.

Haircuts

Isn't it great what a haircut can do for a guy? I just love the feeling that you get when you have fresh haircut. I feel like I can conquer the world. It is crazy but, it is self confidence booster for me.

So here we go...

The Heart of God

I have to think that God's heart breaks when people in the community are not taken care of that need help. I think as a church we have stayed inside our comfort zones too long. It is too easy to come to church, do our deal and leave the same way we came.

We are developing a new ministry that is just in the begining stages where somehow we have a database of sorts that lists all the services our church can provide within our body. That service can extend to those connected with the church as well as those outside the church.

For example, someone may love to babysit and is on the list to volunteer one night everyother week. Or maybe you have some basic mechanic skills and would check brakes or change oil. Or maybe you have some computer skills, or makeover skills, or you just love to spend some time with someone who is single.

Give it some thought.

Dream time

The past few days have been great for me. I have done a lot of driving and a lot of thinking. It is good to just let your mind dream as you drive or drift off to sleep. I love imagining what our church is becoming and what it will become.

I so often camp out on the text in Jeremiah 29:11-14a

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.

Powerful, huh? Isn't it crazy to think that God is planning on things happening in your life? Do you ever wake up in the morning and consider that God is working on your behalf today. I mean, really, Jesus the Son of God is ever interceding at the right hand of the Father for your sake. You think you don't matter, or you don't count. Think again the creator of the universe prays for you every day.

Changes the thought process up a bit. Every step is planned... Do we recognize that? Do we respond that way? How many divine appointments do we miss everyday just because we are not thinking like Jesus thinks?