Thursday, August 25, 2011
Building Update
I never cease to be amazed at how God works. When we started this process we applied for a loan through a church funding organization for $100,000. We felt that would allow us to build out this 4000+ s.f. side of the building and do some upgrading of our screen and projector. Our screen is the wall right now and our projector is very old, we have lost some color from it and we have to turn out the lights in order to see it. So we applied for the loan and after a loooonnnngggg review period, they turned us down. It was very disappointing and discouraging. But instead of giving up or trying another bank we (the leadership team) turned to God, on our knees, and asked what His plans were for Journey. You see, sometimes we get going so fast with so many "good ideas" that we just ask God to come along for the ride. So anyway, we stopped and said, "God this is yours" and we took our hands off it.
Since that time we have had two new bathrooms installed, 4 A/C units installed, all electrical done, a sound booth built, cement floor poured, and lights installed. We just had donated all the drywall and steel studs we needed and a company just donated all the paint and floor stain we need as well. The labor has been donated to go along with this.
So we are a little over two weeks away from having a worship area so next, we can build out the children's area for the kids. Now through all of this we have not paid a cent toward the building because it would a been a long while before we could have had the funds to do this. How great is our God!!!!!
We are trusting Him to provide a new screen and projector...in HIS TIMING and HIS WAY, not ours.
I am excited, not just because we can make a nicer children's area for the kids, but because there is absolutely NO WAY we could take any credit for this expansion. God has moved people and provided product and taught us so clearly that HIS WAY is so much better than our plans.
Would you join me in giving thanks to God on behalf of Journey Community of Fernley?
Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
and one more....
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Take care and hit 'em straight,
Rod
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Bumper Sticker Faith
I think I may be mistaken in my life and sometimes I think that I am doing enough. I think that faith is like a nice saying on a bumper sticker or a placque on a wall.
For instance, please forgive me for the times that I quote (Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.) and yet don't live like it. I am sorry that I need you to make sense to me before I step out. And then I have the audacity to call that faith. It shows up in many ways Lord I know.
- I am sorry that I have said "Let go and let God". But truth is, I don't do that and I am not sure I believe it all the time and I am definitely too scared to let completely go.
- I am sorry that I want to "Honk, if you love Jesus!" which is cool, but I don't think honking is what you had in mind. I think if I truly loved you, then I wouldn't worry about honking, I would do more serving and more talking. Instead, the serving takes too much time and energy and the talking can really make me and my friends uncomfortable, and I don't want to do that! So maybe instead if you could give them a "Saul on the road to Damascus" experience. That would be better.
- I love the WWJD bracelets and bumper stickers but man you can't expect that kind of standard! I mean, Jesus was so good! So maybe I can't do it, but I am confident I can do a lot better! I don't wear the bracelet, but I don't need it to remind me. I have known for a long time that I should try to think about what Jesus would do and then act accordingly.
- I know I like to say, "Jesus loves you and so do I" but I am not sure if my love matches your love. Your scripture teaches that there is no greater love than this, that a man give his life for another. But truthfully, I have a hard time giving up a "value meal" a week to give to those in need.
- Yep, I know that you own the cattle on a thousand hills...but c'mon really? You can't possibly want me to give you 10% of MY income to you...do you? The truth is that you require so little from me, but I act like mine is a sacrifice of great proportion. All the while I proclaim with great pride about you giving up your life for us. Those two don't quite match up do they...?
- Finally, I talk about 1 Cross + 3 Nails =4 given, but I don't forgive others too well. I hold onto hurts, onto memories and allow them to make me an unforgiving and bitter believer. I got to believe I need to shape up when it comes to forgiveness. You told me that you will forgive me the way I forgive others.
Make me bold and courageous. No check that: I will be bold and courageous. You don't make me bold and courageous. WE CHOOSE TO BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS because you are so worthy. I am not going to put this on you...this is all mine. I need to stop the compromise and give you my best, not my second best.
God I don't want to try to do your will with my bumper sticker faith. I promise to mean what I say and do what I say. I am your man. So use me as you will, even when it doesn't make sense to me. I will talk to others about you and not care that I am uncomfortable and I might lose a friend over it. Eternity is much more important than being comfortable. I will love people and sacrifice for them. Giving up time and energy and money if that is what is needed for them to experience the love of Christ. I will give you money each time I get paid. I will give AT LEAST 10%, plus money to meet needs, to you and not complain. Even if I don't know how I am going to pay my bills. Finally, I will forgive as I am forgiven by you. No more bitterness and holding onto hurts.
I am sure there is a lot more God. Search my heart and see if there is a wicked way in me. Cleanse me. I am your man God. It's the LEAST I can do.
I love you...really.
I can never do enough.
Rod
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
"I pledge allegiance..."
I can see that it could happen...once. But here it happened twice. The recitation of the pledge can be heard twice and both times it omits "under God".
I want to give my opinion on this and this is my blog so I can do what I want...
I DO think it was intentional. There is a false interpretation of our constitution which states that separation of church and state means that nothing religious can ever be stated, displayed, or mentioned in a public forum, building, or function. Absolutely not the correct interpretation but it seems to be blindly believed by many in this country. I think (my opinion here) that they don't like God, or the thought of God or the image of God. The reason is simple. God is in control, we are not. We don't like that too much, but it is true. Man has always battled God for control. This is nothing new under the Sun. My fear though is that we have not learned from history.
Now if I may, let me talk to you Christ-followers out there. NOTHING is happening here on this earth, in this country, that God does not allow to happen. God knows that the United States of America is trying to kick Him out of this country. God knows that our culture is becoming more and more centered on man and not Him. He knows and He has seen it before. He has seen it in Ancient Babylon, Greece, Rome, Medo-Persia, Assyria, and many other empires that all forgot God, and have been ruined and forgotten. I wonder if we will ever learn a lesson from past history, from experienced adversity, from former judgments on the nations, that we must NEVER forget God?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thanks to a Father and Son
Second let me say thanks to my Son, Brad. Or should I say B-Rad...
I am proud to be the father of a 26 year old son. If I could describe Brad to you I would describe him as a fighter and a friend. He has had to fight and be an overcomer after surviving two medical trauma's in his life. He has had to learn to read, write, walk, talk and all the basic stuff we learn as a toddler, not once, not twice, but THREE times in his life. And he has. I am proud of his ability to fight back when he gets knocked down. (He gets that from his mom).
He is also quick to be a friend to people. He wants to help people, encourage people and he has a great desire to build friendships. He's never too busy to help a friend. He wants to always be available to anyone who might need him. Also, I feel like maybe...he and I are becoming better friends...I love that.
So to Dad and Brad...I love you both and I am proud of both of you. I hope can make you proud too!
Take care,
Rod
Sunday, June 5, 2011
How do you get ready to meet God on Sundays?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Never mastered...
Matthew 6:24"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and Money both.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Am I undivided?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Whatever happened to that kind of commitment?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The real deal...
Monday, April 11, 2011
Emotions...
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Cause
Monday, March 28, 2011
Playing golf (and life) in the wind
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Been a long time...
And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if any one's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:9-15
Listen--you don't have to like hell...in fact you probably shouldn't like the idea of a place called hell. But is God lying? Is the scripture not true? Of course the answer to both of those is NO!!!
So what do we do? We teach truth, we can warn of God's judgement but we MUST proclaim God's love! My words would be to Rob, I understand that hell is not pleasant, but it is truth. So is it more loving to take it away and allow people to feel better about God today only to go there when it is too late or is it more loving to teach truth and try to prevent people from going there?