I know a lot of people have asked me when I was going to write the next blog. I always answered with a simple answer, "soon." The reason why I would answer like that is because I know that God was going to give me words to say...soon. Whether that was going to be a a couple hours later or a couple months down the road, he would 'soon' give me the words to put on this blog. The key factor that I want you to realize is this is not my work. I am not going to try and force words on this blog that are my own to seek out glory to myself.
I was talking with a Brother in Christ a couple weeks ago after church, it has become a weekly ritual that we have lunch. We usually end up eating pizza at Ci Ci's but this week we decided to go to Penn Station and eat the amazing subs that they have to offer. Normal Sunday lunch we will talk about each others week and also about Church. This particular week got deep. Speaking about what God has been showing to us. This is a little snap shot of what we talked about...
You may have clicked on this and wondered about the title "Middle Class Jesus". I am reading "Radical" by David Platt, and he mentions "Middle Class Jesus" in that book. If you want a good slap in the face then read that book. I am on Chapter 3 and I can already recommend it to people as a must read. Back on topic, the reason for the title "Middle Class Jesus" is because I think some people (including myself) have shaped 'our' Jesus into that. To many times today I hear people rationalizing the "Word" (Reminder: I am throwing myself in this pool also. I am not even more Holy than anyone else). Making it to where the Word conforms to them. Hearing/Using sayings like "What God really meant was..." or "I think that God was meaning it like this..." even "It's o.k. for me to do this because Jesus never really said I couldn't". I hate to admit it but...we are rationalizing the Word. What I am afraid of is this, taking Gods words and making them into ours...fitting Jesus into the acceptance as a middle class man. If we believe in 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-Breathed..." then why are we arguing with our God. God also promises to us that his word is the same today, yesterday and will be forever. (Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.) So, if that is true then the words that were spoken into existence a little over 2,000 years ago is still relevant till this day and will not expire. We/I have no argument when it comes to the "word". We need to accept it and take up our Cross and fight the good fight. This is a tough pill for me to swallow, because if satan is good at one thing with me its this. Rationalizing...molding Jesus into a middle class man where everything that I say...he agrees with, or so I am deceived to believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7W4I0tQZps <--- Could be the next topic..."Identity"
Much Love,
-JDB
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
God Speaking
Tonight was another night that I found myself driving at 1 am around Danville. I don't know what it is about driving around my hometown that puts me in a state of thinking, but it did a good job tonight and it was worth every penny of gas that I used. I get way to much on my mind and instead of finding someone to talk to, I just drive and talk to God. I am sure some can relate to this. One of the thoughts that stuck out more than the rest was a recent conversation that I had with a friend...about Gods will and how we know its Him speaking and not our selfish ambition...
First off, I love having conversations with people when it involves questions of wonder about God. The conversation I had with this particular person was one that sticks out above every other conversation I have had because I learned a lot through it myself. So that is where this blog is coming from, I hope this can help you out if you struggle with this like myself.
There is a lot of speculation about God speaking in the world today. A lot of people will complain that they bring their troubles to God through prayer and he doesn't respond. Thus, giving them a reason to believe that God has forgotten about them. Some people can not grasp the fact that God really does answer our questions. Others have trouble deciphering whether or not the answer they feel they have received is that of their own or Gods will. While others will ask and not search for an answer thinking God will bluntly come out and give it to them.
To be honest with you, and I will speak amongst many believers and myself, it can be hard to tell the difference between selfish answers and Gods answers. Speaking for myself and what I want to share with you through this blog is what helps me decide whether of not this is God speaking or myself.
The first thing that helps me decided whether or not God is answering my question or if I am, is how my walk with God is going at that particular time. If my walk with God is slipping then I know that their is a chance that my selfish ambitions are slipping through. The reason why I say this is because if we are fixed on Gods heart and really searching the world for what breaks his heart, by spending time in prayer and fellowship along with reading the Bible then our wants and needs turn into his wants and needs for our lives. But the second that I slip and find myself not searching after Gods heart, I find my selfish ways shining through and not Gods light. When we are after Gods heart, its like we don't have to question whether or not this is Gods will because it all makes sense and fits right into place. You start to see what you can't live without!
The second thing that helps me decide whether or not God is speaking is being willing to hear the two letter word..."no." A lot of people, including myself, will go into prayer and automatically think that what they are asking for will be answered how they want it to be. I would say 99.9% of the time we are not thinking God is going to answer with a "no." The main reason we think this is because we know that God wants the best for our life. And at that moment in time, what we see best for our life is what God is saying "no" to. Its a hard lesson to learn, to know that Gods interest for our life looks far beyond what we can see. The reason why we really need to live by faith and not by sight.
The main thing that we need to do is fix our eyes on the cross. Spend our quiet times praising God though prayer and reading the bible while spending time in fellowship with others. That is when God shows us our plans for our lives.
I know this blog came out of no where but I felt like it needed to be written and sent out. If all goes the way it seems like it is, the next two blogs will be split up. One for the Ladies and one for the Gentlemen. This could get interesting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ2_Gg6ka-k
Much Love,
JDB
First off, I love having conversations with people when it involves questions of wonder about God. The conversation I had with this particular person was one that sticks out above every other conversation I have had because I learned a lot through it myself. So that is where this blog is coming from, I hope this can help you out if you struggle with this like myself.
There is a lot of speculation about God speaking in the world today. A lot of people will complain that they bring their troubles to God through prayer and he doesn't respond. Thus, giving them a reason to believe that God has forgotten about them. Some people can not grasp the fact that God really does answer our questions. Others have trouble deciphering whether or not the answer they feel they have received is that of their own or Gods will. While others will ask and not search for an answer thinking God will bluntly come out and give it to them.
To be honest with you, and I will speak amongst many believers and myself, it can be hard to tell the difference between selfish answers and Gods answers. Speaking for myself and what I want to share with you through this blog is what helps me decide whether of not this is God speaking or myself.
The first thing that helps me decided whether or not God is answering my question or if I am, is how my walk with God is going at that particular time. If my walk with God is slipping then I know that their is a chance that my selfish ambitions are slipping through. The reason why I say this is because if we are fixed on Gods heart and really searching the world for what breaks his heart, by spending time in prayer and fellowship along with reading the Bible then our wants and needs turn into his wants and needs for our lives. But the second that I slip and find myself not searching after Gods heart, I find my selfish ways shining through and not Gods light. When we are after Gods heart, its like we don't have to question whether or not this is Gods will because it all makes sense and fits right into place. You start to see what you can't live without!
The second thing that helps me decide whether or not God is speaking is being willing to hear the two letter word..."no." A lot of people, including myself, will go into prayer and automatically think that what they are asking for will be answered how they want it to be. I would say 99.9% of the time we are not thinking God is going to answer with a "no." The main reason we think this is because we know that God wants the best for our life. And at that moment in time, what we see best for our life is what God is saying "no" to. Its a hard lesson to learn, to know that Gods interest for our life looks far beyond what we can see. The reason why we really need to live by faith and not by sight.
The main thing that we need to do is fix our eyes on the cross. Spend our quiet times praising God though prayer and reading the bible while spending time in fellowship with others. That is when God shows us our plans for our lives.
I know this blog came out of no where but I felt like it needed to be written and sent out. If all goes the way it seems like it is, the next two blogs will be split up. One for the Ladies and one for the Gentlemen. This could get interesting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ2_Gg6ka-k
Much Love,
JDB
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Make War, remember that?
Here lately, I have been reminiscing back to the idea of "Make War." "Make war" has seriously shown up everywhere. I was reading a book the other night and I'll be darn if in the middle of that book "make war" showed up in it, talking about how we are in a spiritual war. The author pointed out Revelations Chapter 12 to make his point, of which I will touch on. Then out of no where John Piper showed up on my iPod. For those of you who know a little about me, I am a big John Piper fan. What shown up on my iPod was not a song like some would imagine. Rather, a clip of his sermon where he preaches about "making war." At that point I gave in. Went to YouTube and listened to Tedashii song "make war" which is off of the sermon preached by Piper. It doesn't stop there. I was driving home, literally a day after that. Got to Nicholasville and on Air1 a song came on that I had never heard. Here are the lyrics:
My foes are many, they rise against me
But I will hold my ground
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
From You Lord, from You Lord
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always, always
After listening to the song, I was speechless. I didn't know what to say or think. Now, I know that I was in the car by myself but usually when stuff like this happens, by myself or not, I start yelling stuff like "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" or "Man, God is Great!" and even "Praise God!" followed by vicious fist pumps. I mean come on now, don't act like I am crazy. You know you do the same. But at times I would love to see the faces in the the car next to me if they see what I am doing.
Bringing it all back together, I took all of this as a reminder. Something I believe we all should be reminded of. It is easy to get off track and forget that we are at war. Not just with Satan and his many ways but also with our human bodies and the sin it can produce. We must be on guard at all times, its no joke. Its important because when we are off our guard that is when we are at our weakest and we all know that's when Satan is going to strike full force. Piper mentions in his sermon this: "There is something about war that sharpens the senses. You hear a twig snap or rustling of leaves and you are in attack mode. Someone coughs and you are ready to pull the trigger. Even after days and nights of no sleep, war keeps us vigilant." This is how we should be 24/7!
It seems that today, I see a lot of church's preach the "feel good" of Christianity. Which is fine if that is what God is laying on the Pastors heart to preach but what we have to be sure of is this. That the Christian walk is not all sunshine and rainbows. We have the Love that is not attainable from anything in this world, but rather in our God. He will not leave us nor forsake us and like the song states:
"Oh, my God, He will not delay / My refuge and strength always / I will not fear, His promise is true / My God will come through always, always"
What we need to know is there is another side to the ball game. One that calls for an all out war, like Piper states. This is where Revelations Chapter 12 comes into play. I am not going to state the whole chapter but rather point out the last verses of it (I do however, think you should read that chapter in full to understand where this is coming from). In this chapter it is all about "war". There was a war in heaven and it ultimately ends up with the dragon along with Satan and his army being hurled to earth. It doesn't end there, but rather another war that starts and doesn't end and includes you. We see this in verse 17, "Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring-those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus." I promise you this is not made up or I am trying to scare you in any way but rather to show that this is real life and we-are-at-war.
I know this sounds scary to some and others take it as encouragement to fight the good fight. But through and through realize this, Our God is there to fight for us. There is nothing that can defeat our God. Whether it seems that Satan has a foot-hold on you and not letting go or its sin that is creeping up, getting the best of you. He is their to fight for us and with us, it's when we feel that we can fight this war by ourselves that we start losing battles. We need to hold on to the truth:
I know this sounds scary to some and others take it as encouragement to fight the good fight. But through and through realize this, Our God is there to fight for us. There is nothing that can defeat our God. Whether it seems that Satan has a foot-hold on you and not letting go or its sin that is creeping up, getting the best of you. He is their to fight for us and with us, it's when we feel that we can fight this war by ourselves that we start losing battles. We need to hold on to the truth:
"Oh, my God, He will not delay / My refuge and strength always / I will not fear, His promise is true / My God will come through always, always"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN7L3m9jIcc
Much Love
JDB
JDB
Friday, May 27, 2011
short but full of meaning.
I have fought with this blog for a while now, and I am finally going to give in and just throw it out there for you guys. It was roughly 3 weeks ago, maybe longer that I was attending a meeting for church and in the middle of it God threw this idea in my mind. I was so excited that I told the first person that I encountered which was Leanna in the Library. You can ask her about this statement and she will tell you that it has been a long time since I first talked about it. You may look at it and think, "wow... that's it?" Or you may read this and think, "wow, punch in the face".
I have thought of many different ways that I could possibly tie in a story to go along with this statement like a side dish. But this is the main course and I don't think there needs to be any stories on the side other than the statement.
While being amongst many people with different gifts in the meeting 3 weeks ago. I was thinking about the infinite amount of gifts that God gives us. While thinking about that, I was also thinking about 1 Corinthians 12. After reading that, it was confirmed that I needed to share this. So, here ya go:
"You know how people will say: 'I am trying to find where I belong in the body of Christ?' Well, I don't think its about them finding where they belong. Rather, accepting where Christ is using them."
We all have dreams and we all have aspirations. God knows that, don't for one second think that God doesn't. But what we need to realize is, God's plans for our lives sometimes doesn't equal our plans for our own lives. So many times I sit back and watch people get upset because they are not holding a position in the Church, at Work, or just in life as a whole. As I am asking myself this, let me ask you. Are you fighting where God wants to use you in the Body of Christ at the moment or are you going to let him shine through you no matter the circumstance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaPMSUYQmo4
Much Love
-JDB
I have thought of many different ways that I could possibly tie in a story to go along with this statement like a side dish. But this is the main course and I don't think there needs to be any stories on the side other than the statement.
While being amongst many people with different gifts in the meeting 3 weeks ago. I was thinking about the infinite amount of gifts that God gives us. While thinking about that, I was also thinking about 1 Corinthians 12. After reading that, it was confirmed that I needed to share this. So, here ya go:
"You know how people will say: 'I am trying to find where I belong in the body of Christ?' Well, I don't think its about them finding where they belong. Rather, accepting where Christ is using them."
We all have dreams and we all have aspirations. God knows that, don't for one second think that God doesn't. But what we need to realize is, God's plans for our lives sometimes doesn't equal our plans for our own lives. So many times I sit back and watch people get upset because they are not holding a position in the Church, at Work, or just in life as a whole. As I am asking myself this, let me ask you. Are you fighting where God wants to use you in the Body of Christ at the moment or are you going to let him shine through you no matter the circumstance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaPMSUYQmo4
Much Love
-JDB
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Talking To The Big Man Upstairs ^
I think it is important for me to point this out before I write another blog. I don't have it all together and I never will. This shouldn't come as a shock to many of you. But, I know that there is a lot of people who read this blog across the States and in different countries around the world and have no idea who I am, just the fact that I am presenting "religious thoughts." I think one of the biggest misconceptions in today's world is the thought that religious leaders (ex: preachers, youth ministers, worship leaders and random Joe's who know the bible back and forth) have it all together and know everything. The reason why I point this out is because I don't want any of my words belong to me on this blog. God gets ALL the glory. Most of the blogs that I write come from experiences where God has shown something to me and the rest God has laid on my heart to share. I would love to talk to each and every person about my blog but I never want someone thinking that because I write this blog I think I am better than the rest because truth is, I screw up a lot and continue to. I am human and am learning through this blog also. You may know but I am now starting to get into the whole twitter ordeal, @jdb407 - follow me. But I seem to do more reading than I do tweeting. The other day I skimmed across a tweet from John Piper a preacher from Minneapolis, "No pastor lives up to what he preaches. If he does, he is preaching too low." That sums it up right there. Now on to the blog.
Lately I have found myself asking God for a lot of guidance. I don't think God has a problem with me asking for that but I began to think a little bit more about it and have come to conclusion that I am sounding very needy. Which made me think about real life. One of the things that really irritates me the most is when you only hear from specific people when they have problems. When things are going good for them they are like a ghost to you but when things are rough and on rocky edges they are by your side asking what they need to do. You can't help but to ask yourself what your role is in their life. Which then leads me to ask, whats the role that God has in our lives? Is he someone that we only talk to when we screw up, need help or a miracle to happen? Or, is he someone that we talk to as if we are in intimate relationship with him? Is God someone that we only talk to when things are bad or is God someone that we talk to through the good, the bad and all the time?
"Come near to God and He will come near to you" - James 4:8
You may argue that having a relationship with God is different than having a relationship with anyone else but I will beg to differ with that. Yes, God knows everything that is going on in our life and he knew it long before we were ever thought of but if he was a God who didn't care about us then he would have sent his son Jesus Christ to this world let him die for our sins and be done with it. Instead, He calls us his children:
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12
God wants to know every detail about our lives. From the smallest thing that made you happy today to the biggest concern that we may have. God is a Father that will never leave nor forsake us, he is the ultimate Father who shows compassionate love to everyone. God wants to be apart of every aspect in our life and just as important God wants to know all about it with our thoughts and feelings. A true Father wants to know everything that is going on in their child's life, they don't just want to know what they can do to help but to know about their day, how it went and what all they did. So, I challenge you as I challenge myself. Don't just run to God when you are in need or you messed up. But talk to God throughout the day about anything and everything, he really does care and he really does listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tj8N5Bj6DE
-Much Love, JDB
Lately I have found myself asking God for a lot of guidance. I don't think God has a problem with me asking for that but I began to think a little bit more about it and have come to conclusion that I am sounding very needy. Which made me think about real life. One of the things that really irritates me the most is when you only hear from specific people when they have problems. When things are going good for them they are like a ghost to you but when things are rough and on rocky edges they are by your side asking what they need to do. You can't help but to ask yourself what your role is in their life. Which then leads me to ask, whats the role that God has in our lives? Is he someone that we only talk to when we screw up, need help or a miracle to happen? Or, is he someone that we talk to as if we are in intimate relationship with him? Is God someone that we only talk to when things are bad or is God someone that we talk to through the good, the bad and all the time?
"Come near to God and He will come near to you" - James 4:8
You may argue that having a relationship with God is different than having a relationship with anyone else but I will beg to differ with that. Yes, God knows everything that is going on in our life and he knew it long before we were ever thought of but if he was a God who didn't care about us then he would have sent his son Jesus Christ to this world let him die for our sins and be done with it. Instead, He calls us his children:
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12
God wants to know every detail about our lives. From the smallest thing that made you happy today to the biggest concern that we may have. God is a Father that will never leave nor forsake us, he is the ultimate Father who shows compassionate love to everyone. God wants to be apart of every aspect in our life and just as important God wants to know all about it with our thoughts and feelings. A true Father wants to know everything that is going on in their child's life, they don't just want to know what they can do to help but to know about their day, how it went and what all they did. So, I challenge you as I challenge myself. Don't just run to God when you are in need or you messed up. But talk to God throughout the day about anything and everything, he really does care and he really does listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tj8N5Bj6DE
-Much Love, JDB
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lockegee Thought
My xbox 360 has been diagnosed with the red ring of death for about 2 months now (for those who have no clue what I am talking about, it was broke and didn't work). All it has done is sit in my room and take up space until today when I finally had the urge to try and fix it myself. After watching Youtube videos I decided to try what is known as the towel method. Basically you take three towels and wrap up the console very tight. Turn it on and let it "bake" itself for about 25 minutes. After the 25 minutes is up you take off all the towels, turn the console off and let it cool off for 15 minutes. During that time my roommate Shaun was questioning the towel method, almost making fun of it. Not seeing how something like that could fix the problem that I had at hand. Like always, we decided to bet on whether or not we thought it would work. We are boys, and that is what boys do. If the 360 worked then he would have to stay up all night and head to class at 8 in the morning. Long story short, it turned on. Which meant video games at 2 in the morning. After playing a little we had the idea of heading to Lockegee. For those of you who are not from the Morehead area or just don't know what lockegee is, its a big rock that a lot of people go and take in the scenery in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest.
My favorite thing to do in Morehead is to go to lockegee. Not just going to lockegee in the middle of the day though. It has to be around 3 or 4 in the morning. The reason why I like it in the middle of the night is the presence of God. I love to sit on top of that big rock and feel that I can throw a rock that will land on the moon, watch shooting stars take off one after another, have weird encounters like little mice walking up to you or feeling the wind smack your face. To me, that is God saying I am BIG! The other reason that I love to visit lockegee when the moon is out is because it is calm. It gives me a chance to think about life and get away from the world. A lot of times I will take trips there just so I can think about something that happened that day or when my "cup" has ran over and I can not take it anymore and just need a time to get away from the world.
Tonight at lockegee, I brought a lot to the table. There has been a lot of stuff running through my mind in the past few weeks that I haven't been able to get out because of the business of life. 2 weeks ago I was in Danville alone, my whole family had gone on vacation to Florida and it was just me at the house. I had 4 days there alone of which I thought I was going to be able to clear my mind of the worldly distractions and think clearly about stuff. For instance, my truck was broken into the last weekend of spring break which was the April 2nd and I still cant find a way to forgive who ever it was who did that. That is something that normally I could forgive in about 2 days but three weeks later, really? Those 4 days turned into work after work after work not thinking after thinking after thinking, what I had intended for it to be. Tonight, I was knocked down to my knees and needed to get away to do some thinking. Lockegee worked out perfect as if God had it planned. As I am spilling everything out to God, I realized that I had forgotten that God has a plan for me. Do we really understand this?! God, the Heavenly father/Alpha and Omega/Everything has a plan for us. I know that God has called me to Youth Ministry but just because he has called me to one thing does not mean that is all of his plans for my life. Sometimes I feel we get to caught up in the worldly distractions like: "Am I making enough money? Am I able to support myself? Am I a stable human being? Am I making the right decisions in life?" To me that is all distractions, "worldly views" so to say. Distractions that take away from our faith. The one thing we should be living by (2 Corinthians 5:7). We need to stop trying to take matters in our own hands and ask a million questions, let God show us the path for our lives! Through the bad and the good, God only allows things to happen so it can give us hope and a future. He is the Author of Life! He is the Author of OUR Life! (Jeremiah 29:11). All God asks for us is our Faith, along with acting justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with him (Micah 6:8). There is no other compassionate love like our God can give us.
There is more to come on this later in the week. I have a lot to throw down, but since it is 5:30 in the morning and I can hear the birds chirping along with thunder rolling. I better go to bed. Thats a snap shot of whats to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhW-T4X-YEU
much love,
-JDB
My favorite thing to do in Morehead is to go to lockegee. Not just going to lockegee in the middle of the day though. It has to be around 3 or 4 in the morning. The reason why I like it in the middle of the night is the presence of God. I love to sit on top of that big rock and feel that I can throw a rock that will land on the moon, watch shooting stars take off one after another, have weird encounters like little mice walking up to you or feeling the wind smack your face. To me, that is God saying I am BIG! The other reason that I love to visit lockegee when the moon is out is because it is calm. It gives me a chance to think about life and get away from the world. A lot of times I will take trips there just so I can think about something that happened that day or when my "cup" has ran over and I can not take it anymore and just need a time to get away from the world.
Tonight at lockegee, I brought a lot to the table. There has been a lot of stuff running through my mind in the past few weeks that I haven't been able to get out because of the business of life. 2 weeks ago I was in Danville alone, my whole family had gone on vacation to Florida and it was just me at the house. I had 4 days there alone of which I thought I was going to be able to clear my mind of the worldly distractions and think clearly about stuff. For instance, my truck was broken into the last weekend of spring break which was the April 2nd and I still cant find a way to forgive who ever it was who did that. That is something that normally I could forgive in about 2 days but three weeks later, really? Those 4 days turned into work after work after work not thinking after thinking after thinking, what I had intended for it to be. Tonight, I was knocked down to my knees and needed to get away to do some thinking. Lockegee worked out perfect as if God had it planned. As I am spilling everything out to God, I realized that I had forgotten that God has a plan for me. Do we really understand this?! God, the Heavenly father/Alpha and Omega/Everything has a plan for us. I know that God has called me to Youth Ministry but just because he has called me to one thing does not mean that is all of his plans for my life. Sometimes I feel we get to caught up in the worldly distractions like: "Am I making enough money? Am I able to support myself? Am I a stable human being? Am I making the right decisions in life?" To me that is all distractions, "worldly views" so to say. Distractions that take away from our faith. The one thing we should be living by (2 Corinthians 5:7). We need to stop trying to take matters in our own hands and ask a million questions, let God show us the path for our lives! Through the bad and the good, God only allows things to happen so it can give us hope and a future. He is the Author of Life! He is the Author of OUR Life! (Jeremiah 29:11). All God asks for us is our Faith, along with acting justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with him (Micah 6:8). There is no other compassionate love like our God can give us.
There is more to come on this later in the week. I have a lot to throw down, but since it is 5:30 in the morning and I can hear the birds chirping along with thunder rolling. I better go to bed. Thats a snap shot of whats to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhW-T4X-YEU
much love,
-JDB
Friday, March 25, 2011
6 blogs. 6 nights. make-up for last night. March Madness.
I was watching the Duke, Arizona game with my good buddy Patrick Yankey last night. After the Dukies got beat, I was so happy/ecstatic/joyful/crazy that I tired myself out and couldn't keep my eyes open after the game. So that is why you got such a short blog and why I am going to make it up to you with a somewhat personal blog.
March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year because of college basketball going through the tournament and baseball season is starting to get in full swing. Even though I see the Christian Laettner shot about a thousand times and the Cats give me a heart attack during every game I still pull through and see March as one of the best. I think the word Madness really describes how March really is in the sports world. We see so many upsets during that month that all it brings is madness. History is made almost every day that a game is on. It is full with a bunch of heart breaks but on the other end it can be one of the most joyful times of the year. With March Madness literally going on in the sports world and serving this week at the homeless shelter my life has been somewhat of madness but also with another thing going on that I feel lead into sharing with you.
Have you been put into a situation that you have asked someone for trust? Not just a little trust, but with a whole lot of trust that you are not for sure they can give you? Here recently, I have found myself in that situation and at times I cry out to God asking "Why am I in this situation?" I don't know if you personally have been in the same situation that I am in. But I can almost promise that if you haven't, you have been in a very similar situation leading to the same prayer, "Why God?!" While looking up the definition of the word "trust" I see two definitions that I really like.
March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year because of college basketball going through the tournament and baseball season is starting to get in full swing. Even though I see the Christian Laettner shot about a thousand times and the Cats give me a heart attack during every game I still pull through and see March as one of the best. I think the word Madness really describes how March really is in the sports world. We see so many upsets during that month that all it brings is madness. History is made almost every day that a game is on. It is full with a bunch of heart breaks but on the other end it can be one of the most joyful times of the year. With March Madness literally going on in the sports world and serving this week at the homeless shelter my life has been somewhat of madness but also with another thing going on that I feel lead into sharing with you.
Have you been put into a situation that you have asked someone for trust? Not just a little trust, but with a whole lot of trust that you are not for sure they can give you? Here recently, I have found myself in that situation and at times I cry out to God asking "Why am I in this situation?" I don't know if you personally have been in the same situation that I am in. But I can almost promise that if you haven't, you have been in a very similar situation leading to the same prayer, "Why God?!" While looking up the definition of the word "trust" I see two definitions that I really like.
Trust:
-Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
-Confident expectation of something; hope.
Looking at those two definitions, I have hoped and prayed for the longest time that I was able to receive that during the time that I needed it the most. Whether or not I got it, I am not for sure but I have been able to link the word "trust" to another word that has brought me comfort through this madness. The word I am referring to is "faith".
Faith:
-confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
-belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion.
-strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.
-trust in God and in his actions and promises.
If you ask me about linking these two words, I would answer by saying that in order to have faith you must have trust and vice-versa. Looking at the Christian faith we see that it all relies on faith and trust. We trust that God is real, that Jesus came to this earth in human form and died on a cross for our sins so that we may live and have eternal life through the Holy Spirit. The big kicker about it all is that we can not physically see God with our own two eyes which brings in the word faith. Bringing it down to earth, I feel that in our relationships with others and especially those that have "til death do us part" defining them, Faith and Trust play the key role. I think what is beautiful in our world is when faith and trust come together in the most crucial times. What is ugly and I personally cant stand and hate, is when people take advantage of the trust and faith that you have in them and make bad decisions thinking they can keep it a secret. So, why must you go through situations where you put trust and faith in someone or something? Why would God put you in situations dealing with trust and faith when the world tells you not to trust but deep down inside you feel that you should? There can be a lot of doubt in this and a lot and I mean A LOT of stress and heart ache when having to put trust and faith into someone. You may be wondering how I am going to tie in finding comfort through those two words, well in James 1 verses 2-4 you find your answer:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4
Right off the bat I like how verse two starts out, "consider it pure joy" as if James when writing this knew that it is very hard at times to put trust and faith into someone or something to happen especially when you are not there to see it. His reasoning's of why to consider it joy is even better. Verse three, he mentions that the testing of faith produces perseverance. That when you go through "trials of many kinds" stick with it and keep your faith because it produces your perseverance which leads to your maturing and being complete. I know he is more than likely referring this with Godly things, but when he mentions trials of many kinds, I also put in the worldly things that you put your trust in. Yes, there are times that trust can be broken and tear someone apart but there are also times that trust and faith can strengthen relationships and make them complete and not lack anything. When it is all said and done, it can all lead to the third definition of faith, "strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence." To receive that strong/unshakeable belief, we must go through times that call for the full trust and faith.
-JDB, Go Cats!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
6 blogs. 6 nights. night 5.
Tonight is the last night that will be spent in Louisville. Tomorrow comes and I will find myself traveling back to my home town of Danville. If anyone has tried to get a hold of me throughout this week and haven't been able to reach me, I want to apologize but not really apologize because I have intentionally turned my phone off for the majority of the trip. The reason for that was to take away many distractions that the world throws at me. I was solely committed to serving the homeless and thinking about it all the time while being down here. With that being said I take a lot away from this trip in Louisville serving the homeless.
John 3:30 hit me hard this week. "He must become greater. I must become less." Looking at those 8 words has really transformed me this week. God is our ROCK and our FORTRESS. It is not us living in the world but rather Christ living through us. I asked God to break my heart this week and he came through. Speaking with the homeless last night on the street was amazing but today in the homeless shelter was even better. I worked the storage closet today for 4 and half hours where I would check in and out bags that the homeless would bring in. That developed many conversations. One sticks out above the rest. Talking to the last person of the day to check a bag in. He was an older gentlemen from Tennessee and was a Veteran that served for the later part of the seventies into the early eighties. I am not really for sure why he sticks out above the rest, but he mentioned that as long as his heart is beating than he is not giving up on his life. I suddenly started feeling for the gentlemen. After lunch was over, everyone that I was with decided to take a nap. Only problem was, I couldn't sleep. I was having a "backpack" kind of day (A backpack day is a day that I just have the urge to grab my backpack and start walking. Where I go is not a question. I just start walking). As I walked downtown Louisville alone, it gave me the time to take in everything from this week. I realized that the my problems don't come near to ANY of the things that the homeless encounter on a daily basis. You may argue saying that they throw this on themselves and being homeless is what they deserve. To some extent that could be a true statement. But do you truthfully mean that? Seriously?! It is very sad when I hear that come out of someones mouth. I see that as just an excuse not to help someone in need. Either way you want to look at it, you need to realize that they are God's creation just as much as you are! God molded you the same way that he molded everyone else in the world. Just because you have money and feel in control about everything in the world doesn't make you more important than the 7 month pregnant women living on the street walking from shelter to shelter or the homeless Vietnam veteran who couldn't get back on solid ground because he was suffering from PTSD and can't find any help. I am sure that you have heard it before but, these are people too! Whether you see a homeless person on a daily basis or only see them when you go to big towns, you should keep them in your prayers. They need it! All they can get. They are clay formed from our Gods hands also.
I loved every second here serving the Lord in Louisville. As I go on, I am excited to see what God does with my life next and where I will be. It is exciting! Question is, are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IduHRMRcy9A&feature=related
-JDB
John 3:30 hit me hard this week. "He must become greater. I must become less." Looking at those 8 words has really transformed me this week. God is our ROCK and our FORTRESS. It is not us living in the world but rather Christ living through us. I asked God to break my heart this week and he came through. Speaking with the homeless last night on the street was amazing but today in the homeless shelter was even better. I worked the storage closet today for 4 and half hours where I would check in and out bags that the homeless would bring in. That developed many conversations. One sticks out above the rest. Talking to the last person of the day to check a bag in. He was an older gentlemen from Tennessee and was a Veteran that served for the later part of the seventies into the early eighties. I am not really for sure why he sticks out above the rest, but he mentioned that as long as his heart is beating than he is not giving up on his life. I suddenly started feeling for the gentlemen. After lunch was over, everyone that I was with decided to take a nap. Only problem was, I couldn't sleep. I was having a "backpack" kind of day (A backpack day is a day that I just have the urge to grab my backpack and start walking. Where I go is not a question. I just start walking). As I walked downtown Louisville alone, it gave me the time to take in everything from this week. I realized that the my problems don't come near to ANY of the things that the homeless encounter on a daily basis. You may argue saying that they throw this on themselves and being homeless is what they deserve. To some extent that could be a true statement. But do you truthfully mean that? Seriously?! It is very sad when I hear that come out of someones mouth. I see that as just an excuse not to help someone in need. Either way you want to look at it, you need to realize that they are God's creation just as much as you are! God molded you the same way that he molded everyone else in the world. Just because you have money and feel in control about everything in the world doesn't make you more important than the 7 month pregnant women living on the street walking from shelter to shelter or the homeless Vietnam veteran who couldn't get back on solid ground because he was suffering from PTSD and can't find any help. I am sure that you have heard it before but, these are people too! Whether you see a homeless person on a daily basis or only see them when you go to big towns, you should keep them in your prayers. They need it! All they can get. They are clay formed from our Gods hands also.
I loved every second here serving the Lord in Louisville. As I go on, I am excited to see what God does with my life next and where I will be. It is exciting! Question is, are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IduHRMRcy9A&feature=related
-JDB
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
6 blogs. 6 nights. night 4.
What is it about the homeless that breaks my heart? While we all were walking downtown tonight after dinner I decided to hang out in the back by myself and throw the head phones in my ear to think just about that. To my surprise, I couldn't come up with an answer...
Today was an early morning. Waking up at 6 in the morning was a big change than what I am use to. It was much harder because it seems that I can never get to bed at a decent hour knowing that I have to be up early in the morning. Jeff Street was very busy today. It seemed that homeless men and women were walking in and out one after another. To my surprise, we got a little time off and Wyatt and I decided to walk around the neighborhood that is right across the street from the shelter. While we were walking, it came as a surprise to myself on how well the homeless men and women can fit in with the rest of society. These people are hurting deep down inside, they have no where to call home and all they have is what they can carry. But yet, we still couldn't tell who was who. It wasn't until tonight that we got to talk to some of the homeless. If there is anything that gets out of this blog tonight, I would like for you to throw up prayer for all the homeless men and women but two especially:
1-Josh. Walking up 4th street we ran into a guy who couldn't have been much older than myself. He had a long sleeve shirt over his head and was looking for a light. We got to spend some time with him and talk about his life. He has been in Kentucky now for 5 months after coming up from Georgia. His girlfriend kicked him out of her house in Georgia and he had no where to go. He didn't mention how he got to Louisville but Wyatt and I did get to talk to him and help him out a little. While talking to him, he said he hadn't ate all day and had no money in his pocket to get food. Mentioning he would rather have a bag of chips than a light.
2-Paul. This fella was an interesting character. He had just been released from Jail. He had served 8 years in the pen. He talked a lot about his earlier years. How he played basketball in high school and was an McDonalds All-American (I'm not going to lie, the dude looked like he could play). He was 50 years old and all he could talk about was about Christ and becoming a new Christian. Whether he was throwing us for a loop or not is not for I to judge but God above, but the guy knew his scripture. He would refer to Paul in the bible a lot.
There is a lot of hurt in these peoples hearts. Just seeing how these people live their lives does it for me. Prayer is really the best thing for them. Giving them money is just a temporary fix to their problems that they already have. Not saying giving them money is bad, if you feel lead to give someone homeless money than I say do it. But what I have learned over the years with homeless people is getting them the needs is better than a dollar bill. The need that they need above all else is Christ. This goes for everyone. If a billionaire in the USA living in a mansion with every make of car and a different pair of shoes for each day of the year is with out Christ, then him too is homeless. Our home is not here on earth but rather in Heaven!
Tomorrow is the last day that we have at Jeff Street, Pray for the Homeless and the two gentleman but also pray that God breaks us down as a group to where we have to lean on him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc
-JDB
Today was an early morning. Waking up at 6 in the morning was a big change than what I am use to. It was much harder because it seems that I can never get to bed at a decent hour knowing that I have to be up early in the morning. Jeff Street was very busy today. It seemed that homeless men and women were walking in and out one after another. To my surprise, we got a little time off and Wyatt and I decided to walk around the neighborhood that is right across the street from the shelter. While we were walking, it came as a surprise to myself on how well the homeless men and women can fit in with the rest of society. These people are hurting deep down inside, they have no where to call home and all they have is what they can carry. But yet, we still couldn't tell who was who. It wasn't until tonight that we got to talk to some of the homeless. If there is anything that gets out of this blog tonight, I would like for you to throw up prayer for all the homeless men and women but two especially:
1-Josh. Walking up 4th street we ran into a guy who couldn't have been much older than myself. He had a long sleeve shirt over his head and was looking for a light. We got to spend some time with him and talk about his life. He has been in Kentucky now for 5 months after coming up from Georgia. His girlfriend kicked him out of her house in Georgia and he had no where to go. He didn't mention how he got to Louisville but Wyatt and I did get to talk to him and help him out a little. While talking to him, he said he hadn't ate all day and had no money in his pocket to get food. Mentioning he would rather have a bag of chips than a light.
2-Paul. This fella was an interesting character. He had just been released from Jail. He had served 8 years in the pen. He talked a lot about his earlier years. How he played basketball in high school and was an McDonalds All-American (I'm not going to lie, the dude looked like he could play). He was 50 years old and all he could talk about was about Christ and becoming a new Christian. Whether he was throwing us for a loop or not is not for I to judge but God above, but the guy knew his scripture. He would refer to Paul in the bible a lot.
There is a lot of hurt in these peoples hearts. Just seeing how these people live their lives does it for me. Prayer is really the best thing for them. Giving them money is just a temporary fix to their problems that they already have. Not saying giving them money is bad, if you feel lead to give someone homeless money than I say do it. But what I have learned over the years with homeless people is getting them the needs is better than a dollar bill. The need that they need above all else is Christ. This goes for everyone. If a billionaire in the USA living in a mansion with every make of car and a different pair of shoes for each day of the year is with out Christ, then him too is homeless. Our home is not here on earth but rather in Heaven!
Tomorrow is the last day that we have at Jeff Street, Pray for the Homeless and the two gentleman but also pray that God breaks us down as a group to where we have to lean on him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3EGgISYMc
-JDB
Monday, March 21, 2011
6 blogs. 6 nights. night 3.
Tonight I feel lead to take this blog a little differently then normal. Usually I would write about what I am feeling or what is on my mind. Truth be told, I have had an emotional roller coaster kind of day of which these verses have found their way into my mind. I would like to share them with you:
Ephesians 2:8-10:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Micah 6:8:
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Romans 8:11:
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:31:
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
While I was thinking about what to write about, my first thought was about Micah in the 6th chapter but just couldn't find the words to say. So I decided to take a look in the study Bible just to see what the book of Micah is all about. We all are familiar with Micah 6:8 which is an amazing verse but what I got out of Micah tonight is not a verse or anything in the book. Its the meaning of the name Micah. Which means "Who is like the Lord?" With a name of a chapter like that, I believe it is time for me to pay closer attention to this book and not set it to the side because it is a small, 7 chapter book in the Old Testament. The question I asked myself after reading that was, "am I taking in the whole Bible, cover to cover, or am I just taking in what I hear?" Maybe we all should ask that simple question to ourselves...Fuel for thought.
-JDB
Ephesians 2:8-10:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Micah 6:8:
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Romans 8:11:
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:31:
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
While I was thinking about what to write about, my first thought was about Micah in the 6th chapter but just couldn't find the words to say. So I decided to take a look in the study Bible just to see what the book of Micah is all about. We all are familiar with Micah 6:8 which is an amazing verse but what I got out of Micah tonight is not a verse or anything in the book. Its the meaning of the name Micah. Which means "Who is like the Lord?" With a name of a chapter like that, I believe it is time for me to pay closer attention to this book and not set it to the side because it is a small, 7 chapter book in the Old Testament. The question I asked myself after reading that was, "am I taking in the whole Bible, cover to cover, or am I just taking in what I hear?" Maybe we all should ask that simple question to ourselves...Fuel for thought.
-JDB
6 blogs. 6 nights. night 2.
On Friday night, Shaun and I decided that we were going to go camping. We were both fed up with the world and one of the ways that we like to get out of the world is to go camping or go out doors somewhere to see the masterpiece of God. To make it even better, we traveled an hour south and went to our old camp that we served at, Camp Caleb. We had heard that it was supposed to rain off and on but nothing to bad. Well, like usual the weatherman was wrong.
After we had been there for a couple of hours it had started to rain. We decided that after it quit raining we would go put the tent up and prepare for what we wanted to do at night. To make a long story short we never got to do anything that night but sit in the tent because it came a down pour. After the rain had put Shaun to sleep, I was up listening to the rain pelt the tent and the thunder clap. Honestly, we probably should have went to shelter that night with the amount of trees around us but we decided that would be our last resort and would do whatever it took to sleep outside. To make it even better I didn't have my sleeping bag with me. All I had was the clothes I was wearing and two blankets on the cold, hard ground of camp. O wait, it gets even better. For some reason if the poles are not lined up with the right line, then it will allow water to come in. The water decided to come in right above my body and no where else in the tent. I am sitting there freezing, wet and having troubles going to sleep. There was a time during the night I couldn't tell if I was asleep or if I was awake and when the morning came, I am pretty sure that I slept maybe 2 hours of that night. During that night it was different though. While I was praying "God can you please let the rain die off a little so it won't leak in the tent and allow me to get some sleep?" I felt like God had answered me back. An answer that I wasn't prepared to hear. "Jacob, you say you want to minister to the homeless. You must realize what the homeless go through night in and night out. What their life feels like."
I know what I endured was only a night, but it was one of the most humbling things that could have ever happened to me at that moment. With everything going on in the world that I am fighting with, God is there slapping me in the face saying "Jacob, you feel like the world is crashing down. I'll give you a night of feeling homeless and lets see who really feels like the world is crashing down on them."
Talking to a friend the other night, he mentioned that the homeless need a lot of prayer and they really do. So I am asking you to please pray for the homeless. While doing that, it would be awesome to keep some friends and I in your prayers. Over the next 3 days we are going to travel to Louisville and minister to the homeless. Don't pray that we have a good time in Louisville, but that God absolutely BREAKS our heart for what breaks his.
-JDB
After we had been there for a couple of hours it had started to rain. We decided that after it quit raining we would go put the tent up and prepare for what we wanted to do at night. To make a long story short we never got to do anything that night but sit in the tent because it came a down pour. After the rain had put Shaun to sleep, I was up listening to the rain pelt the tent and the thunder clap. Honestly, we probably should have went to shelter that night with the amount of trees around us but we decided that would be our last resort and would do whatever it took to sleep outside. To make it even better I didn't have my sleeping bag with me. All I had was the clothes I was wearing and two blankets on the cold, hard ground of camp. O wait, it gets even better. For some reason if the poles are not lined up with the right line, then it will allow water to come in. The water decided to come in right above my body and no where else in the tent. I am sitting there freezing, wet and having troubles going to sleep. There was a time during the night I couldn't tell if I was asleep or if I was awake and when the morning came, I am pretty sure that I slept maybe 2 hours of that night. During that night it was different though. While I was praying "God can you please let the rain die off a little so it won't leak in the tent and allow me to get some sleep?" I felt like God had answered me back. An answer that I wasn't prepared to hear. "Jacob, you say you want to minister to the homeless. You must realize what the homeless go through night in and night out. What their life feels like."
I know what I endured was only a night, but it was one of the most humbling things that could have ever happened to me at that moment. With everything going on in the world that I am fighting with, God is there slapping me in the face saying "Jacob, you feel like the world is crashing down. I'll give you a night of feeling homeless and lets see who really feels like the world is crashing down on them."
Talking to a friend the other night, he mentioned that the homeless need a lot of prayer and they really do. So I am asking you to please pray for the homeless. While doing that, it would be awesome to keep some friends and I in your prayers. Over the next 3 days we are going to travel to Louisville and minister to the homeless. Don't pray that we have a good time in Louisville, but that God absolutely BREAKS our heart for what breaks his.
-JDB
Sunday, March 20, 2011
6 blogs. 6 nights. night 1.
Here lately, I have had a lot of things that have been bottled up inside of me that I just haven't found the time or the right person to talk to them about. Its not that I am being stubborn because I really get very excited to share this stuff with people but at times I feel that I share to much and then think that whats in my head could be stupid and not make sense. So sometimes I just don't bother to share and possibly waste someones time. Happens a lot to be honest and then I just express them on the blog.
Tonight there is two things that are on my mind. The first thing I want to talk about is the other half of the last blog while the second is about what happened last night. I will only talk about the first one because its already 4:45 in the morning and I want everything to make sense. Plus, 6 blogs in 6 nights! It should be good, I have a lot on my mind!
I had an amazing Saturday night at winter jam and wouldn't have wanted to spend that moment with anyone other than the ones that were sitting right there with me at the moment. Through out the whole time I couldn't stop but to think about how God has really blessed me with those people (speaking of my family and Lindsay). The first thing that came to my mind at winter jam was the concept of love. The second is a couple of questions that I have asked myself over and over again for the past year and you may have asked the same:
Over the past year I have found myself sitting in the same place, thinking the same things. The only problem is, when I cry out to God and ask for answers...I get the same answers over and over again. "Stay / Pursue / Fight / Stick with it." Not that those answers aren't enough but I am impatient and I like to know things. What helps with this is Faith. Although we don't have the answers that we want, we have to realize that God does everything for the good. Even though it may bring pain at the moment, God is going to guide you in the right path as long as you let him. Two verses that I like to keep in the back of my mind when having a "question day" is 2 Corinthians 5:7 - "We live by Faith, not by sight." and Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This is key, we must realize that God is not out to get us. He is here to give us a future! No matter the past! When we realize that Gods watch is not synced with our watch, that is when we can put our Faith in full swing and let God have total control. Fight and Pray through the rough times. God is wanting to teach you something where you are right now or is using you in ways to further the Kingdom that you are blind to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgWOcYpHm0o
-JDB
Tonight there is two things that are on my mind. The first thing I want to talk about is the other half of the last blog while the second is about what happened last night. I will only talk about the first one because its already 4:45 in the morning and I want everything to make sense. Plus, 6 blogs in 6 nights! It should be good, I have a lot on my mind!
(Tracking back to last weekend)
I had an amazing Saturday night at winter jam and wouldn't have wanted to spend that moment with anyone other than the ones that were sitting right there with me at the moment. Through out the whole time I couldn't stop but to think about how God has really blessed me with those people (speaking of my family and Lindsay). The first thing that came to my mind at winter jam was the concept of love. The second is a couple of questions that I have asked myself over and over again for the past year and you may have asked the same:
"God, is this where I am supposed to be?" / "God, I am tired of fighting and feeling the same way. Are you sure I am supposed to be doing this?" / "God, why am I going through this if someone could potentially get hurt through this?" / "GOD, WHY?!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgWOcYpHm0o
-JDB
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Lets Express!
If there is one thing that I have learned about writing blogs, its the fact that I never know how to start out. I always sit at the computer writing a sentence and then deleting it over and over again. Usually I will get past that part of the blog and go on with the rest of it but tonight I don't have an opening sentence. So, you get the paragraph that has no meaning what-so-ever.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend Winter Jam and I must say that if you have never been to Winter Jam you need to check it out. Its basically 4 hours of straight worship with bands like David Crowder, Kutless, Newsboys, Newsong, Francesco Battistelli and Side Walk Prophets with speaker Tony Nolan. Seriously, if you have enough money you should travel to the location that is nearest to you and worship with them! It is awesome!
Throughout the whole time it was going on, I had a few things that was racing through my mind. One of which I will write about tonight and Lord willing will have the opportunity to write about the other sometime later this week. One of the things that Winter Jam wants to install in people is an opportunity to be a servant in Christ by sponsoring a child that is under privileged compared to our standards. I have seen this played out in many ways but one immediately came to mind. When a Youth Pastor had sponsored a child for a year in the D.R. and the first week that I arrived there just so happened to be the week that he got the opportunity to meet him and spend the whole afternoon with him. I wish words could describe but they just aren't enough. After thinking about that memory of the D.R. I started to move my train of thought on the tracks of 1 John 3:17:
This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend Winter Jam and I must say that if you have never been to Winter Jam you need to check it out. Its basically 4 hours of straight worship with bands like David Crowder, Kutless, Newsboys, Newsong, Francesco Battistelli and Side Walk Prophets with speaker Tony Nolan. Seriously, if you have enough money you should travel to the location that is nearest to you and worship with them! It is awesome!
Throughout the whole time it was going on, I had a few things that was racing through my mind. One of which I will write about tonight and Lord willing will have the opportunity to write about the other sometime later this week. One of the things that Winter Jam wants to install in people is an opportunity to be a servant in Christ by sponsoring a child that is under privileged compared to our standards. I have seen this played out in many ways but one immediately came to mind. When a Youth Pastor had sponsored a child for a year in the D.R. and the first week that I arrived there just so happened to be the week that he got the opportunity to meet him and spend the whole afternoon with him. I wish words could describe but they just aren't enough. After thinking about that memory of the D.R. I started to move my train of thought on the tracks of 1 John 3:17:
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
I couldn't help but to think of the opportunities that we have in America. We are Blessed. We have the opportunity to go out and get a pack of shirts to wear under another shirt while there is Children in the world who have to wait for the next clothes drive so they can have a shirt to cover up their bare skin. I know that is a little extreme, but it is true. You may think that I am just referring poor countries but truth is, there is a lot of hurt and need in our own back yard of America. Someone may not need materials or have a lack of money but they need someone to express Christ's love to them. Can we honestly say that we express Christ's love through the way we live 24/7 with our family, relationship, friends and this is a BIG one but our enemies or anyone who has hurt us? I know I haven't, and I will jump out on a limb that may break to say that you may not have either. With that being said, lets express. From here on out I am going to use "lets express" as a way to refer to show Christ's love. With that being said..."LETS EXPRESS" and let our reflection be Christ in EVERYTHING that we do!
-JDB
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Love
A while back, Lindsay had lost a ring in my room at the apartment. For any of you that know how I feel about clean rooms, well you know that 9 out of 10 times my room is not clean. I knew that it was going to be a struggle to find her ring and a couple of months after I decided to call off the search, it showed up. It is very funny how things show up randomly over time. As I picked the ring up, I noticed that it had a word engraved on it. "1 Corinthians 13:4-8". I had no idea what the verse was until I looked it up:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8
With this weekend being Valentines day weekend, it is only right to dedicate this blog to the word "love". What does the word "love" mean? I feel like this is where a lot of people start questioning what love really is and whether they have possessed true love or not. I believe that the word love is one of the most important words in the world due to the fact that it is a commandment that we receive when we ask what the most important commandment is:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
-Matthew 22:36-40
Love is a strong word, I believe 99.9% of people will agree with that statement. I won't say 100% because we all know that there are some people in the world who are just weird about stuff like that. I will also go out on the limb and say that majority of the people in this world have been hurt by the word love. The word love can be thrown out so easily now days. You can walk down the road and hear a "love ya man" or you can get off the phone with your significant other and hear the words "I love you". It has so many different definitions that it makes me sick. I think its another worldly term that we have thrown together and forgot what love really is. I think love is more than just a feeling that someone has for another. Anyone can have a feeling for someone and call it love. The true question is, does the love that we profess we have cover all the aspects of the definition that we can find in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8? That is true love, that is what love is supposed to be and that is how love is supposed to be expressed.
With Valentines coming up, I would first like for all of you to know that I love Chocolate. So if you have some laying around from the festivities, I am always willing to help dispose of it. But more importantly. The chocolate, teddy bears, roses, etc. are important and can show someone you care for them but I don't think that it shows that you love them. I think the word "Love" can be expressed in four different ways:
1- 1st Corinthians 13:4-8.
2- Gods love for us.
3- Jesus.
4-Holy Spirit.
While writing this blog I couldn't help but to think of this song that a friend showed me a couple months:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kZ6wBoqTk
-JDB
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8
With this weekend being Valentines day weekend, it is only right to dedicate this blog to the word "love". What does the word "love" mean? I feel like this is where a lot of people start questioning what love really is and whether they have possessed true love or not. I believe that the word love is one of the most important words in the world due to the fact that it is a commandment that we receive when we ask what the most important commandment is:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
-Matthew 22:36-40
Love is a strong word, I believe 99.9% of people will agree with that statement. I won't say 100% because we all know that there are some people in the world who are just weird about stuff like that. I will also go out on the limb and say that majority of the people in this world have been hurt by the word love. The word love can be thrown out so easily now days. You can walk down the road and hear a "love ya man" or you can get off the phone with your significant other and hear the words "I love you". It has so many different definitions that it makes me sick. I think its another worldly term that we have thrown together and forgot what love really is. I think love is more than just a feeling that someone has for another. Anyone can have a feeling for someone and call it love. The true question is, does the love that we profess we have cover all the aspects of the definition that we can find in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8? That is true love, that is what love is supposed to be and that is how love is supposed to be expressed.
With Valentines coming up, I would first like for all of you to know that I love Chocolate. So if you have some laying around from the festivities, I am always willing to help dispose of it. But more importantly. The chocolate, teddy bears, roses, etc. are important and can show someone you care for them but I don't think that it shows that you love them. I think the word "Love" can be expressed in four different ways:
1- 1st Corinthians 13:4-8.
2- Gods love for us.
3- Jesus.
4-Holy Spirit.
While writing this blog I couldn't help but to think of this song that a friend showed me a couple months:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kZ6wBoqTk
-JDB
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Fish Bowl Cont.
To be completely honest with you, I don't know why I am titling this post Fish Bowl. I guess if I had to answer, I would answer along these lines. People are always watching fish inside their bowls. Watching every movement and everything that they do. The same for the ministers of the church. The main thing people watch for is a minister to mess up. So, they watch them as if they are watching fish in a fish bowl. Watching every movement, waiting for them to mess up. What I do know at this moment is I can not sleep. It is currently 4:46 am and I feel like I may stay awake for McDonald's to open up and get a warm breakfast.
If you haven't read any of 1 Timothy in the bible, I would suggest that you turn there and read the 3rd chapter before you continue. In the 3rd chapter we see that Paul writes to Timothy and points out how Overseers and Deacons should live their life. In that Paul points out many ways that they should live. All of which are very important. He mentions a lot but one that stuck out in my mind was the one in the middle. For some reason it scares me to think about verse 5: "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?" At this present time I don't have a family, I do however have a beautiful Girlfriend. But reading through all of these descriptions, that is the one that stands out the most to me. What if I get down the line and start a youth ministry, but can't handle my own immediate family? A lot of "What if's". Then the last part of the chapter strikes my attention also. Verse 15: "...you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth."
Are we living our life this way? I don't think this text is just for the people inside the church (ministers/deacons). I think this text is for everyone, Christians. As Christians we need to be aware that we are in that fish bowl also. Non believers are watching our every move. Even when we are least expecting it. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes of all time:
-"Witness all the time, when necessary use words"
If you haven't read any of 1 Timothy in the bible, I would suggest that you turn there and read the 3rd chapter before you continue. In the 3rd chapter we see that Paul writes to Timothy and points out how Overseers and Deacons should live their life. In that Paul points out many ways that they should live. All of which are very important. He mentions a lot but one that stuck out in my mind was the one in the middle. For some reason it scares me to think about verse 5: "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?" At this present time I don't have a family, I do however have a beautiful Girlfriend. But reading through all of these descriptions, that is the one that stands out the most to me. What if I get down the line and start a youth ministry, but can't handle my own immediate family? A lot of "What if's". Then the last part of the chapter strikes my attention also. Verse 15: "...you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth."
Are we living our life this way? I don't think this text is just for the people inside the church (ministers/deacons). I think this text is for everyone, Christians. As Christians we need to be aware that we are in that fish bowl also. Non believers are watching our every move. Even when we are least expecting it. I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes of all time:
-"Witness all the time, when necessary use words"
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Fish Bowl
Finally being able to see the end of college (well, kinda), I am still having that drive and passion to be a Minister of Youth. It is what I feel lead to do and I have no other motivation to do anything other than having an impact through Christ on the lives of youth. Recently I have been talking to my Pastor that preaches at my home church in Danville (First Baptist Church). I am really good friends with his sons from my high school days and like to go see them when I get the chance. I have had a lot of talks with him about a random array of things. Although they all are very important, one topic that we talked about stands out above the rest.
Last Thursday night while I was visiting them, I took the time to stay up stairs with Bro. Tim and fill him in with what was going on with the family. After that he asked me what I planned on doing after college. I told him I would love to go into the ministry and work with youth. Usually I will tell people that and I get the same reaction, "O, that's just great Jacob" or "You will make a great Youth Minister". Brother Tim took a different route, one that I am very grateful for. Instead of praising me, he went off of his own experience to give me helpful pointers. The first thing that Brother Tim mentioned was that of a ministers wife. Stating that whoever you plan on marrying, make sure that their heart is in the ministry also. That they will be with you through thick and thin and will love you no matter the circumstance. He told me to run away if it wasn't, that a key thing to a minister and his ministry is the one they are married to. The second thing that he mentioned was, to not give up when it gets rough. No matter how successful your ministry may be, there will always be rough days and sometimes years. He mentioned again, that is where your relationship with God and your better half come into play for support. He went on to tell me about a rough time in his ministry and how he was very close to giving in but didn't. The third and final big point that he pointed out to me was a statement that I will never forget: "watch out for the ones who meet you at the train." Saying those are the ones who will jump on the train, but they are the first to jump off and plot against you. After telling me stories after stories about that one statement, I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. I took a lot of the talk that we had, I mean there was an hour of straight fruitful talk that was awesome. I don't think Brother Tim was telling me this to scare me. He just wanted me to know of some things that is better for me to know about then getting my foot in the door and seeing them first hand without any prior knowledge. After soaking that in for the night, I got just couldn't get the stories out of my mind. Two things of the many that came to my mind was: 1-People looking for a PERFECT church. 2-How much politics play a role in church....in church (I said it). The first bad thing that happens in a church, people are ready to leave or they want the minister out. It is sad...
Although this is just a little that is on my mind that happened last Thursday, there is still more from today's sermon that has got me on edge and thinking a whole lot. I will write on it soon, but before then I will give a little sneak peak...1 Timothy 3...all I can think is "wow, is that me?"
Last Thursday night while I was visiting them, I took the time to stay up stairs with Bro. Tim and fill him in with what was going on with the family. After that he asked me what I planned on doing after college. I told him I would love to go into the ministry and work with youth. Usually I will tell people that and I get the same reaction, "O, that's just great Jacob" or "You will make a great Youth Minister". Brother Tim took a different route, one that I am very grateful for. Instead of praising me, he went off of his own experience to give me helpful pointers. The first thing that Brother Tim mentioned was that of a ministers wife. Stating that whoever you plan on marrying, make sure that their heart is in the ministry also. That they will be with you through thick and thin and will love you no matter the circumstance. He told me to run away if it wasn't, that a key thing to a minister and his ministry is the one they are married to. The second thing that he mentioned was, to not give up when it gets rough. No matter how successful your ministry may be, there will always be rough days and sometimes years. He mentioned again, that is where your relationship with God and your better half come into play for support. He went on to tell me about a rough time in his ministry and how he was very close to giving in but didn't. The third and final big point that he pointed out to me was a statement that I will never forget: "watch out for the ones who meet you at the train." Saying those are the ones who will jump on the train, but they are the first to jump off and plot against you. After telling me stories after stories about that one statement, I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. I took a lot of the talk that we had, I mean there was an hour of straight fruitful talk that was awesome. I don't think Brother Tim was telling me this to scare me. He just wanted me to know of some things that is better for me to know about then getting my foot in the door and seeing them first hand without any prior knowledge. After soaking that in for the night, I got just couldn't get the stories out of my mind. Two things of the many that came to my mind was: 1-People looking for a PERFECT church. 2-How much politics play a role in church....in church (I said it). The first bad thing that happens in a church, people are ready to leave or they want the minister out. It is sad...
Although this is just a little that is on my mind that happened last Thursday, there is still more from today's sermon that has got me on edge and thinking a whole lot. I will write on it soon, but before then I will give a little sneak peak...1 Timothy 3...all I can think is "wow, is that me?"
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