Josh's Journey

Yes, I still live!

2006-04-04T14:51:00.000-05:00

Sorry for not updating in awhile. My schedule has been crazy! I made it back safely from Southeast Asia. I say "safely" but I am still recovering from something I got sick on in Cambodia almost a 4 weeks ago. "The Doctors office" you say? I couldn't hear you? What's that again? "Get checked for..." I'm sorry, I didn't hear that one either (LOL)

It was an incredible experience. I invite everyone to see my presentation on the subject at Trinity Christian Church on Sunday, April 9th from 9:30am to 10am. You will get my whole perspective.

Speaking of Trinity, we have officially changed our name to Journey Church. It is very exciting! Trinity Ministries will be our parent company, and Journey Church, Noah's Ark Preschool, and future endevors will be fall under as local church expressions. Isn't that what we really are anyway? Expressions of the church...

Off to Thailand

2006-03-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, sorry it's been awhile. The last month has been crazy. New people are in the church every week, lives are being changed, and I am making some great new friendships. I love this journey that I am on. It is not easy, but I am sure glab that it is not boring. God really has planned an exciting life, and I am learning what He meant when Christ said he was bringing "abundant life" (a phrase very much worth pondering).

I leave for Thailand in a few days. I wish I could say that it will be a great vacation, but I will be with Justice for Children international (www.jfci.org). They rescue young children from the secret world of child sex trafficking, a phrase that should never have had to be invented. I will be visting rescue homes, and even seeing the "Red-light" district that is a popular spot for these crimes to take place. It will be heartbreaking. I will be in Bangkok and Chang Mai, Thailand, and then I will also be in Poipet, Cambodia.

Please pray for me...

The Meaning of Journey

2006-01-16T10:59:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be appropriate to share with everyone why this is called Josh's Journey. Unfortunately, there is a mentality among some Christians that once one has made a "decision" for Christ, then one becomes a different person.

Yes, the Bible does say that one becomes a "new creation" but in the context of becoming a Christ-follower, that new creation is the rebirth of the soul/spirit of a human being, which is not fully reconciled until Heaven (pardon my crude theology).

The fact of the matter is that the Bible says that we are being changed from glory to glory (in a continual sense of the phrase). This means that, though being a Christ-follower, we still have some changing to do. There is still that pride that creeps in, that anger that seeps out, that flesh that speaks up. These are things to continue to work on in our lives.

Since being a Christ-follower is a daily process, I call it a Journey. It is the adventure of becoming the person God wants me to become, and the various chapters that I will live out on the way. It's way better than getting my fire insurance and doing nothing else. What are your thoughts???

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME

NARNIA

2005-12-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

Heather and I went to see Narnia yesterday (with our baby). It was great! I don't care what the critics or the long time fans of the books say, I loved it. Hey, I read the books when I was a kid, and I still loved the movie.

If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. The symbolism is rich with metaphors of Christ, sacrifice, and forgiveness. I cried... twice! Once during the sacrifice scene, and once during the "resurrection" scene. It was great to meditate on those thoughts again.

HAVE YOU SEEN IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Slush N' Snow

2005-12-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

Friday we had one of those wonderful Albany days. It was snowy and slushy and rainy and... well, you know what I'm talking about. I got home from work that day and our whole street was a slushy, icy mess. When I was going up my steps, I noticed Joan (from next door) out shoveling the slush from the sidewalks. She looked exhausted.

She had shoveled the sidewalks, but had not yet done her driveway. She was asking the guy who lived on my other side to help her. I had to butt in and volunteer. What a GREAT opportunity to share the love of Christ. On top of that, I met Ken (name protected), who is my other neighbor. Very exciting... He's a young guy, maybe 25, and he's really nice. I am learning a lot from my non-Christian neighbors. Many times they are more Christ-like then most Christians I know. Pray for them...

COMMENTS WELCOME AS ALWAYS

Justice and the church

2005-12-04T17:05:00.000-05:00

Old-school church taught that justice was God's revenge on those who have done wrong. Hey... We all have done wrong, so what's God really saying? Rob Morris, from Justice for Children International (www.jfci.org) spoke in church today. He has helped many people to understand TRUE justice.

To borrow a story Rob just gave me, why are people still associating the AIDS crisis in Africa with sexual sin? Some churches are still not doing anything about the problem. If there was a disease one could catch for being greedy, then the church in America would be filled with people with that disease (ouch).

Justice IS righting the wrong. To justify is to bring into balance debits and credits. I most definitely believe that doing something about AIDS and poverty in Africa is righting a wrong (justice). I know that combating human sex trafficking is righting a wrong (justice). The Bible says, "Pure and undeveloped religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress" (James 1:27).

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS, SO FEEL FREE TO POST!

Turkey Coma

2005-11-22T09:26:00.000-05:00

Besides the family and the food, the BEST thing about Thanksgiving is the period of hibernation that occurs after the meal. I love my traditional slumber, while watching foosball, after gorging myself with turkey, stuffing, potatoes and all that good stuff! Because of the strong effects of the triptophan (the chemical in turkey which causes drowsiness) I offer the following warnings:

1. PLEASE, please, please don't feast-&-drive. The power of the turkey is too much to try to undertake a long journey after the Thanksgiving meal. If you must travel after consuming some of that delicious bird, please wait one hour for every 4 ounces of turkey consumed before driving. Use the previous formula for any amount of turkey (i.e. 2 hours for 8 oz, 3 hours for 12 oz, etc.). Please be considerate... friends don't let friends feast-&-drive.

2. If you want to have the most pleasurable turkey experience, please be careful about mixing foods. Some households put out more than one main meat out for Thanksgiving. I've even heard of some families having a turkey, roast beef, and a ham at the table at the same time! Be warned, in most cases the effects of the turkey coma can be enhanced and mutated by mixing ham and roast beef along with it. After the turkey nap, many people who have mixed their meats have experienced headaches, nausea, vomiting, and the need for more naps. Some say the cure to this is to have more turkey (the hair of the dog that bit you), but if you do, you may just sleep through the third round of dessert (and you DON'T want to miss that).

So if you are planning on having a most pleasurable Thanksgiving day, follow these rules for a safe and happy eating experience. As for enhancing the family experience... good luck, you're on your own!

Happy Thanksgiving!

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME

The Game of Global Domination

2005-11-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

I haven't played "Risk" in years, but I love the classic boardgame. It's probably one of the best board games ever (gosh)! Last Sunday I used the game as an illustration and this Sunday I will open it up and show everyone my terrible strategy.

Risk is not a fun word to the everyday Christian. Most people in the world are only accustomed to change when it directly effects there own lives for the better (and if it doesn't, then the change MUST be bad--LOL, please note my sarcasm). Just the opposite is true of the Apostles and the early church. They did nothing short of Risky Business.

So how does the church today take risks? ACTUALLY, how SHOULD the church today take risks? "The Bible tells me so" therefore, come out on Sunday (to the faithful few who read my boring blog) and see what it's all about!

COMMENTS WELCOME

The cat's out of the bag!

2005-10-31T17:54:00.000-05:00

So tonight I had an interesting conversation with the people next door. I've been livin' in the city for a little over a year and have gotten to know my neighbors, Joan and Vance (names are changed to protect them). It's always been small talk, but tonight Heather and I ran into them coming home and had a long conversation. It started with small talk about trick-or-treaters, then it progressed to the Simsons (of which I'm a big fan), then to politics (yikes). Vance started commenting about Bible thumpers and I realized then that he didn't know what I did for a living. When Heather and I revealed it he was shocked saying, "but you guys are so normal!"

That's the deal... Unfortunately there are a lot of people giving us a BAD name. I had to then explain to Joan and Vance our true hearts and that we were unlike some of "those people" that they've run into in the past. They were relieved. These are good people, who have a bad taste in their mouth about Christians (and who can blame them).

Just makes me want to be more real, more transparent, more loving than I've ever been....

(pray for Joan and Vance, and for us... that we could have more REAL conversations with them)

ALL COMMENTS ARE WELCOME