jerks and wimps

Sometimes I feel like a wimp. Remember the scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off where Cameron was in the car, that's happened to me before. God please give me boldness to take a stand for you where I need to the most.

jerks and wimps
When did we turn into wimps? Take a quick jaunt through the New Testament and you'll see a different breed of believer. Most Christians then weren't ...

today's rant

A buddy is really hurting. It drives me crazy. I have so much support in ministry and I feel like I'm not up to snuff, but he has been going at it for a long time with no support from the majority of his church family. So my heart is going out to him. I hope that you will pray for him as I will too.

Paul and Silas were completely wronged in acts 16, I've been rereading this passage this week trying to let it soak in that there are those who are struggling for the cause of Christ. And it just reminds me of the crazy fact that Christians are challenged more than any other group of people to not despair. We don't despair, because we are filled the this crazy hope that we're not alone in our struggle against anything.

It's crazy, I know. But, I know my friend will be alright no matter if he decides to stay or go. I am filled with hope that people (close people I love) will not turn their backs on God because they get caught up in petty differences about where to worship. That people who don't know it will realize that salvation is a gift, it can't be earned. I'm filled with hope that I'll be able to grow and better represent Christ to other people. I have a helpless feeling all the time that I am not doing anything to impact the world for Christ. But it doesn't diminish my hope. Writing this increases my hope. My prayer for you today is the same one that the disciples prayed. Pray it for me too: "Lord, increase our faith."

My friend Bob

To put it simply, my friend Bob rocks. When I met him a few years ago, I didn’t know what to think about him. It was clear to me from the start that he had to be pretty smart. He had hospital scrubs on and I figured he was a surgeon or something.

Not until after Hurricane Katrina hit did I get an inkling of what Bob was like (Respiratory Therapist, Husband, Father of 3 great kids, rock n roll drummer, Author, Volunteer Fireman, Jesus Freak, Preacher in training, and he makes a heck of a pizza). I knew that he had made several trips down to the region, as he is pretty fearless. Right after the storm he was there, on his own, going into devastated neighborhoods where firefighters wouldn’t go. One of his favorite things to do is to live out of his backpack.

He made the paper, though he probably didn’t want the publicity. One of his favorite sayings is “The front page is the best advertising.” It’s pretty clear to me that Bob doesn’t advertise for himself. He’s just in love with Jesus. Jesus said that the man with the greater debt would love God more. That’s absolutely true in Bob’s case, ask him why.

Just a couple of weeks ago Bob took me on a trip that I won’t forget. We went to Ground Zero in Manhattan. He was there 6 years ago after 9/11 and has been back every year save one. He snuck onto a boat to get to the towers on Sept. 12th, 2001 He spent the next week working the scene. We walked around Manhattan till our feet hurt seeing the sights and talking to people. Most importantly we paid our respects, listened to almost all 3000 names. I stood in awe of some of New York’s bravest: FDNY and NYPD. Bob was talking to a lady who lost a family member in the attack. She told him that she realized the first responders did all they could do. Those were words he’d waited six years to hear.

Bob goes and does, when most people stand around scratching their heads. He encourages me, asks me a million questions, and holds me accountable, for that I am extremely grateful. He is truly a brother in Christ.

No insignificant people

From a book I've read, just came across it again.

"During the last months of World War II, the British conducted daily bombing raids over Berlin. The bombers would take off from an airstip in England and fly surrounded by smaller fighter planes who job t was to keep German fighters from attacking the bombers, which were easy targets.
One night after a successful bombing raid, as they were heading for the safety of England, the bobmers were attached by a large group of German fighter planes. Somehow, during the dogfight, one bomber found itself flying alone with no protection, and suddenly, a German fighter appeared out of nowhere. The crew of the bomber watched as the German plan moved closer and closer, until finally, it was in range. Thge prepared for the worst and watched helplessly as tracer bullets began spitting from the fighter. Bullets whizzed by them, over and under, until Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Five bullets slammed into the fuselage of the bomber near the gas tank. The crew braced for the explosion, but nothing happened. They could see fuel pouring from the bullet holes, but there was no explosion. Miraculously, they were able to make it back to their base and get safely off the plane.
A few hours after they had landed, one of the mechanics showed up in the crew's barraks. He had found five bullets inside the fuel tanks, crumpled but not exploded. He handed them to the pilot. The pilot carefully opened the shells and to the crew's amazement found each one empty of gunpowder. Inside one was a tiny wad of paper. When he unfolded the paper, he found a note which read, "We are Polish POWs-forced to make bullets in factory. When guards do not look, we do not fill with powder. Is not much, but is best we can do. Please tell family we are alive."


The note was signed by four Polish prosoners of war.*

Since the beginning, God has chosen the tiny over the large: David over Golaith, Gideon and his three hundred over thousands of Midianites, Elijah over the prophets of Baal, one sheep over 99 sheep."

From Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli


* I can back this up.

I'm always interested in comments.

Good morning, I hope you had a great weekend. Mine was filled with running around, trying to keep up with youth and adults alike. I loved getting shot with paintballs by some of the kids, and checking out hot rods with my dad.

Since I’m slowing down on Monday, I’m sitting here trying to get some thoughts in order, I’m trying to develop some spiritual discipline. I thought I had more than I do. And I’m drinking some absolutely great Double Dark Blend coffee from Trader Joe’s, which is making my brain function.

I waiting for something and I don’t know what it is, I guess the only thing I know at this point is that God knows it and I have to be content. Paul says in Acts 17 that “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being.” My purpose hasn’t changed, even though lots of other things do. I’m taking comfort in knowing that God is close, I hope you do too! I love you my friends! Grace and peace to you, Josh

Man of Constant Sorrow

I have been sad so many times. At one time in my life I might say I actually enjoyed being sad. You get attention or sympathy. Anymore, I don’t want attention. I want to live my life, tell other people about Jesus, have a family, build a house, maybe own a restaurant. I know by now that there are no guarantees of longevity or wealth. Lots of times it feels like I’m doing the wrong thing. I’m sitting comfortably watching the world go to hell.

I identify a lot with Isaiah’s words in chap. 53 v. 3. Jesus was a man of sorrows. Why? I can think of two reasons. First of all, people didn’t believe him. They didn’t believe the message, it had to be hard to believe at first. Jesus came in an era where people believed in all kinds of things. Many believed that their national leader was a god. To believe anything else was asking for trouble. He had an offensive message. He said there is only one way to God, Me. He said you on your own aren’t good enough. Who wants to hear that? He completely slapped tradition in the face! This got him further rejected. No wonder he was sad.

I think he’s sad with us, with me, when we don’t step up to the plate. We don’t fully believe. Even after believing for a long time. We believe it once, when we are young, then we get banged up a little and start to doubt it or walk away from Him altogether. I don’t doubt who He was or what He did, I believe in the proof. But I think he is sad that we don’t get out of the boat. We rowing down the river and passing drowning people. We have to jump in the water with them. The U.S. is the 3rd largest mission field in the world. The country that we refer to as a Christian nation, has millions who don’t know the gospel. Why don’t we talk more about the one thing that’s most important. Eternity is a long time, and you can’t change it after it’s been decided. Don’t wait until the last 5 years of your life to think it over. Put your faith and trust in Christ today.

Sombody said, I don't want to waste my last week of vacation

South Dakota 2007

Some of the things we did:

Made friends for life, shared the gospel, played games, made crafts, ate together, prayed together, sang together,
Saw 5 states, passed out a million hugs, passed out a million cookies & koolaid, gave piggy back rides till your back hurt, drove 2500 miles, jumped off a cliff of faith, jumped off a cliff into a lake, climbed mountains, Got a new dog, fixed a trailer, build a stage, mopped, swept, washed dishes, got tired and sweaty, hot. Got happy, got sad, Got some things worked out with God, Did what God wanted us to do, fulfilled the great commission, Hopefully, impacted the world for Christ, Sound like fun?

The need in Allen is so huge, hopelessness, anger, sadness, hate, fear, alcoholism, abuse of every kind, hunger, sickness, poverty (Bennett county is the poorest county in the u.s.). Yet the Lakota people there have a pride that some Americans take for granted. I think if ours was taken away we would feel the same way. Not everyone likes you there, it’s not easy.

One of the 15 year olds in our group said that all he wanted to do was bring hope with him when he came to Pine Ridge. He did, that’s why I do what I do. It’s cool to go, maybe because we were being obedient. True, it was inconvenient, hard, sometimes, uncomfortable, and we did get on each others nerves at times even if we didn’t show it. But I’d do it again next week if I could. I’ll keep going. I don't think it's a waste of a week.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to hi glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:9-14.

This is my prayer for so many friends and family who seem to not know how much God wants to break in to their lives and rearrange a few things. Our God is in the resurrection business, it’s what he does. He works on us, He breaks us down in order to build us up. It takes a great amount of strength to surrender to the Truth. The great thing about the truth from Colossians is that all the strength, the rescuing, the knowledge, power, and glorious might come from God. Not us, we need his help. This cannot come from a God who is mad at us. Only from a God who’s nature is loving. That is worth acknowledging. It doesn’t mean you are in a pew Sunday and Wednesday but more that you recognize Christ in everything you do. Remain in Christ. That’s the charge. First of all you have to be “In Christ” you have to put trust and faith in Christ alone as the source of your salvation. Jesus is THE way, not A way. It’s a choice. Salvation is not walking an aisle, or getting baptized, it’s believing that you are saved because Jesus took your spot on the cross. Believing that determines you eternity. The redemption, the buying back of our souls, has already been done, you have already been redeemed, what separates us is our unbelief. What holds us back? Fill in the blank ________________. With so many circumstances, I admit, sometimes it’s hard to believe that God is on your side. But these words confirm what we in our humanness doubt.

We have redemption, believe, and give thanks. So my friend, (if you are reading this you are my friend, even if we haven’t been introduced). What do you believe and confess, what is your hope in? What is your faith in? Place it in Christ and leave it there. This is not religion, don’t fall into that trap. This is relationship. This is the most amazing story of grace and love, and it is intended for every single person. For this reason, I will pray for you. That you will come to believe in the truth. I love evangelism: it’s one beggar showing another beggar where the bread is. Jesus once referred to himself as bread.

1 word

I just came from the gas station. It was time for an oil change which for me, 3000 miles comes well before 3 months is up. Wonder why gas is so high? Because I use it all. Just kidding, but I do drive a lot.

Because of this I am thinking of trading in my Exxon Valdez (Tahoe) and purchasing a more economical vehicle. (It’s hard to think about, because I love a V-8 motor). So last night I was looking up my vehicle’s value online and, and was surprised at how much the price was, I thought it was wrong. It seemed too high. It’s like being a Christian in a way. The price seems high, but it’s worth so much more than we think.

People, Americans, Christians, think in terms of cost a lot. We (including me) consider the cost of everything as it relates to us. Jesus asks us to deny ourselves in Luke 9:23. And in 9:24 says that we must lose our lives for Him in order to gain the real life. 1 word: Whoa. That’s a clear command. Lose my life? So I ask that question, how does that apply to you? For me it means I will use everything at my disposal (car, gasoline, phone, computer, time, energy, words, house, abilities, boat, time, vacation, and food) to be Christ’s ambassador and to teach others where the true and abundant life is found. I believe it to be found in Christ. My life will be like a thank you note back to God. Even though it may be expensive, tiring, stressful, confusing and inconvenient, the bottom line for me must be Christ. I hope you feel the same way.

The cost of following Christ is high, ask someone who has been a follower for a number of years. Ask an experienced pastor (I’m looking forward to hear about Christians in Russia this Sunday, because I know that we’ll hear about struggles that few will ever experience). I was reminded of this at camp last week listening to a pastor from Burma who had lost his brother, home, church, village, because he was a Christian. In his home country he preached a message the government didn’t like and they made him pay for it. It’s amazing to see his love for Christ. He is now in the U.S. hoping to start another church. He did mention that the U.S. is the 3rd largest mission field in the world now: Really? That’s our country. Not on the other side of the world, right here.

So we can stop squabbling now, I don't like church becuase of this, or that, he said, she said. There is so much at stake right here in our backyard.

Don't forget to remember

Camp last week was awesome. Nothing better than hanging out with some cool kids for the week. I came away definately encountering God, and being challenged to the max to be a mentor, leader, and better friend.

Some kids are living with so much pain and disappointment. While others seem to have it all together. It's hard to know the words to say. I found the some days it was best not to try and figure out the right words and just shut up and listen.

Don't forget to remember Jesus this week.

Fly away jailbird

So I just read about Paris getting out of jail, and this morning in Walmart I read the headline that said "What Happened to Lindsey (Lohan)." We'll if you ask me, i'd say crazy happpened. The best (worst) part is that they will get away with it. And the rest of the world will just have to deal with it.

It's cool, there are so many other things that require our focus and attention than the trivial pursuits of celebrity and what not. From politics to hobbies, if it's not done with the purpose moving closer to God then it's "a chasing after the wind."

Why do I think what I have written above is accurate. The whole world and people in it are moving away from the thought that putting someone elses needs ahead of theirs. I don't hesitate to say than anyone who can overlook a single mom, or a homeless person, or whoever in need can't call themeselves Christian. I don't care what church you go to. The truth hurts, becuase thats my claim, as a Jesus follower that I care more about others than myself, yet my track record isn't spotless.

Hoping to make a difference today. Josh

grilled meat is good for you

I am looking forward to this weekend of course, there will be lots of hamburgers ingested. It was interesting to learn yesterday that Memorial Day was founded as a day of prayer. The article I read by Lane Palmer quoted John A. Logan, Commander in Chief: Grand Army of the Republic. He said in 1868 (for all you history buffs).

"This day shall be designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land."

Further along in 1950 a law was passed marking it for prayer.

"The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day, by praying, each in accordance with his religious faith, for permanent peace."

Prayer is good for you too, you can live an estimated 7 years longer compared to someone who doesn't pray. It's true, some M.D.'s at Duke said so,

check here: http://www.family.org/faith/A000000895.cfm

Happy Memorial Day to all, thanks for to all veterans for purchasing our freedom with your sacrafice.

watch your step

I watched a terrible movie last night, Alpha Dog. The worst part about it was that it is a true story. Of course, it's been hollywoodized. I should have left it on the shelf. I also rented a feel good flick so the good will outweigh the bad.

Came across the passage this morning in Luke 13: Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

That's a scary thought for someone like me. Becuase I consider myself in. I am a child of the King, He knows me.....I know Him. So when I read something like that, it's a gut check moment.

Although many don't live a life like JT in Alpha Dog, we're thinking we in based on doing really nice things, minding our manners, and working hard. What I'm reading says that ain't the way of it either.

Right place, right time.

Another month gone by, I'm so tired of looking back. I'm halfway through another week and feel like I've accomplished little. I did have a good conversation yesterday. A former teacher, who just lost a loved one, we just started having a conversation about how much of a struggle it had been for their family.

It made my day, to help someone out. I hope I helped anyway. I didn't really even say the right thing, it didn't feel like it anyway. Have you ever done that? Usually I fight the urge to keep to myself, but I can't justify doing that anymore. I left with the feeling that it was supposed to happen, all apart of the greater plan that's working out daily in my life. I'm trying to get more tuned in. I'm going to go ahead and hit that publish button.

Do only single people work on 2/14?

A great Valentine's. Last night at the ice cream shop though everyone was in couples, unless you were with your family or friends. They had a special, buy one get one on any kind of sundae. Sounded good for me. Do you think my girlfriend went for it?

I brought up the whole ice cream thing because I'm thinking about single people on Valentine's. Also becuase well, most of my 27 V-Days have been from the single perspective. If you still are there and don't want to be, hang on. If you're happy where you're at, cool.

None of us is really going it alone.


Switching gears....

Dare 2 share conference in St. Louis was amazingly awesome. Absolutely everything was thought out. Working security, if you could call it that, for Superchick was pretty sweet too.

26 tons of food collected, the Good News was shared, 1,500 came to know Christ as Lord. Hallelujah.

go to gregstier.org or dare2share.org for more

Peace, Josh

White Steamers

I'm just going to run with it. This is the first blog (technically second), but this is one addressing my thoughts, positions, you know.

Just got back to church where I seem to spend some significant time at this laptop. The goal always is to make it productive time. I spend most of my days wondering how God can love a guy like me, I don't doubt that he loves me, that's different. All I know is that he is very loving which brings me to the topic of some of my favorite stories about people who do all kinds of things, in the end God shows how much he loves them and is patient with them. (i.e. woman at the well, Moses, David, woman at the Pharisee's house, the disciples, Paul, on and on).

God would like us to take our cues from him, if we did that things could go easier for us. A friend of mine, who used to have a serious alcohol problem reminds me of that, and I have many of my own personal reminders.

I heard that in old times farmers used to take an inexperienced ox, and team it up with an older one. The older animal would carry most of the load, the younger one would learn until eventually he was strong enough to help.

I am the younger one, and I am learning, I do well to keep in mind that my leader, Jesus, is stronger that the strongest ox, and that he is leading me to help me be stronger and live a productive life. God is calling all of us to pay attention to his love.