Filed under: Journey Church
Tonight, in my opinion was one of the most important nights for our young church.
We got to connect with each other through what they used to call in the ‘old days’ – fellowship!
You know, we have been experiencing some INCREDIBLE services – God has been moving at Journey Church in a way that literally cannot be explained – and growing at a rate most would have never imagined. But if I learned anything in ministry – it’s that services can only get you so far as a church – there must be opportunity to cultivate relationships and you can’t do that in a church service – so we thought it fitting to open our home and host a little ‘get-together’ – bust out the BBQ, play some games, and while we’re at it – baptize ppl in the pool in our backyard! So over 60 ppl came and we celebrated the new lives that have been changed at Journey!
Here’s a few pics of the night – I couldn’t imagine church going any other way!
I baptized my grandfather - what an honor!
Shelby - an awesome girl!!!
Danielle - amazing experience - today was her first day at Journey Church!
Dawn - her life has completely changed - couldn't be prouder of the people at Journey Church!
Gotta love it!
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: Journey Church
This Sunday – I will be wrapping up our GOD GIFTS series. I absolutely love this subject of our faith and literally cannot wait to get to the pulpit and begin teaching on it.
You know, I believe many of us in the church today have fallen prey to the pressure of being ‘normal’ when it comes to our faith and practice (I’m not saying that in a derogatory way – as we all are guilty of it at times). Because in my opinion – we don’t ever want to be considered ‘wierd’ or ‘unusual’ when ppl view us as Christians – we want to be considered mainstream and normal.
When in fact – there are many aspects of our faith in God and His Word that are not really mainstream at all and do in fact make us ‘wierd’ or ‘unusual’ – the Spiritual Gifts being just one example of that when compared to our ‘natural’ world.
When most of the unchurched think on the ‘Gifts of the Spirit’ in our churches today - or as we call them at Journey – THE GOD GIFTS – they probably think about many pentecostal churches (you know – those ppl who ‘handle snakes’ and ‘fa-la-la-la-la-la’ with that one hand twitching in the air while they pray).
That view of the GOD GIFTS couldn’t be more inaccurate. We cannot discredit these authentic biblical gifts because some churches may abuse them out of simple ignorance, emotionalism, or intended deceit. We cannot disqualify ourselves from these amazing tools that He wants to use through us to reach lost humanity because of their misuse by others.
We will taking this Sunday and providing an authentic and very informative view on just what these God Gifts are and how they can be applied to our lives through a ‘very interesting’ illustrated message…trust me, you’ll be glad you came!
We would be honored to have you this Sunday at Journey!
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: Journey Church
We had our 12th service at Journey Church yesterday and what an incredible day it was! We broke 100 in attendance!!!
I’m telling you what – I couldn’t happier with the ppl that God has given us at Journey. There is a tremendous need to reach the ppl in our lives for Jesus and I’m so glad that our church is doing just that…reaching ppl.
I’m so thankful for all that God has done, is currently doing, and has yet to do in the lives of our great church!
Thankful,
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: Journey Church
I wanted to continue off of my previous blog concerning the importance of our need as a ppl of faith to authentically understand and know WHY we believe what it is we believe when it comes to Christianity.
As I stated earlier – Christianity in America is under a severe and brutal attack as a humanistic doctrine of ‘God-less’ reason is quickly rising to the surface of many minds in our culture. There has never been such a tremendous decline in church attendance (catholic & protestant) than what we are experiencing today – which tells me that this mindset is even beginning to settle in a percentage of our ‘church-goers’. According to current statistics – more people are leaving churches today than are coming – and this my friends – is not good news.
We must rise up as a ppl of faith and begin to equip ourselves with an effective ability to communicate GOD to a ‘God-less’ people – and UNDERSTAND that it (our communication) must be done with great confidence (where we know with assurance the answers to the questions aimed to cripple Christianity) and with great love be able to minister to those who do not have a relationship with our God – remembering that love is patient (1 Cor 13:4) if they don’t accept our initial invitation to the cross instead of casting them aside and consider them hell-bound and hopeless.
I recently viewed YET ANOTHER DEBATE (I know – I’m a junkie) where Dr. Frank Turek (founder of Cross-Examined, a ministry geared to equip and enable ppl of faith to effectivly defend the doctrine and faith of Christianity) debated Christopher Hitchens, author of God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. The two met at VCU in Richmond, VA to debate the question, “Does God exist?” and I’m telling you – I was IMPRESSED!
As I watched Dr. Turek literally OWN Mr. Hitchens (one of Atheism’s leading debaters) on the subject of Theism and provide such amazing truth that could not be shaken – I began to see AGAIN the importance of our need to equip ourselves in the same manner. Here’s a link to their debate if you’re interested (you’ll be glad you watched it):
http://crossexamined.org/turek-hitchens-debate.asp
Anyways – this topic has inspired me to begin a small group at Journey Church to equip our congregation with the tools necessary to effectively communicate Christianity to our world…get ready!
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: Journey Church
You know, whether we want to admit it or not – the Christian church is under severe attack in America today, shoot – lets just say it – Christianity as a whole is under attack.
This attack however isn’t physical in nature, but strictly mental and psychological. As we progress into what many are calling our modern day ‘age of reason’ – rationalism is becoming the centerpiece of what guides our lives and creates our belief systems.
Rationalism (as defined in our dictionaries) is simply our reliance on reason.
In other words – if something (a concept, thought, religous belief, etc…) doesn’t apply and agree with our reason – we dismiss it from being truth and consider it myth.
This way of thinking is beginning to rise quickly in the lives of many in our nation – as a matter of fact – experts are already defining my generation as a generation of ‘thinkers’.
This is not a bad thing in my opinion – on the contrary – I absolutely embrace this war on Christianity – Because what it does is challenge Christians everywhere to come to a place where we know WHY we beleive what we beleive. You see, if someone challenges your belief in Jesus and asks you why you claim to serve a 2,000 year old male figure in history as your God – “Well – my pastor says, or my church beleives…” isn’t going to cut it as your answer.
You must know WHY you serve Jesus. You must UNDERSTAND WHY you beleive in what Christianity proclaims to be truth. You have to arrive at a place of confidence where you can successfully defend these truths that are under psychological attack in America today…and know that we must also defend these truths – in love.
I came across a debate recently where ABC news hosted a debate on the existence of Satan – where leading modern philosopher Deepak Chopra challenged this central belief in Christianity – and Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA did a SUPERB job at defending this central belief and doctrine. Mark Driscoll, in my opinion is a fine example of what many Christians today need to become – equipped.
Here’s the link – in case you get some time to watch it – I absolutely loved it!
http://abcnews.go.com/nightline/faceoff
Thank God for Christian Apologetic Experts – may we ALL become one!
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
Filed under: MISC Posts
20lbs!!! After nearly 4 weeks – I’ve managed to drop 20…and it has been quite the mental transition. 4 weeks ago – I couldn’t have ever thought it would be easy to do what I’m doing now – eating right, exercising daily, and making healthy choices…I knew I could do it – but I didn’t think it would be easy…and now - it’s easy!
I know I’ve said this before but – one of my favorites things to do is RUNNING. I run a little over 2.5 miles a day and it serves to be a great time of focus for me – a time where I can put the running shoes on – put my ear phones in – stretch – and head down the road for a time of calorie burning fun!
Another thing I’ve realized is that my time of exercise actually strengthens my willpower to make healthy eating choices. After I’m done running and the sweat is dripping off of every part of my face and I finally start to catch my breath again – I realize that undisciplined eating would negate all that I just did 2.5 miles ago…who would have thought!?
If you’re reading this and maybe you need to ‘drop a couple’ like me – let me tell you – YOU CAN! Trust me, if I can do it – ________(insert your name here) can do it!
Anways – just wanted to give you the update – things are going great!
PS- I love the view of the Cuiver River State Park (where I run) – and the views alone make this daily routine rather enjoyable. Below is a pic I took today:
Cuiver River State Park
Filed under: Family
Well…what can I say other than – time flies.
It literally seems like yesterday that my wife and I were experiencing the miracle of the birth of our first baby boy – Micah.
I can remember the light beige paint color of the little hospital room at St. Joseph West in Lake St. Louis where my wife labored through the night to deliver our 9 pound bundle of joy – I can remember the red chair that folded out into an extremely uncomfortable ‘couch’ where I slept (or attempted to sleep) for 2 nights as we began our journey as parents for the first time…pacing the room at 2am holding our ‘little man’.
That was in the year 2000. It’s now 2009, and we just celebrated his 9th birthday today! As I watched him blow out his 9 candles on his soccer themed birthday cake – I couldn’t help but think back to the little face I used to see look at me as I would hold him as a tiny infant (it really chokes me up just thinking about it).
Micah today has one of the most sincere hearts of anyone I’ve ever met – he is so full of love and kindness…his smile lights up my heart and I never thought I could love anyone so much! I’m so glad that we have the family that we have – I wouldn’t change anything at all – we have seen that little baby boy develop into quite the little man – and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
From seeing him play with our family’s dogs Meadow, Shadow, and Hoyce, to seeing him on the soccer field scoring goals (which he scored 3 the other day – hey, I have to brag – he’s my son), or watching him dominate all of us at Mario Kart on the Wii – I LOVE MY SON! That’s all I can really say…this is one proud dad.
Happy Birthday Bubba!
Dad.
Filed under: Journey Church
This Sunday I will be wrapping up our short – but sweet sermon series called SPIRIT FRUIT…and I will be attempting to do something a little different – cutting a tree down during my message:
I beleive that this message needs to be heard by alot of Christians – and I’m telling you what – I’m one of ‘em.
The fruit of the Spirit (when really studied and looked at) is something that we all need to understand is a process. It takes time for it to develop and there are certain things we must have and understand about it before we begin seeing fall from our lives for others to enjoy.
I look forward to sharing those things with you this Sunday!
See ya there!
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)
