Three weeks after the horrific tradgey that took place in Maryville, IL with the murder of Pastor Fred Winters of First Baptist Church – the STILL mourning community of FBC received another loss to attempt to cope with – little Macie Crow, an adorable and very precious 7 year old who was killed as a concrete culvert collapsed upon her while she was playing with her brother in a wooded area.
When you hear of news like this – you don’t have words…all you have are questions such as the one FBC associate pastor was quoted today by saying “…How could something like this happen?”
And these questions don’t have answers that come very easily…all I feel I can do is offer deep and sincere prayer for their family who must be experiencing the most excruciating pain – so our family will be praying…praying for comfort…praying for peace…praying for understanding…praying for God to wrap His arms around that family, their church, and their community.
Jesse
Filed under: Journey Church
A big THANK YOU to the near 30 people who attended our “ROAD TO CHANGE” interest meeting on Friday night in Troy! It was an amazing time for my wife and I to meet so many great people and have the opportunity to share from our hearts as to what we want to accomplish in this area with Journey Church.
We look forward to building a church that doesn’t have walls…a church where people feel at home no matter where they may be in their life’s journey.
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: MISC Posts
I had the AWESOME opportunity this week to see one of the most dynamic students I ever had the privilege to know as a youth pastor – Jeremy Potts (18)…however, it was under some unfortunate circumstances.
I got a call earlier this week from Jeremy (who has been hospitalized for quite a while in Springfield, MO for a rare sickness that is killing off his blood platelets) and is currently attending a great bible school in Springfield while trying to battle all of this. Jeremy said they were now transfering him to a St. Louis hospital for a little bit and wanted to know if I could come see him.
I couldn’t have been more excited to come see him and his family…and I was able to spend a good part of the day with him yesterday where I saw a young man that has a tremendous heart after God. I was literally encouraged and strengthened to see a 18 year old kid who is fighting such a horrible sickness so calm and full of faith in God…not letting anything hold him down.
He said to me at some point during our time together yesterday - ”When you’re going through what I’m going through – you really start to think about what REALLY matters in your life – God.”
He said we get so distracted by so many other things when everything is great and all is well…we end up forgetting the important things.
How true that is! It really made me drive home last night and filter out all of the ‘junk’ that I’ve been worrying about lately and say…”you know what? I’m just gonna put all of that in God’s hand. He’s my Provider anyway…so why worry?!”
J- We love you man and are standing with you and everyone around you who knows that God is in complete control of this thing. Get better my man!
Jesse
Filed under: Journey Church
“Question” is defined by Webster as: n. An expression of inquiry that invites or calls for a reply.
You know, when you really think about it, we would be NO WHERE in our lives if it weren’t for simply asking questions. In fact, humanity would NOT have any ability to progress in the context of life (whether that context be social, technological, spiritual, etc…) if it wasn’t for questions being asked.
I mean, think how far we’ve advanced society and how easier our lives have become today compared to where we were just 100 years ago.
Here are some little things for example that have been invented in the last 100 years: Cereal, Instant Coffee (somebody better thank God for that man), pop-up toasters, the zipper, bubble gum, the hot water heater (if you don’t think that is an amazing invention – just ask how your grandparents got clean), the radio, the calculator, cell phones, and last but not least – the band-aid.
Of course the major things like cars, planes, computers, and our indescribable advances in modern medicine are obvious inserts into the great inventions in the last 100 years – but the point is – They would ALL be non-existent if someone didn’t ask a question.
The fact of the matter is that questions ‘advance’ us into a deeper realm of knowledge, allow us to have greater understanding, and ultimately provide us with true wisdom.
If all of this is true, then I want to encourage you to do the same with your life inside of Christianity – regardless of who you are or who others perceive you to be. I know sometimes you may feel like if you ever ask a question about something that has to do with God, Church, Doctrine, or Christianity in general – you’re looked down upon like your an idiot or your ‘questioning’ their faith in God as if you don’t have any.
I don’t know about you – but I have a TON of questions about God, a TON of questions about Christianity, and a TON of questions about the Bible! Questions are just part of the journey.
I love this Chinese proverb that says: 
“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever”
Don’t ever be ashamed to ask someone a question you may have about God, and if they don’t know the answer – just ask someone else – and keep asking till you get an answer.
We need to get to the point where understand that our questions about God DISPLAY our hunger for God.
I think sometimes we (as church people) even push away opportunity for questions from others because we think someone’s trying to ‘disprove’ our belief system or bring doubt to our minds. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. I want to challenge you to embrace any question given you and if you don’t know the answer – please don’t make one up or just say – ‘because the bible says so’. Just say – I don’t know, but we can find the answer together.
If you have any questions about God, Church, Christianity, or faith in general – I would love to join you in your journey to find the answer. Email me at jesse@journeychurchmo.com or click on that big question button at the top of this post and we’ll get started.
Thanks!
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: Family
Micah (my oldest son – the taller one of course) has caught a nasty infection (most likely sinus according to the doctor) and has been out of commission for the last few days and it looks like it’s going to last a while according to his present symptoms. I absolutely love my 2 boys and hate to see either of them sick as I’m sure any parent feels the same. It’s so great to see how his little brother comes to his aid to help him with anything he needs (getting him a drink – a kleenex – or changing the channel)…but it was so neat to see Javan lay his hands on Micah’s head last night, close his eyes and pray for God to ‘make my brother better again’.
I love my family…Micah, feel better buddy.
Jesse
Filed under: MISC Posts
Well…we’ve officially landed in Missouri!!! And what is one of the first things I did when I got back? I went ICE SKATING!?!? (don’t worry – that’s not me in the picture – I’m not that good)
Yesterday morning, my brother-in-law Jim came over and asked me to go to the ice skating rink with him over in Wentzville. Now, I’ve only been ice skating ONCE and that was 15-20 years ago on our old frozen pond that we had growing up – and I remember then doing everything I could to not fall over!
The moment I stepped on the ice yesterday, it was like pulling teeth trying to muster up every memory I had of what it took to NOT FALL…what it took to keep my balance…and what it took to actually get moving and skate!
You know, it’s crazy how it actually DOES all come back to you after a few tries…and frankly…I don’t mean to brag – but – I impressed myself as I was pretty amazing! 
(actually ‘amazing’ might be an overstatement – I was at least as good as I was the first time I skated and a little bit better).
The lesson in all of this for me was that your past experiences aren’t just memories to enjoy or remember. They are tools that can equip you to continue everything you’ve ever wanted to TRY AGAIN. I don’t care if it’s ice skating or water skiing, riding a bike or throwing a football, it can even apply to our lives with God.
Some of us so easily give up when it comes to God or church- because we think we don’t have what it takes to continue (like having the patience to put up with a certain person or having the will-power to pray everyday) - when in all reality – we do have what it takes…why?
Because you did it before…and it if you’ve done it before…then you have the tools to do it again! It may take a few stabs at it (like I did on the rink)…but don’t worry, it’ll all come back to you.
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
