Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Do I love church more than my family?

I was thinking yesterday about my job and how I love it. I get to hang out with middle and high school students. They pay me for that! It is an honor to serve God with this young generation and pour into their lives.

I love studying other ministries and churches and putting together different series to speak on and different messages. I love reading books and blogs about church and God and community. I really invest a lot of time with these different ideas and things dealing with the church.

Everyone wants to be remembered for something. I think about my family a lot. 1 wife and 2 girls. Do I love them and study them as much as I do church stuff? I think that is a good question to think about. Some may say, "Justin! how could you possibly even think about loving ministry more than your family?". Well, to be honest, I am just evaluating where I put my time.

I think it can be a struggle for men to spend more time on other things than their wives and children. Sports, books, TV, gut stuff and jobs could definitely take the ranks over family if we are not careful.

I think of the Bible and how it says that "Husbands are to love our wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her". That is a huge responsibility for men... and we need to take it more seriously and do it.

Application: It is great to love my job and ministry and church stuff, but I need to constantly evaluate the time spent on my family. Justin, love your wife as Christ loves His church.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Indescribable

We just finished part one of a two part series called "Indescribable" by Loui Giglio. Here is a Montage. I recommend that you get your hands on the DVD. God is Huge.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Life without a Korean

My wife and I decided to venture out and host two Korean students 10 months ago. The journey is coming to a close in just 5 days. We started with two and now end with just one Korean(they could not get along).

Was it a wise decision? I think so. Obviously there are pros and cons to every big decision like this. We were praying that we would learn life lessons from an exchange student and prayed that we, as a family, would influence a teenage Korean student to have a family one day that would glorify God. We hope our marriage and the way we raise our kids has had an influence on Kristin for her in the future.

I also learned a few Korean words along the way. I can count to 10 and say "you eat dog poop". So, yeah, it was worth it.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Why do I do what I do?

When I use to think of the word Pastor, and Preacher and Reverend, I thought that those were old school terms and kind of... well I guess just old sounding. I knew I wanted to teach and speak the Word of God to people for a living, but I did not want any of those titles. Not sure if it was because most preachers are 60 years old with White hair, or if it is because they seem so high up on the spiritual ladder that no one could really get to know them. Well I am not 60, I'm 26. I am not high up on any spiritual ladder. I am just redeemed by the God who made me, just like the next.

So where am I now? I like the term Pastor, because it is my job to Sheppard a group of people. To challenge, encourage and love them. I will accept that word. I am a pastor. I do what I do because God has called me to love Him and the people who I come in contact with. To love people, to really love people. So I do it. That is my job. That is why I do what I do.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Creating a team

One of my gifts is nextworking. I love people. I love talking with, planning with and just hanging out with, people. I was able to talk with a friend today about networking with me to help me lead effectively.

I think we need people in the body of Christ to work together to get things done. Who can you call or talk to that can help you get things done today?

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Waisting Time

I think it is funny how the college crowd wastes a lot of time. I remember a few years ago at college, I was sitting in a dorm room playing Mario Cart at two in the morning. We wasted a lot of time. Don't get me wrong, a lot of it was fun and we joked and cracked up, but we probably did it too much.

Now that I am married and have two kids, time has become more valuable. Things matter more. I cannot take life as lightly as I did in college.

I wonder about Bible people. You know Moses, Noah, John, Peter and Jesus to name a few. I look at their lives and wonder if they just let a lot of life go by and not do much with it. I do not think so. I think most of those guys wanted to live life to the fullest. Sure they probably had times around the camp fire joking and cutting up, but for the most part, it seems that they did something with their lives.

Today I need to make the most of my time. What about you?

Monday, May 5, 2008

Tonight is the Big Night

I have been praying , studying and thinking through church planting and reaching a generation that is far from God. A generation lost. A generation with no hope. A few months back I was sharing my heart with my pastor about starting something new at our church. Something big.

Tonight is the night to see where our current church goes and if we will start something new to reach this generation.

Friday, May 2, 2008

The Emerging Church

Here are some thoughts on the emerging church. Most of these thoughts were brought about by Mark Driscolll's book "Confessions of a Reformission Rev".

First of all I learned today that there are two distinction. Here are 2 different looks (take note the names: Emerging vs. Emergent):

1. The Emerging Church: Seeks to reach people for the glory of God. This definition is true to God and His Word and is focused on Jesus for who He is. This movement I seem to like. They are about being real and genuine. This movement is very much involved in engaging the culture. Bringing Jesus to a postmodern culture.

2. The Emergent Church: Some trends: More mystical, no literal death of Christ as forgiveness of our sins, homosexuals are not sinful, hell is not literal, God does not know the future and gender roles. "the emergent church is the latest version of liberalism." -1

These are just a few thoughts. I am sure over the next week I will have some more thoughts.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

REmain Today

"...Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit..."

REmain Today