Change or NOT!

Good morning everyone I will be talking about Change today. Pastor Troy Gramling said something that sticks out to me and I would like to share it with you. Change is in the air and happening at record speeds. Many of the changes we face are not within our control, as we learned on September 11th, but how we respond to change can be controlled. This is so true. I like the way Twyman L. Towery compares the stages of change to the stages of grief: DENIAL: Our first reaction is to deny, rather than adapt to and embrace, the change in our life. ANGER: Once we realize we cannot stop the change we become angry that it is outside of our control. If we do not understand where the anger is coming from, we can mistakenly hurt the people we perceive to be initiating the change. BARGAINING: This is an attempt to avoid change by bargaining it away. EXPLORATION: We begin to except that there is going to be change and explore ways to deal with the change. Depression can become a reality during this stage as we give up being able to control the circumstances. COMMITMENT: We except and embrace the change. We begin to see some possible benefits of the change. When I read this it rocked my world. I started thinking about this same mindset people have on Change inside the church. I hear so many people in church talk about other churches and what they are doing! It goes like this: “Did you here what "such and such"church is doing? I can’t believe they are doing that!” This bothers me to hear people focusing so much on other churches they forget there on vision for there church. Let’s face it the same things that worked 10 years ago will not work today! We serve a creative God If you don’t think so then look outside. Better yet look at your spouse! It’s time the church in America gets with it and makes some huge changes. Do not change your church vision just the way you present the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Make it fun and fresh! We must reach the YOUTH! I believe with all my heart that should be the focal point in the church! Not the Cemetery or the pointless picking of apples for the Senior Adults! If you just got offended good you needed it. Although Twyman L. Towery was talking about changes in our life. I believe some churches have this mindset about where they go to church. They don’t like change. They make it all about them and the Hell with the lost people! This is my opinion on change within churches, if the Pastor and Staff constantly seek Jesus Christ and put him first in everything Jesus is in control! Jesus said follow him! Are you following him? Does change bother you? Are you making all about you and not Jesus? I know this is a touchy subject and I am not downgrading churches or people. I am simply calling like I see it! If you get mad great! If you don’t even better! Love You Guys Jason!

God wants the BEST! "By Pastor Steven Furtick"

…not necessarily what’s best for ME.
Waiting for the death penalty while shackled to a prison guard wasn’t BEST for Paul.But it was best for the advancement of the Gospel.(Philippians 1:12)
Being beat to shreds on a criminal’s cross wasn’t BEST for Jesus.But it was the only way to procure salvation for those He came to redeem.(Matthew 26:42)
Ultimately God’s best is what’s best for me.
But in the meantime:If what’s BEST for the cause of Christ doesn’t happen to be what’s BEST for ME…am I okay with that?

WOW!

I AM IN AWE at what Jesus is doing through the ministry of New Spring Church! Check it out @www.newspring.cc!!!!!! WOW Thank You Jesus that I get to be a part of this AWEsome move of God!

Teens and SEX!

Who ever wrote this knows there stuff! It was emailed to me I HAD TO POST IT! So, how far is too far? Is that a valid question to ask? In a world where sex is seen in every medium and condoms are being handed out in schools, what is a Christian teen to do when confronted with conflicting advice about what constitutes a sexual activity or abstinence? Here are the top 10 lies Christian teens tell themselves when it comes to answering the question, "How far is too far?"
1. Everybody Does ItEverybody? No. Not everybody is having sex. While the media and people in school may make it seem like everyone is having sex, there are just as many Christian teens (and non-Christians, too) waiting until marriage. Doing something just because everyone else is doing it is just giving into peer pressure. It takes a stronger person, or a person backed up by the strength of God, to resist temptation. When you stand up to peer pressure you are actually saving yourself from committing sin while being a good Christian witness to other teens around you.
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2. It's No Big DealSex is a big deal. Ask any Christian teen who struggles with having had sex before. There are a lot of emotions and spiritual struggles that come from having had sex outside of marriage. It is one of the reasons God placed such an emphasis on sex and relationships in the Bible. Sex is a beautiful act that comes out of the marriage covenant, and it means more than just an action.
3. Virginity is a State of Mind Some people use the term "technical virgin" when describing their sexual status. Usually this means that the person has not had a sexual act that involved penetration. Virginity is more than that. Virginity is not a state of mind, but it is the conscious choice to not involve oneself in sexual acts until after marriage. Usually this excuse is used if someone wants to justify participating in sexual activity.
4. Sex and Love are the Same Thing Sex and love are very different, but they are meant to complement one another. If you are in love it does not mean you should have sex. Sex is an act. Love is an emotion. They are very different, and it can be dangerous to mix them up. You should never feel like you have to have sex with someone just because you want to show them you love them. There are plenty of non-sexual ways to show your love to someone.
5. Sex is a Minor Sin Pre-marital sex is sin. Sin is sin. However, it is dangerous to think that sex is a minor or equal sin to all others, because it can put you in a frame of mind to make bad choices. Sexual sin is still a defiance of God, and no sin is acceptable to God. Yes, you can be forgiven, but you will have to live with the sin you have committed, which can be difficult if you are not prepared to deal with sex emotionally.
6. Oral Sex Isn't Really Sex Oral sex is a sexual act. Just because Christian teens are not having sex in the textbook fashion, it is still a sexual act that bonds a man and a woman together.
7. Third Base Isn't a Big DealThird base, also known as "heavy petting," is a big deal, because it can lead to other things. Not only is it a form of sexual action, but it can lead to sexual intercourse. It is very easy for Christian teens to get caught up in the moment and forget about any desire to stay abstinent. Sin is very tempting, and it does not always come with warning or stop signs. Going to Third Base can be a danger zone.
8. My Will Can Overcome Any Temptation God's will can overcome any temptation. If you feel you have the strength alone to conquer any temptation, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Man is known for falling into sin, especially when there is an overconfidence in the self. Christian teens need to keep their eyes on God, and allow God to help set boundaries so they can resist the temptation. The Bible is full of helpful advice when it comes to coping with temptation, and it can be a useful tool.
9. Watching Porn or Masturbating is Less of a Sin Than Having Sex A lot of people believe that pornography and masturbation are helpful in preventing a person from having sex. However, having sex is not just about the act, but it is about the frame of mind. If you have lust in your heart while you are watching pornographic movies or masturbating, then there is sin there.
10. I've Already Had Sex, So It's Too Late for MeIt is never too late. While the idea of "born-again virgin" may seem a little like "technical virgin," it is not the same thing. Many Christian teens that have already had sex choose to act as if they have never had sex and vow to wait until marriage. Having sex is not the end of the world. God is very forgiving, and He smiles at those who return to Him with a desire to do His will. While the temptation for someone who has had sex can be even stronger than the virgin, it can be overcome with God's help. God is waiting to welcome you with open arms.

Young Guns Part 1(Mark Driscoll)

Mars Hill Church began in the fall of 1996, one week before I turned 26 years of age. At that time, nearly everyone in the church was young. Today, there is thankfully a growing range of ages, though I am admittedly starting to feel old.
I often pray that Mars Hill will not simply be a church that grows old together. Rather, we should seek to always welcome young people, see their lives transformed by Jesus, and encourage them to serve Him wholeheartedly.
In the history of the church, much has been accomplished by Christians who were young. Perhaps Paul’s words to the young Timothy are the most pertinent, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).
Curiously, throughout church history God has chosen to use young people like Timothy for significant kingdom work. The following are a handful of such examples that have greatly encouraged me and I pray they do likewise for you.
Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards is the greatest theologian America has ever produced. Additionally, the Great Awakening began in 1734 in his Northampton, Massachusetts congregation with the young people who had drifted away from the church, but suddenly wanted to begin meeting with him about his sermons. Edwards began his life of ministry at the young age of nineteen.
George Whitefield
George Whitefield is the greatest preacher America has ever seen. He preached 18,000 sermons to over ten million people during the Great Awakening. He planted 150 churches in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. He preached in open air with crowds as large as 30,000 people at a time. Amazingly, he preached to such crowds without a microphone and would cough up blood from the strain on his throat. It is estimated that most Americans heard him preach at least once. His farewell sermon on Boston Commons drew more people than Boston’s entire population and was the largest crowd ever gathered in America at that time. Whitefield began his life of ministry at the young age of twenty-five.
David Brainerd
David Brainerd is one of the greatest missionaries America has ever had. His passion was to convert the Americans Indians scattered throughout New York and Pennsylvania. He traveled more than 3,000 miles on horseback, preaching the gospel faithfully until he died at the age of twenty-nine, after a lengthy sickness brought on by his constant time spent in harsh winter conditions. Brainerd began his life of ministry at the young age of twenty-four.
Methodist Circuit Riders
The Methodist Circuit Riders were devout evangelists who traveled across the country on horseback to lead people to Christ by preaching of the gospel and establishing local congregations of believers. Amazingly, four questions were asked in the selecting of a potential Circuit Rider:
Is this man truly converted?
Does he know how to keep our rules?
Can he preach acceptably?
Has he a horse?
Due to the harsh conditions of living in the woods and traveling on horseback, the average life expectancy of a Circuit Rider was only thirty-three years of age. Most of the Circuit Riders began their ministry while they were in their twenties.

Random Thoughts of EMOTION!

Well good morning to all I hope you slept well I did! As I sit here in my living room i have a ton of emotions running through my mind! I don't deserve any thing I have! But still Jesus shows mercy and grace toward me, he has made me brand new! Ministry this week was out of this world we talked to prostitutes, drug attics, drug dealers, homeless and gang members. Yeah it was full of surprises. But I must say It was a blessing to here their stories and lead some of them to Jesus! So i want to thank all of you who pray for us and donate to us, you rock theirs to many of you to list but know we LOVE you and THANK you! Yesterday @new spring church was an AWE filled sermon! Seeing people get dunked for Jesus never gets old! Also I love my Pastor Perry Noble he constantly challenges me as a leader and a man HE ROCKS! After the service yesterday I got to tour our new youth facility and oh my gosh i could not quit biting my finger nails just anticipating life change to take place their! Thank you to all who give to New Spring Church its because of you that our kids will have one of the greatest worship facilities in this nation! You know my respect grew for a man yesterday as we were told his story, I can honestly say their was no judgement in my heart toward him just love! He done what so many people will not do HE OBEYED JESUS! So I want you to know I am lifting you up in prayer at this very moment and will continue to do so! I Love You brother! I know this post has been full of random thoughts but I have one more thing! Yesterday we brought over 12 people to New Spring from a local non profit in our area and they were blown away! Thank you Jesus! This week we are looking at filling up a whole bus of folks! Oh Yeah its happening! MY GOD IS HUGE!!! Finally I want to close with one of the most beautiful scriptures in my opinion, that is in the bible! ECCLESIASTES 3 1-8 says "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...A time to plant...A time to heal...A time to build up...A time to embrace... A time to gain...A time to speak...A time to love...A time of war, and a time of peace!" So today can you honestly say you have peace in your life through Jesus Christ? No matter your situation in life Jesus is one prayer away and HE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND FATHER(Because God disciplines his children) I Love You guys and gals!

Acting with Urgency!

Perry Noble posted this a while ago but its so true check it out! And not to mention its Freakin Hilarious as well! There are times in life when action MUST be taken…I had one of those times several months ago…
I had been out and about and was pulling into my neighborhood when I felt something crawling in my pants right around my knee. I thought maybe my mind was playing tricks on me and dismissed it until…
While pulling into my driveway whatever “it” was decided to begin biting me…right around mid thigh!
How did I respond? Well…I didn’t do as many Christians would have done and begin praying about it. I didn’t form a group with other people who had been bitten to discuss the problem. I didn’t try to decide whether “it” had been predestined to bite me OR if it had chosen to…
I responded with urgency!
First of all I screamed like a girl! I am not trying to be crass here…but when you are a dude and something bites you mid-thigh…it is perfectly acceptable to scream!
Second of all I pulled my car into my garage as fast as I could…as I think back I probably barely made it in…our door isn’t the fastest opening door in the world.
Third I LEAPED out of my car and pulled my pants off. (I know–that’s gross, but ANY dude in my situation would have done the same!) I could not find whatever had bitten me earlier…so I just jumped up and down on my pants, hoping to eventually “squish” whatever it was that had VIOLENTLY disrupted my day.
(Lucretia gave me a VERY weird look when I walked inside with no pants on!)
Bottom line…when I was bitten…everything changed. I acted with urgency…I had to, sitting there and being passive was not an option…and doing so could have caused serious damage and pain!
There are times in life when many of us have felt “bitten” by God…nudged in an undeniably divine way that makes us incredibly uncomfortable and forces us to take immediate action. Simply put–I believe that God OFTEN causes us to act with urgency.
You see, if heaven and hell are real (and I believe they are), and people without Christ really do go to hell then we need to act with urgency. Unfortunately, many churches have used “evangelism repellent” to make sure that the “go and tell” bug gets nowhere near them.
When it comes to evangelism Scripture strongly indicates that we should all act with urgency…with passion…with a seriousness like never before. And…this Sunday we will see some incredible and undeniable scenarios of what happens when someone responds to God’s call on their life to take the message outside of the church.
This weekend will be one of those services that could quite possibly go down in NewSpring history as one of the best ever! Trust me when I say we will never forget it!One more thing…I also believe God calls us to urgently respond to things on an individual basis as well. Is there anything He’s asking you to do? Just curious.

Update

Thank You for all of your prayers! Ministry was very effective today! Praise Jesus!!

Made Brand NEW!

This is the last post of Cindy Bealls story! I pray it has put HOPE into some of your hearts! JESUS CAN FIX ANYTHING PERIOD! I remember telling my husband many, many weeks after his confession something that he couldn’t believe. We had been walking out our new life the best we knew how. We had embraced our new surroundings and jobs. We had begun to heal. And I told him that if I had the choice to go back to our old life, that I wouldn’t do it. He was pretty surprised to hear me say that. I mean, after all the pain his actions caused me, here I am telling him that I’m thankful that I endured it so that we could have what we have now.
Our pastor, Craig, preached to our congregation at the Edmond Campus about Chris’ confession and told them “we are going to believe God that they will be better than new”. He wasn’t kidding. Neither were they. We are so better than new. We are better than we ever imagined. We are better than anybody thought we’d ever be.
Chris and I are best friends and our marriage is blessed with an increasing passion for each other. (Ahem) We have had countless opportunities to minister to couples and individuals who are walking through similar challenges. (I expect this to increase as I’ve recently finished writing a book of a more detailed account of our journey.) Chris’ son has become one of the greatest blessings to our family. My relationship with his mother is so extraordinary that many jaws hit the floor when I describe it. Chris’ influence and impact at LifeChurch.tv continues to humble him as he never thought he’d ever participate in ministry again. Most importantly, my heart is full. My cup runneth over. I have a man who adores me and isn’t afraid to show it. And my trust in him is growing daily.
There are many things I don’t know in life. I don’t understand algebra. Just don’t get all that abstract math. I don’t get how a heavy airplane can stay up in the sky and not fall to the ground. I know it’s about jets and thrust and stuff like that, but it still doesn’t make sense to me. I wish I knew why innocent people have to suffer. If I did, I’d bottle up the formula to fix their problems and give it away. Don’t know lots of things.
But, here’s what I do know.
According to the Bible, I serve a big God. He created the Universe in less than a week. He formed mountains and scooped out valleys with His hands. He is everywhere, all the time. He can change a heart with the snap of his fingers. He can bring sight to a blind man with some dirt and saliva. He can part a sea and allow his people to cross on dry land. He can make walls fall down with the blast of a trumpet. He can keep a man from being eaten by lions. He can bring forth a child through a virgin. He can turn a Pharisee into a martyr for Christ. He can transform a fisherman into a minister of the gospel. He brings peace that no one can explain. He is truly a remarkable God. My marriage is living proof.
I remember asking God one day how He was going to take this awful situation and use it for His good (Romans 8:28). Tears were streaming down my face and I had no idea how I would survive this. God spoke ever so gently to my heart and here is what He said:
God: Remember when you told me that you would go through anything in order to bring glory to my name?
Me: Uh-huh, sniff, sniff.
God: I’m taking you up on your offer.
Trust Him.
He is faithful and loving and kind and tender and good and miraculous and amazing. He will carry you when you can walk no more and He will strengthen you when you need to make the journey. He is true to His word and will do what He says he is going to do. I promise because He promises and He does not disappoint.

The Project!

Just got through with a meeting with BeEazy7 oh my gosh Anderson and Greenville watch out! We on a MISSION!

LET THE HEALING BEGIN!

Here is part for to Cindy Beall Story of Christ restoring her marriage! Tomorrow I will list the final post of her story so tune back in! The morning I woke up to head back to Oklahoma from Texas was the first morning in weeks that peace was upon me. Actually, peace covered me like a blanket and let me tell you, it was well received. While it was only a few weeks in the pit of despair, it felt like a lifetime.
Chris greeted us with open arms and a warm home. He’d spent that week grieving himself and hoping his wife would return to give it another shot. We were about to embark on the most difficult road ever…the road to healing and restoration.
While there were plenty who were skeptical of Chris’ heart, he proved to be the real deal. Many men in his situation might have waited to find a “better” job…one more comparable to his previous one. Chris, on the other hand, only wanted to provide for his family doing whatever was necessary. He began selling 2X4’s at a local home improvement store and did that successfully for 18 months.
It is not by accident that I landed a part-time position at LifeChurch.tv just six weeks after Chris’ resignation. I was around the lead pastors on a daily basis and I’m sure my face was a litmus test as to the condition of our marriage. Not only that, but these amazing men and our congregation, led by our senior pastor, Craig Groeschel, supported and loved us from day one. Many ministers who fall into this type of sin end up next to the curb. Even though it was difficult, my pastor and friend took the narrow road for which I am forever grateful.
Chris began to build back my trust in him. He was accountable to a few and never once got defensive when I needed to share how I felt. As we endured the pain and the consequences of his actions, I committed to God that I would not throw Chris’ sin back in his face. Frankly, I didn’t need to…the man lived in brokenness. And still, to this day, he has NEVER been defensive when I have asked questions or when I tell him I’m hurting. He will tell you that he is willing to spend the rest of his life working to rebuild my trust if that’s what it takes. Isn’t that amazing?
I mentioned that Chris only worked at the home improvement store for 18 months. His length of time there was only cut short by the new role that Craig offered him at LifeChurch.tv. And within a year of his new position there, he’d be leading the same campus where he fell some two and half years earlier. Talk about kicking Satan in the… I’m sorry, did I say that out loud?
We are not at the end. The restoration is progressing, but not over. We still have our days where it hurts. Days where we re-live it when others go through a similar situation. Days where we have to explain to our 8-year old why he has a brother who is not his mother’s child. And the fact that we have an amazing relationship with Chris’ son and his mom is nothing short of a modern-day miracle in itself.Come back tomorrow. More good news is on the way.

This is part 3 to this story of how Christ can move within a relationship if you get out of his way and let him! My Word From God
I needed to hear from God. The state of confusion that I lived in at this point in my life was extremely overwhelming. Many wise people in my life were telling me that I didn’t have to make a decision right away, but I couldn’t live with that. Something was calling me to get some clarity.
Noah and I journeyed six hours down I-35 to my childhood home in Georgetown, Texas. I needed someone to take care of us. That someone was my mom. Not only did she play with Noah, which allowed me time to myself, but she cooked for us and cleaned up after us and rented movies for us and took us to eat Mexican food. She’s a terrific mom.
But, she also pestered me a little. She was insistent that I go meet with her pastor, Dan Wooldridge. Because I literally had no strength, I didn’t even put up a fight.
I was surprised how comfortable I was in Dan’s presence. A true shepherd, he listened to my story and watched as tears streamed down my face. I practically begged him to tell me what he thought I should do. He did something better. Here’s what he said:
“I would respect you if you felt that you needed to remove yourself from your marriage. What you’ve endured is very hard. But, you are not a fool to stay and be a part of the redemptive work in a man’s life.”
I was and still am absolutely certain that these were the words coming my Heavenly Daddy disguised in a middle-aged Baptist minister’s voice. I knew it immediately. Nearly six years later and I still remember this quote from him…word for word.
And I’m so glad my mother was a pest

What Now?

Now for part 2 of this 5 part testimony of how Jesus can restore a marriage! What Now? Within thirty minutes, a couple of our pastors came over to our house. Their attempts to even speak were futile. I was crying, Chris was scared for his life and they sat across from us hoping they’d wake up soon. After learning the news, they left and I was alone with my husband. I hated him and I loved him and I didn’t want him near me and I wanted him to hold me. I wanted details and he reluctantly shared them. I wanted dates but he could not supply them. I wanted to know why he did this to me…to us. For that, he had an answer.
Pornography.
Seriously? I thought he struggled with looking at a few naked girls from time to time on the internet. I thought he wasn’t struggling with this very much anymore. I thought we were communicating fairly well on this subject. I thought that’s why he met with his accountability group on Fridays. I thought.
I was married to a full-blown porn addict. He explained that simply viewing images of naked women no longer appealed to him. He needed something more. His sickness grew and grew and gave birth to more repulsive desires. Eventually, after years of progression, this sin completely entangled him and he acted out.
As you can imagine, my husband’s resignation was forthcoming. Had he been employed in the corporate world, that wouldn’t have been necessary. But a pastor at a church? (You do the math.) His resignation brought even more death to my broken heart. Not only was our marriage deeply wounded and more than likely beyond repair, my ministry was lost, too. I would no longer be singing on the stage that had become my home in ministry for the past several years. No longer would I be pouring into mentoring relationships with women. Now, I was the one who needed to be ministered to. This role was not something I was accustomed to at all.
Next to our marriage being absolutely torn to shreds, the most devastating part was trying to go about some semblance of a life for the heart of our 3-year old. I tried to hide my tears from him but that was a feat far too difficult to perfect. One day he walked in on me when I was crying and said, “Why you so sad fo mommy?”
What in the world was I supposed to do.

The day everything changed Chapter 1.......

This is part 1 of a five day series of one Woman and one Man's story of how a marriage was rebuilt by faith and trust in CHIST JESUS! I hope this story rocks your world it made me weep when I read it! Check back tomorrow as I post Chapter2 of Cindy Beall's story! Knee deep in boxes at 217 Brackendale Lane, I heard the front door open. The jiggle of the doorknob was a familiar sound, for I knew the entrance of my husband was soon to follow. Inching my way through a small pathway in between many boxes, I looked up and saw the face of the man I married nine years ago. Chris walked toward me and asked if we could “talk”. The look on his face said enough - something was wrong.
After getting our oldest son, Noah, settled with a Blue’s Clues video, Chris motioned me toward the newly-purchased sofa that had arrived just twenty-four hours before as we began our new life in a new town.
He began by confessing that he had numerous affairs with numerous women from numerous places. My heart began to palpitate while I listened to him. I heard the cracking of my heart as he spoke and felt the devastation setting in almost immediately. As if that information was not enough to handle, he also informed me that one of the women was pregnant, and he was pretty sure the baby was his child.
You have got to be kidding me.
I’m quite certain that Webster does not have one word that could have even come close to describing my immediate state of mind and heart condition.
Bewildered. Stunned. Shocked. Overwhelmed.Befuddled. Floored. Jolted. Nauseated. Sickened.Disturbed. Crushed. Dismayed. Paralyzed.Pissed off.
Nope, none of those work. The truth is that I still can’t tell you to this day how I felt in those first few moments.
What I can tell you is that I was keenly aware that my world as I knew it was forever changed. I woke up that morning a relatively comfortable housewife and stay-at-home mom, and within a couple of hours I became a seriously damaged woman.
As one might imagine, my mind began to race with all sorts of one-word questions. What? When? Where? And of course, an all-time favorite question asked by thousands when thrown into an unwanted circumstance – Why?
I guess I need to tell you the stinger in all of this. Up until the day my husband confessed his adultery, he was a pastor at our church.
This is where your jaw drops, your eyes get big, and you might even say, “What the…?”
I began to ask questions.
Why in the world would my husband choose to do this? We both made vows to forsake all others for the rest of our lives. I had kept my vows. He had not.
Why did you need other women?Wasn’t I enough?Why so many?Were you in love with any of them?Where did it happen?When did it happen?What did you do with them?What did they do to you?How many times?Did it happen in our home?Did it happen in our bed?Do I mean anything to you?Was it all a farce?Did our ministry mean anything?How did you lead others to Jesus while you were living this life on the side?
He knew those questions would be coming and as I asked, he simply sat there and cried.
After gaining some composure, he assured me that it wasn’t my fault. He told me that he loved me and found me attractive. He told me that I was a great wife. He said he loved being married to me. He told me that he never loved any of the women. He told me that his relationship with Jesus was real and that he did love the teenagers to whom we ministered.
Then why on earth would you risk what we have to be with someone else?
He replied, “Because I’m addicted to pornography.”

Watch Out!

When things are going your way watch out! You may be living in the danger zone. For many churches and spiritual leaders when we live in comfort we may actually be in more danger than when we live in a time of crisis. Comfort subtly seeks up and robs churches and pastors of their vision and passion. When all the bills are paid, and the people are getting along it is easy to fall asleep at the wheel like a drowsy driver on a long straight stretch of “driving in place” across the Panhandle of Texas. Crisis creates urgency, passion and at times panic, but comfort lures people into complacency, simply going through the motions.
Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill in Seattle, warns about the dangers of comfort in his book Confessions of a Reformission Rev. He diagnoses the dangers of comfort in a very direct and disturbing way for many of us who find ourselves going through the motions in ministry.
“The comfort zone is the place a church commonly falls into once they learn how to survive…At this point, the propensity is for the church to settle in, accept its size, and slip into a mode of maintenance. At some point, the people will move away or die, others will get bored, and slowly the church will begin a cycle of decline unless it intentionally reinvents itself missionally to continue to grow by taking risks in an effort to reach lost people for Jesus.”
Sadly, this appears to be the place that most churches in America find themselves. Awash in a sea of people, churches have become closer to country clubs than hospitals, and slipped into the comfort zone. Statistics bear out this reality in harsh numbers that report that 70-90% of churches in America are either on a plateau or declining. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, recently confessed he believed that most of the SBC church will die a slow death over the next twenty years—dying of “cancer of the comfort”.
Where did the fire go? Do we need a spiritual awakening in the pew or in the pulpit? Are we the proverbial frog in the kettle that has been slowly cooked by our changing culture environment?
Jesus and Paul stand out as clear biblical examples of leaders who had an unquenchable spirit about reaching people and changing the world. Even when Jesus had the “whole city at the door” he was not satisfied to stay put and establish his own version of a mega-church, but rather slipped away unannounced to touch the surrounding villages—because “that is why I have come.” In similar fashion Paul was relentless in his pursuit of people for the sake of the Kingdom. Paul noted to his friends in Corinth that “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22b).
How often can we honestly say we have used “all possible means” to reach our community? Watch out when things are going good, you just might doze of and miss the next turn toward becoming all God wants you to be. I hope you enjoyed that. I'm not sure the Author but its so true have a great day and God Bless You! Love Jason

God's Perfect Gift of Love!

God’s Valentine gift of love to us was not a bunch of flowers;It wasn’t candy, or a book To while away the hours.
His gift was to become a man, So He could freely give His sacrificial love for us, So you and I could live.
He gave us sweet salvation, and Instruction, good and true--To love our friends and enemies And love our Savior, too.
So as we give our Valentines, Let’s thank our Lord and King; The reason we have love to give Is that He gave everything. We Love You Jesus Christ Thank You Love Jason!

Have you died?

Good Morning to all, this is one of the shortest post ever but PLEASE take the time to understand what Paul is saying! 2 TIMOTHY VERSES 11-13 read like this! 11. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12. if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13. if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. The most important question I have for you is “Have you died with him?” Have you given your life up to serve him? I pray you wrestle with these two questions until you get an answer! If you want to know how to have a relationship with Jesus you can shoot me an email at jason.ashley@charter.net. I will be glad to help you in anyway and get you a bible as well as help you take your next step! I Love You All! Jason

HELL NO!!!!

I posted this back in January and it recieved the most hits and responses of any post I have ever written! So I felt like posting it again I HOPE AND PRAY IT ROCKS YOUR WORLD!This is what I call good ol home cookin straight from the heart! Is arguing causing people to bust Hell wide open? I think it is! Please let me explain! Some Christians and Churches would rather argue amongst themselves than reach out to their communities and reach out to one another! If I were the Devil I would keep Christians arguing all the time! Because if Christians argue people don’t get reached for Christ! You see some arguments I have overheard are about the most ridiculous subjects and most of the time based on man made religion, not scripture. If the Church and Christians would take time to look at what truly matters, think Kingdom Minded and simply open their hearts and doors to the lost Jesus could RADICALLY change the way non-Christians view THE CHURCH as a whole. Race doesn’t matter whether your Black, White, Hispanic, Latino or Green or Orange the truth is color of a person should not matter! We are all God’s children! What a person wears should not matter! If you don’t like what they are wearing you need to realize everyone is different and not every person that goes to Church wears a suit and tie or a skirt and dress. They should be welcome any day, any time, and in any Church! What a person drives, where they live, and who their mommy and daddy are should not be the reason you want them to stay or go! I am the son of a drug dealer and alcoholic that does not mean I am also living that lifestyle. Yes he is in jail and has been for over 15 years, which does not mean I will follow that same path! You see Jesus said come as you are! So why in the HELL would Christians put up a wall and actually think they can say who comes in and who goes out of the Church! The facts are Denominations and man made religion puts people in HELL! The same goes for arguments if we are arguing, people are not being reached! I am not saying that Church leaders and members should never argue that would be unrealistic! Good things can come from arguing, but arguing about some of the things I have discussed in this post could never have a positive impact! DO NOT FORGET…. THE CHURCH WAS CREATED TO REACH PEOPLE FOR JESUS CHRIST AND MAKE HIM FAMOUS! IT WAS CREATED FOR THE LOST! IT WAS NOT CREATED SO CHURCHES COULD TALK ABOUT ONE ANOTHER AND TEAR DOWN WHAT SO AND SO CHURCH IS DOING! WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM SO LET”S ACT LIKE IT! I will end this post with a question Would Jesus be welcome at your Church? Remember he dressed homely, most scholars say he had long hair, and he hung out with people that the religious despised! That’s the Jesus that changed the world forever! With Love for all Jason

The Spiritual Diet!

Good morning peeps! I am honestly pumped up right now! My first week of diet and exersize filled with tuna, and chicken and lots of weights and cardio paid off! I weighed in this morning at 288 pounds down 7 pounds from last week! I am very excited but I have a goal to lose 58 more pounds! So please keep me in your prayers as I travel down my weight loss road! You know I'm talking about loseing weight but I still want to eat fatty foods even though I know they may be great while I'm eating them! However they are very bad for me! You know the same applies to sin in our lives our flesh craves sin and if we go forth with our desires to sin it can be damaging and cause major issues in our lives! Let's face it we all sin alot but the question I have for you is "When you sin is it willful sin or what i call the crap sin? Like crap I did it again! Or was it the type of sin where it's premeditated for Men it may be viewing pornography and for Women it could be thinking of ways to tear your husbands down or gossiping about people around you! The point I'm trying to make is we all need a healthy spiritual diet! The only way to get past reoccuring sin in your life is to dive face first into scripture and pray for your issues! Jesus is the answer for all of our troubles! He can help you through the darkest of days and lift the sin off of your shoulders! I will close with one of my favorite quotes and I pray as you read through this post YOU GET UNCOMFORTABLE! Love Yah! Jason "Error does not become Truth because it is widely accepted; Truth does not become error, even when it stands alone!"

Five Things!

Five Things Andy Stanley is Thinking About
Andy Stanley closed the last session of Catalyst talking about stuff that is on his mind...
1) To reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing (Craig Groeschel) - we have 175,000 people within 10 miles of Northpoint, and we aren't reaching them. We aren't going to reach them by building another church building. We have to do something no one else is doing.
Become preoccupied with those you want to reach rather than those you are trying to keep.
2) The best idea for reaching the next generation isn't going to come from the existing generation, it's going to come from the next generation.
If you are over 45 years old, you aren't going to have any good ideas. It's your job to recognize the good ideas.
Don't do to the next generation what the previous generation did to you.
Be a student, not a critic.
3) I'm looking for what can't be done in church, but if it could be done would fundamentally change the church.
It always used to drive me nuts that the communicator and the leader had to be the same thing.
Multi-site solved this. Now the great leader doesn't have to be the teacher.
Like that, you may be the one to crack the code on something no one else has figured out that will fundamentally change our "business."
Pay attention to people who are breaking the rules. It's the rule-breakers who are oftentimes the problem solvers.
4) If we got kicked out by our board, and they hired a new guy, what would the new guy change or do different? Let's walk out the door and walk back in, and make those changes.
The problem with ministry is that we've fallen in love with the way we've done ministry.
It's not "no pain, no gain" -- it's "no pain, no change." Without pain, there typically isn't any change.
Ask: "Where are we manufacturing energy?" The things we aren't very excited about, it takes energy to get it done, but the results aren't stellar.
Acknowledge what's not working. Own up to it. And own up to why you aren't willing to do anything about it. What is it you fear? You need to deal with that. It is a leadership lid for you.
5) When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. You look back with smiles and lots to celebrate, but you don't have a lot to work forward to.
Are you willing to be involved in the future more than the present?
Don't let success overshadow your vision.
Success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure. I hope you enjoyed this post It rocked my world! Love yah Jason!!

No Reason!

Good morning to all I hope you slept very well and i pray your day is going well, now for my post!During the forty days from His resurrection to His ascension to heaven, Jesus was constantly appearing and vanishing before the disciples. I believe he was getting the disciples accustomed to the fact that, even when He wasn't visible physically, He still would be present and available spiritually. Before Jesus was crucified and resurrected, the disciples had expected the Messiah of Israel to come and establish and earthly kingdom, in which they would reign with Him. There was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was the Messiah, but when he was nailed to the cross, their conviction seemed like a gigantic blunder! Now, in the days following His resurrection, they began to realize how this was God's plan all along. Now they understood the prophecies of the Scriptures-that the Messiah would first suffer before He was risen and glorified. During this time, Jesus gave them this assignment: "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you" (Matthew 28:19-20). After instructing His disciples to wait for the power they would receive from the Holy Spirit to be His worldwide witnesses, Jesus was taken up into heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:7-9). At that moment an angel appeared and told them, "Someday.....he will return!" (Acts 1:11). You see The Father's promise, the Son's plans, and the Holy Spirit's power-all these would unite to turn these disciples into the most significant movement this world has never seen. Their lives would always be marked by worship of Jesus, witnessing for Jesus, and waiting for Jesus to return. So shouldn't ours be the same! I want you to do what I call a www check this morning! Evaluate you worship, your witnessing, and your waiting. I pray this makes you incredibly uncomfortable. Love yah! Jason

Just Random Thoughts!

Hello! What a Beautiful Day here in Anderson, SC. I have been so busy today I had a car detail this am along with a leg workout! My exercise and diet plan are going great! My first weigh in is on Wednesday and I am very excited to see the progress I've made! Our leaders from our Church www.newspring.cc have been in Kenya for a week please lift them up in prayer as they are wanting to see God's vision for our Church in Kenya! Our church starts a new series this week named "I WANNA NEW MARRIAGE" I AM PUMPED UP! You know it's interesting how many couples have said I do and then they don't anymore! As Christians I believe our marriages should be the best on the planet filled with LOVE, SEX, SEX, AND MORE SEX! Reality is this.... not everyday will our marriages be perfect, we will argue, fight and have disagreements like everyone else! It's how we handle those disagreements between ourselves that count! We should have a Christ like view of marriage and always keep Christ front and center in our finances and our marriage! 80% of marriages end because of finance issues! I'm telling you me and my wife have been together for 8 years and putting Christ first in your finances works! If you don't believe me try tithing the 10% just for 3 months and watch what happens! God will rock your world! OK back to marriage every couple should have 1 date night a week and I don't care if you have 10 kids or 1 kid find a babysitter it works trust me! I firmly believe the reason our nation is in the shape it's in is because kids don't have family time anymore! They see mom and dad argue and fuss and they may feel its their fault sometimes! So they isolate themselves and become wrapped up in a culture that tells them SEX at 12 is OK and DRINKING and DRUGS will help you deal with life! Reality is this..... Kids lives are falling apart one by one and why NO LEADERSHIP at home that's why! So parents step up to the plate and fix what is broke! Some of you out their may need a relationship with Jesus! That would be the best step toward fixing your marriage and your relationships with your kids and family! I pray today for renewed marriages and relationships! I pray for the kids out their feeling trapped that God would show them the way to find true life! I pray dads and moms would step up to the plate and quit being PASSIVE! And finally I pray that if the very person reading this needs JESUS in their life they would ask him into their lives! Pray= Dear Lord JESUS I want you in my life, I know I'm a sinner and I need your forgiveness, I believe you died on the cross and rose from the grave, come into my life and take complete control, I give you everything JESUS Amen! If you prayed that prayer you made the best decision you will ever make, now find a church that will love you and that teaches the word of God1 I pray you grow in the knowledge of Christ! It will not be easy in fact it will be harder now than ever! But remember Christ lives in you and you are his child! He takes care of his children! Father thank you I ask all things in the name of JESUS AMEN!

Why Do Christians Waver?

Hello!Good morning to all! I just finished a killer workout and some lunch! Today I plan on relaxing and taking some time for myself! I believe quiet time is essential in our walk with God! When I say quiet time I mean complete quietness; no cell phone, no TV, no radio just total silence! This is so necessary it’s amazing how clear you can hear the voice of God when you just get alone with him and LISTEN! Try it! I have been wondering what to blog about today and I was told Character! I usually write all my blogs in advance on paper after alone time with God, but this one is coming straight from my fingers! The title “Why do Christians waver?” I believe it’s because our commitment to stand is not grounded in God’s character, but rather upon the characters with which we are standing or our circumstances. We as believers must be anchored in the God who does not change. Malachi Chapter 3 verse 6 says “I the lord do not change”. You see we can’t base our lives off of emotions and circumstances, we would never be happy! The kind of character you have reflects who you are as a person! You see Jesus is reliable and trustworthy. That is the kind of character he is looking for in his children! If any of you have kids you can honestly say you want them to be reliable and honest with you all the time! It’s the same way with Jesus Christ he expects us to be true to him and to others! Life is hard; no one can say it’s easy. I firmly believe character is important; your word is all you have so when you give it to some one follow through with what you said you would do! Remember your children learn from you! Have a great day! With Love Jason

Update!

Hello!Good morning peeps! I want to write today about a new step for me! I am 6 foot 3 and I weigh 295 pounds Yeah that’s too much! So today I started a workout plan and changed my eating habits! I have set a goal to lose 65 pounds by the end of the year! It’s going to be tuff but nothing in life is easy! I will be talking about my exercise and new eating habits on my blog pretty often! So join me on my weight loss journey and let’s do this together! I will close with a Quote as promised! Love Yah peeps! All self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.

Are you Tired?

To all of you leaders out there remember this Quote!Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.

Coming ALIVE!

Good Morning folks! I am in AWE of what Christ did yesterday at my home church(@www.newspring.cc) people let go of grudges and some were made brand new through Jesus Christ our Saviour! Life change never gets old to me I love seeing people make the decision to live for Jesus! HEY IT"S THE BEST THING GOING I hope you enjoy today's quote it rocked my world the first time I read it!"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Quote's R us!

I am starting a series of post with Quotes that I love and that have had an impact on my life! So are you ready for Quotes R US 5 day series!.....The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!"