The Journey

Seeing the Gospel in a new Tv and Home Makeover

2009-12-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

I started working for integrity roofing and exteriors in July of this year. After the May 8th storm there was a great deal of work that needed to be done and companies were running around hiring lots of people just trying to keep up with all the work. I landed with a great company who does quality work and really takes care of there employees. This last weekend the company took us all up to Branson Mo for a few days of training, food, and fun. So now that you have the back story let me tell you why I am writing.
When I think of company Christmas party I immediately think of the episode of the office when they all played dirty Santa. Parties like that come with a few desserts and lame prizes with the possibility of maybe a small holiday bonus. Well this party was far different. When I got there I got handed a raffle ticket and was told to keep hold of it because there would be some good prizes given away. Well in true form to myself I proceeded to lose the ticket in about two minutes. Luckily they gave me another ticket. Well long story short my ticket number was drawn and I won a 32 in Phillips LCD HD tv. Awesome! What guy does not want HD? So already this party was top of the list, best work party ever. If the day would have ended there it would have been a great day. However it was not over!
Our company is a nationwide operation. We have offices in several different locations throughout the Midwest. One of the goals of the company is that in every market we are in there would be one major project in that city that would be similar to the Home Makeover show on tv. The idea of the boss man is that they would find either a older pastor about to retire or a younger pastor just getting started and completely renovate the inside and out of there house for free. Well the announcement came and the first market they were to do this in and the first person to get the home makeover would be me! To say I was blown away would be a huge understatement. I am sure I did not look all that excited because I simply did not know what to freakin think “I just won a tv, and pretty much an new house” aka “73 Upgade!”. What a huge blessing!
So what is the proper response to this? I think there are several different responses to this, but I am only going to write about two. One response I think sells God short and the other “I humbly hope” will lift Him up. The first response that I could come with is the typical American Christianity response which would sound a lot like this “Look, God is so good! He is so faithful to bless me like this! God is a rewarder of my faithfulness. See if you have faith God is going to bless you, then He will bless you more than you can ever think or imagine. If you would just trust Him like I have you would get what I get”. You might think that sounds ok or maybe even like a good and right response “Praise Him for blessings!” However I think that in this response we miss the whole idea of it all.
When I got the tv and found out about the makeover I was extremely excited. If you were in my shoes just imagine how you would feel! How could someone not be excited about God making this happen? I drove home today and just thought about how huge this is going to be for Jordan and I. I thought about laying on a futon (Just kidding apparently married people cant have those, haha) in a new house watching my new tv! Would you not be doing the same?
Mathew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure (Jesus) hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” I have been learning over the last year of my life about how the Gospel applies to every area of my living. I have often wondered how that is. How can I see life through the lenses of the Gospel? Here is what God is showing me. The excitement level about my new possession was out the roof. However the Bible says that the realties of the Gospel are so huge that it is worth abandoning all my possession to get the real treasure. The joy I got from “Stuff” was awesome, but the real “Treasure” is Jesus! You see if I were to say “Look God is faithful because He just provided” I would be implying that His faithfulness is about blessings or that I was not living blessed two days ago. I think the proper response to what God has provided is to not praise the gifts but rather praise the true treasure! The joy from blessing is nothing compared to the Joy of Christ giving me a new heart. So Mathew 13:44 teaches us that the joy that comes from blessings and possessions is incomparable to the Joy of knowing Jesus. God thank you for the cross! Thank you for Grace! May these blessings stir up my affections for what You have done for me in giving me your very self!
I believe that is how to see blessing through the lenses of the Gospel.

Hey

2009-11-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

Been missing writing Midweek Thoughts so i thought i would drop a line. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving yesterday with plenty of food and fun. It was a great day for me with lots of fiance, food, football, scrabble, and mafia (the game)haha. Last Sunday was a great night for us, and hopefully a great night for the other churches that were in attendance with us. I pray that the people that were there were awed by the Gospel.
These next 5 Sunday nights i am going to be preaching/teaching on the Holy Spirit and the fruit/gifts of the Spirit. I have been having a fun and sobering time in study and prayer as I have been preparing. So what is the importance of the Holy Spirit? Why are we in constant need of Him? Well if you look at Luke 24 and Acts 1 we can see that if not for the Holy Spirit, we need to do nothing but sit and wait. Jesus said "Wait! Do not go until you are clothed with power from on high". You see, it is essential to talk about and understand the things of the Spirit. The church has always and will always be dependent upon Him to do anything. We are clothed with power from on high! Its going to be fun!
See ya Sunday.
Jared

Jesus the True and Better (Midweek Thoughts)

2009-11-20T12:06:00.000-08:00

Hope you all are having great week.

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you — it’s about him.

Post from last May.

2009-10-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a post from last may. Just thought i would repost it. Next week we will be in Psalms 135. Read ahead and check it out.
Jesus, Community, Demand of the call, Rest

Last Sunday night our Ecclesiastes study lead us to Mark chapter 6. Mark 6 tells us of how Jesus gives authority to the 12 and sends them out without all the things that would typically be needed for a trip. Jesus sends them off but with no resources. If I was one of the 12 the first thing that would have gone through my head after Jesus told us we were being sent, was that I need to go pack my north face as tight as possible with plenty of underwear, socks and money, with maybe a power bar in the front zipper pocket. But Jesus does not tell them to do what I would think would be obvious. He tells them to take no bag, no money and take no extra tunic. What a call, and what a promise that Jesus would send them with nothing but a staff. Well as the chapter unfolds we fine that they were provided for on the journey and returned safely. I can only imagine how tired they must have been after such a long grueling trip. I know that when I get back from vacation all I want to do is hug my pillow for about 16 straight hours. The crazy thing is that the 12 get no relief upon return. They come back to large needy crowds that were so demanding that they could not even eat. They were surrounded like dead meat by vultures. Can you put yourself there. The frustration that they must of felt when Jesus brings up the thought that the 5 thousand deep crowd had grumbling stomachs. The 12 just wanted rest so they suggested that Jesus would send them home to get some food then they could finally wind down from there long trip. Jesus however tells the 12 “You give them something to eat.” The 12 must have been at a loss of words, just wanting some rest. This is when Jesus steps up and provides. Jesus works a miracle with five fish and two loaves and uses the 12 to help distribute.

This has so many implications of the source of true rest. True rest can be experienced in the midst of the needy sucking the life out of us or the busyness of a job and family. The 12 had each other and they had Jesus as there provider. With our faith tuned deeply into the saving grace of God through Jesus we can find rest in Jesus and the community of 12. The twelve saw something incredible that day. We to must see that Jesus is providing.

Acts 29 Quarterly with Jeff Vanderstelt

2009-10-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Had a great day with Andrew yesterday up at the Journey St. Louis. Acts 29 puts on free one day mini conferences for church planters and leaders. This time Jeff Vanderstelt from Soma Communities spoke and it messed Andrew and I up. I tried as much as my ADDness would allow to make a bunch of notes so here ya go. Have fun making sense of these.
-If your staff is the only one making disciples then we are missing it.
-Live your whole life around Jesus
-"If everyone in your church lived like you would your church look any different?"
-How many of you have developed a church where your people don't have to die?
-They wont grow if they don't do
-Learn by doing it
-Plant a church that plants churches
-Just because you say it to your people that does not mean they get it
-Do they know the Gospel?
-Do they believe the Gospel?
-Let kids see the Gospel in action
-The Gospel critiques everything
-God with His people is the attraction
-Mission is not events its lifestyle
-Missionaries don't go in and jump out they go in and stay
-We should be the most rested people
-We should make the party better
-Live a life of the Gospel that demands an explination
Needless to say there was a lot to think about. I have to say i have experienced little frustrations over the last few months over some things that are not happening in our church and communities. Yesterday God pointed some things right at me and He got my attention! Looking forward to sharing more. Love ya.
Jared

Midweek Thoughts

2009-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

One Day Late.

2009-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Caught Singing

2009-09-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

Midweek Thoughts Video

2009-09-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

Psalms 37

2009-09-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

We just finished up with psalms 37 this last Sunday. I hope that chapter has been awesome for you. Just want to put down the list of things that are assumed of and promised to believers in the second half of chapter 37.
Believers are:
1. Generous
2. They utter wisdom
3. They speak justice
4. They have the law on there hearts. They want to be obedient.
5. God is there stronghold in the time of trouble.
6. They take refuge in Him.

Promises:
1. They have and inheritance
2. There steps are established by God
3. They are never forsaken
4. They have a future.

Awesome chapter. Click Here to listen.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

2009-09-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hey there,
Here is another edition of midweek thoughts and i hope you like it. Last Sunday night we worked through the first half of Psalms 37. It was a very encouraging and challenging text to me. Some of the highlights: God will Act, He will not for get you, He laughs at the schemes of the wicked, do good and trust Him. This week we will finish up the rest of the chapter. Why don't you take a few minutes right now and read that chapter. Hope you have a great rest of the day. He is with you!
Invite someone to come on Sunday night.
p.s. Use the resources over on the right side of the page, there is a lot of good stuff.
by Jared

Midweek Thoughts

2009-09-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

All Readers!!!!
Hello, hope you all are doing good and finding Joy in Him. I have been thinking a lot lately about Mathew 13:44. Before we move on stop and read that verse.

Jesus is the treasure! Do you we know that? What does it look like for someone who finds ultimate joy in Jesus and not in things. Think about this quote.

"The critical question for our generation-and for every generation- is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you have ever tasted, and no human conflict or and natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?" John Piper

I wonder?

This coming Sunday we will be in Psalms 37 and will be talking about some of these things. Read Psalms 37. Why do many of the wicked prosper and many of God's people go through hard times? We will see that God does not forsake His saints. Be patience in the end we will reign forever with Jesus and God's justice will prevail. We have riches at all times cause we have the ULTIMATE treasure on earth: Jesus!!!!!!! If you love Jesus you are a son or daughter of the most High God! Trust Him.

Music listening too: Lecrae
by Jared

Midweek Thoughts (Been a While)

2009-08-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers,
Hope things are going good out there with everyone. I want to give you a few updates about the coming weeks. Sunday we were blessed to have Jason from West Frankfort to come in a speak for us. His hope was that our view of Jesus would expand and i think for most of us that happened. In the coming 10-15 weeks we will be going through ten Psalms in our Ten Psalms Series(Get it? Haha). Here are the ones we are going to be preaching through.
14
37
40
42
46
51
103
135
136
139
Read and study ahead. If you are reading this i would encourage you to invite someone to come Sunday night.
Music Listening to: Hillsong United
By Jared Sparks

MT

2009-07-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Been a long while since some good ole Midweek Thoughts but they are back. Hope things have been going well and challenging for you all. This is going to be real quick. Next week we are going to be in John 20 so read ahead. Also check out the resources to the right on this page i think the will be a help to many of you out there. Last of all. Remember to post your fav Psalm on the facebook page. Thanks.
Jared

MT

2009-06-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

John 18:1-27
We are biting of a huge chunk of verses this week as we are moving our way through John. Read it, check it out. I just want to remind any readers that i have put op recommend reads, sites, and podcasts to the right of this site. Instead of me just writing stuff thats not all that good i just want to hook you up and point you towards some very Gospel center Holy Spirit anointed stuff. So check some of that out. Hope to see you all Sunday.
Jared

Midweek Thoughts and Song

2009-06-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Before the Throne of God Above: Charitie Bancroft 1863

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

This is why i love Hymns! Read this! Do you SEE the GOSPEL?
Sunday we will finish up John 17. Will you join me in reading ahead please?

Jared

LateWeek Thoughts

2009-06-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

So this is a little late, but better late than never right? I have been looking forward to preaching John 17 for a while now. Well guess what? We are here. I encourage you to read ahead and be ready for Sunday night! We are going to be covering John 17:1-13. I am praying for you all and i cant wait to be with you Sunday. God is Good! Take comfort in a good God who is in control.
Jared

Joy

2009-05-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Hey errbody,
Hope everyone has had a good week. This week we are going to be in John 16: 16-24. Read ahead and check it out. Tell your friends, bring em all. See you all Sunday.
p.s. Check out the resources on the right side of this page.
Jared

Midweek Thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know if any of you heard but this last week we had a big storm. I have heard every kind of name trying to describe it from tornado to hurricane to cyclone. I prefer the name "big storm". We can just settle that now. Tell your friends it was a big storm.
This week i have been thinking about the storm and how big and bad it was. I felt like i was in the movie twister with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton dodging falling tress and driving in yards. Many of us all have the same story with either house damage or tress down in the yard. Some got it worse than others. I mean this was a BIG storm. Think about how powerful that storm was.

Read this section and focus on vs 7.

Psalms 135
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
give praise, O v servants of the Lord,
2 who n stand in the house of the Lord,
in w the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the Lord, for x the Lord is good;
sing to his name, y for it is pleasant! [1]
4 For the Lord has z chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his a own possession.

5 For I know that b the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 c Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
7 d He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who e makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

God is big and good. The wind and waves WILL come, but we have been given God Himself! He has storehouses with which He keeps the wind. God is BIG!

Jared

music listening to.
Nothing

MT

2009-05-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hello All,
Hope things have been well and challenging for you so far this week. Sunday night was a great night for the Journey as we had Ryan Britt come and speak. One quick thought on his message: Is there anything that we make ultimate other than Jesus? The sermon was recorded so i encourage you to check that out when it gets posted. This next Sunday we are going to be back in the Gospel of John. If you want to read ahead we will be in John 15:22-16:15.
Also some of you might have heard that Sunday is Mothers day! Get you mom something good and put some thought into it. See you Sunday.

Check out the Renounces over there to the right. You will find some helpful stuff.

"MT" One Day Late

2009-04-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

When i was growing up i can remember hearing about "Worldly" things. In John 15:18-27 Jesus talks about the World and that the world hates Him and that the world will hate His followers. Seems like a great way to start a movement right? Just tell your people that if you follow you will be hated and persecuted and the world will be changed. I really don't know why anyone would sign up for that unless this stuff was the real deal. One thing that is so interesting is "Who" it was that Jesus says is the world. During the years of all of our lifespans we have heard that the world is the "Bad" things and "Bad" people. However Jesus defines the "world" as the very moral Pharisee. I really believe that the most worldly of people are some of the millions of people in the pews each Sunday that act as if they are the morality police. I find myself being very worldly yet still maintaining a smile and a seemingly kind word. So this Sunday we are going to talk about the World, and persecution and why this is just the message that God used to change the world. See ya Sunday.
ps Sorry about being one day late.

Music Listening to
Jimmy Eat World

MT And Bible Study Tips

2009-04-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

It has been such an honor over the last year, to stand before the people of the Journey and open up the Scriptures. It is my hope that the people of the Journey would KNOW the God of the bible. This week we are going to be in John 15:1-17. Sometime today open your bible and read that text. It is easy to get so dependent on Sundays that they never open their bible through the week. If you are a believer God WILL put in you a desire to read and study the bible. There might be times that opening the scriptures seems difficult, but just remember How Jesus has changed your life. Do you not want to know GOD! The whole bible is about Jesus so have at it. You will not grow in holiness without the study of the Bible.

Here are a few Bible Study Tips

Bible Study Tips
1.Who wrote it?
2.Who was the people group it was written too?
3.What is the purpose of the book?
4.What situations are being addressed?
5.Put yourself there.
6.What was the cultural context?
7.What does the text say?
8.What does the text mean?
9.What implications does the text have for the church?
10.How does this text point to Jesus?

There are many effective ways to study the scriptures. Opening up to a page with no rhyme or reason and just reading 5 verses is not one of them. You can do word studies, topical studies, book or chapter studies (Which I Strongly Recommend). Character studies are cool as well, for instance, the life of Paul. Looking at maps might help as well.

Some Basic Study Resources

1.ESV Home Page http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/
2.Bible Gateway biblegateway.com
3.theresurgence.com
4.Google works for anything.

Here is the link to the video i was talking about Sunday night, Check it out!

Jared

MIDT (Thats Short for Midweek Thoughts)

2009-04-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Good morning everyone hope your wide awake and kickin some butt at work or school. Next Sunday is Easter, and i know many of you will have family dinners and crazy Easter egg hunts going on but it would be a great week for you to bring the family or friends to the Journey. This Sunday we are going to be talking about the Resurrection and why the resurrection is so important. We also will be taking communion again. Take a min when you have a break today and ask yourself "What if Jesus didn't Raise from the Grave". What would be the implications? So that's where we will be Sunday.
As for last Sunday night. I hope our first week back into the Gospel of John was challenging for you. If you remember the last thing i asked was that you would go and read the last verse in John chapter 14. I just want to give some quick insight on that verse. Jesus says "But i do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that i love the Father. Rise, let us go from here". Jesus finalizes His answer to Judas question with this one verse. Jesus did as the Father commanded so that He would be known to love the Father. 1 Cor. 5:17-21 talks about Jesus entrusting the Church with the message of reconciliation for Gods people. This leads us to know that the same way the World knew that Jesus loved the Father (By doing as the Father Commanded) the world will know by our obedience to the Father. For it is by Grace you have been saved and given a new heart. You are now free to do what your new Heart deeply longs for! Obedience!
Looking forward to next Sunday cant wait to see you all there!
Jared

Music listening to: Hillsong United Savior King
Hope which was lost now Stands Renewed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pastoral Epistles Part 2

2009-04-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago i posted a blog highlighting the headings of each chapter of 1,2 Tim and Titus. Hopefully you readers got to open your bibles and check some that out. I want to spend just a few min and talk about why those books are so important and what they mean to me.
Both Timothy and Titus were disciples of Paul. Paul had deep affection for both of these men, as he called Timothy his true son in the faith. I can imaging being Timothy or Titus and just being excited to be able to meet Paul and hang out with him. In 2003 i applied for a job that i really wanted, and at the first hiring i did not get the job. It wasnt till a month later that i got an email that said someone had dropped out and that i was wanted for the position. I can remember freaking out, jumping up and down with my family, and just being so excited. Maybe you have had a moment like that when you know that God opened this "Thing" up and sovereignly put you there. For Timothy and Titus the opportunity to be lead by, taught, walk with, hang out, and be children in the faith by Paul was there big "Moment".
These men would walk with Paul and travel with Paul and ultimately be totally trusted by Paul. These men did life together in every way. I can imaging them traveling from city to city praying for the churches and joking by the fire. They studied together and talked about the strategies of evangelism together.
There time together in ministry lead Paul to "Know" these men and trust these men. He would send Timothy to Ephesus and he would leave Titus on the island of Crete. The Pastoral letter come from Paul writing instructions to these two men about what to do in the churches that they were left to oversee. Paul know Timothy and Titus are "Men" who can handle fighting for sound doctrine while rebuking any who would contradict. Paul would write to them both to "Guard" the people that have been entrusted to them. He told them to appoint "Godly Men" to sacrificially lead at all cost for the sake of the Gospel.
These books are so important today because it speaks to us about the importance of Godly leadership and sound biblical doctrine! Almost all of the problems the church has had historically up till today is simply because a lack of biblicaly qualified leadership and abandonment of sound doctrine. These letters address both (Or as i pronounce it "Bolth").
I love these letters! Paul, Timothy, Titus were summoned by God soverignly picked to be disciples of Christ. I would challenge you all to study these letters. Men i challenge you to be "Men". Our life is not our own! These letters are a constant reminder to leaders to "Keep a close watch yourself and on the teaching, Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Tim 4:16. Wow!

Midweek Thoughts "Wasted Morning"

2009-04-01T10:52:00.001-07:00

I am going to make this quick, cause i still frustrated from 3 hours of talking with verizon trying to get the internet to work at Hits. It turned on for about 30 sec. just long enough to hang up from the tech guy. Awesome! So it was a good wasted morning. Hope yours was better than mine and hope you all have had a rockin week up to today.
Last Sunday we finished out series on Gender Roles with the Role of Women in the Church. I hope the last 4 weeks have been beneficial to you, and i encourage you to continue to read and pray through the scriptures that we talked about. I believe that we truly are moving in the right direction.
This week we are continuing in our study of the Gospel of John. We are trying to get creative, so we are calling this second part of John our "The Last Week" series! We will be in John for around 15 more weeks so buckle up! Our text this week is John 14:15-31. These next few sermons are going to be challenging to us all as we talk about Abiding in Christ. Read ahead, study, get to know the scriptures.
Talk to ya soon.
Jared

Midweek Thoughts Again

2009-03-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hola,
In about 4 months our team will be going on a trip to Mexico, so i figured i would start off the blog with a Spanish greeting. Your welcome.
I hope the last 3 weeks have been challenging to both the men, women, married and single. It is amazing to me that the scriptures are timeless, with no need to change from culture to culture. Some would say the things we have been talking about are really outdated and not for us. They would say gender roles and differences are simply a historical idea that we have finally outgrown. However, after the last three weeks i hope it has become evident the the Bible simply has it right. It is my desire that the men of the Journey would know what the bible says a man is and live it out. It is a high call to be the man the bible calls us to be, and we all have a life of growing ahead of us. It is also my desire that the women of the Journey would be strong women who love Jesus, love the scriptures, love there family, love there church family, and are all the bible says they are.
For the sake of our future generations, may we step up and fight, to be biblically faithful in everything that we do. I believe the the great commission in most effectively lived out when men are men and women are women living on mission together as the church.
This Sunday will be our last Sunday in this series. We will be finishing up with Role of Women in the Church. The texts we will be from 1 Cor. 11 and 13, Titus 2, 1 Tim 2, Acts 16, and Luke 2. We will be taking communion Sunday night as well.
If your at work or school or sitting at home when you read this know that you are being prayed for today. Take a sec and think about someone you know and see everyday that does not know Christ. Live like Jesus and Pray that God would move!

Recommended Sites: Here There are over 5000 sermons and teachings from men and women.

Recommended reads
Feminine Appeal Carolyn Mahaney
The Chandlers Blog :Link to 2. 25 Inches to the Right and 4 Inches Up (To the one who thought that was funny last time. There it is again. Haha)

music listening to
Coldplay Viva la Vida

Midweek Thoughts "Issue 3"

2009-03-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers,
Well hey again to all you out there on the edge of your seat excited about the new blog post. I hope you week is going well and challenging so far. I have had a great week so far, other than losing bad in our game monday night. I have gotten my roof fixed and worked out (as you will notice on Sunday) for the first time in over a year, and bunch of other stuff in the last couple days.
If you have been with The Journey the last couple weeks you know that we started up finished the first half of the roles series. This week we are going to be talking about The Role of Women in the Home. It is funny (Not Really) that in the last 50 or so years feminism has successfully made "Tabbo" a housewife and a stay at home mom. We are going to talk a little bit about this. For the record i do not believe it is wrong for married women to have jobs, so don't freak out.
I know that at least half our our church is single. It would be easy to look at these subjects and ask "What does this really have to do with me" if you are single with no kids. This stuff kinda just seems to be for all the married people. Well i hope as we have seen the last two weeks and as we see in the weeks to come, that it is essential unmarried to know the differences between men and women in Gods perfect plan. I believe it helps us all, to look to the bible and have God define for us who we are called to be. We are not just "Persons" we are men and women. It is easy to get into a lot of trouble when we tell God that we "Know" better than He has designed. This week we are going to be all over the bible. We are going to spend some time in Proverbs 31, Ephesians 5 and in Titus 2. Hope to see you all Sunday.
Recommended Read on the Subject
-Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
-Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

Pastoral Epistles

2009-03-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

I love 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. These letters are often called the "pastoral epistles". I have posted below, the outlines of these three letters out of the ESV. Check this out, and open up your scriptures and read. You will be challenged! I will be posting soon about why i love these letters.

1 Timothy

Chapter 1
1-2 Greetings
3-11 Warning against false teachers
12-20 Christ came to save sinners
Chapter 2
1-15 Pray for all people
Chapter 3
1-7 Qualifications for Elders
8-13 Qualifications for Deacons
14-16 Mystery of Godliness
Chapter 4
1-5 Some will depart from the faith
6-16 A good servant of Christ Jesus
Chapter 5-6:2
Instructions for the church
Chapter 6:2
2-10 False Teachers and True Contentment
11-21 Fight the Good Fight

2 Timothy

Chapter 1
1-2 Greetings
3-18 Guard the deposit entrusted to you
Chapter 2
1-13 A good soldier of Christ Jesus
14-26 A worker approved by God
Chapter 3
1-9 Godlessness in the last days
10-17 All scripture is God breathed
Chapter 4
1-8 Preach the Word
9-18 Personal Instructions
19-22 Final Greetings
Titus
Chapter 1
1-4 Greetings
5-16 Qualifications for Elders
Chapter 2
1-15 Teach Sound Doctrine
Chapter 3
1-11 Be Ready for Every Good Work
12-15 Final Instructions and Greetings

Midweek Thoughts "2"

2009-03-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone's week has been good and challenging for you so far. Thanks for the feedback from all you blog readers from last week, glad some folks are reading. Big air high 5 coming your way right now, if you are reading this week "1,2,3, High 5!"
Last Sunday night we kicked off our "Roles" series with "Role of Men in the Home". We talked about the differences between male "Domination" and male "Headship". In our culture, headship is wrongly associated with domination. I presented the differences between the two as we dove into Gen and Eph. and just let the scriptures challenge the men. It is clear in the bible, that male headship in the home is used as an analogy for male headship in the church. This week we are going to be in the book of Titus, looking at the qualifications for eldership in the church.
I believe one of the biggest problems we have in the church today is unqualified leadership. Church governments are set up in unbiblical ways with bad leadership, which leads to all kinds of problems. The bible lays out for us clear restrictions and requirements laid on any man that aspires to be and elder in the church. This is what we will be talking about Sunday night. For anyone who would like to read further about biblical eldership check out this link http://theresurgence.com/alexander_strauch_1997_biblical_eldership.
I would also say to any man who wants to lead in any way that he should know well 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. To the ladies, i hope last week was helpful for you as well. If you think your husband is dropping the ball, pray for him. Men I hope, pray and trust that we would "Step Up" and lead. See you all Sunday night. Bring someone from you work or school if you can.

Music i listen to while blogging. U2 "no line on the horizon". Great album!

Jared

Midweek Thoughts

2009-03-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

Well Hello,
Its 8:30 and my brain is not all the way fired up yet, i've only had two cups of coffee, so hopefully i can get through this real quick. Hope you all are having a great week so far. Keep your eyes open today, remember why we have jobs, go to school and do the things that we do(Mat 28).
Today I want to let you know about the next four weeks, and give you some resources that will be helpful for you if you want to study on your own. The next four weeks we are going to talk about the roles of men and women in the home and church. I know that gender roles are laughed at anywhere outside of the church context. However we must let the bible dictate what the truth is, even if that means we go opposite of the culture. We have gotten to a place, even in the church, where the uniqueness of the sexes are completely blurred. The result of this has been that newer generations are clueless about what it means to be a man or a women. If you would look about 2 1/2 inches to the right you will see that i have listed out links to blogs and websites. These are sites that i have found to be biblicaly faithful and very helpful. There is a link to "The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood" that has tons of info with free stuff, and great books recommendations for men and women. Also check out "The Chandlers" blog, there is a ton of stuff to read written by Lauren Chandler about God and family. The resurgence.com also would be helpful to check out.
This week we are going to primarily be in Gen. 3 and Eph. 5, as we dive into the culturally unclear but scripturaly clear role of Men in the home. We (The Journey) are complementarian (Not Egalitarian)meaning we blieve men and women complement each other as they operate in there God given roles.
Love you all and praying with you as you are doing you missionary work at your job or at school.
Hope to see you all there Sunday night!
Jared

Bigtime Summary of the Bible

2009-03-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

Old Testament= Jesus declares in John 5 that the Old Testament is about Him. This means that all of the bible is about Jesus. So what can we get out of the OT. The OT shows us that we cannot attain righteousness on our own. In Exodus 20 God gives His people the ten commandments “Basics of Morality” and yet commandments in its basic form, people are unable to keep. The OT teaches that we cannot be perfect, that we are born enemies of God, and that there will be a Messiah that comes to take the punishment for our sin and accomplish what we cannot.

New Testament= The New Testament is all about Jesus accomplishing for us what we cannot accomplish on our own “Perfection”. Humanity since the Fall “Adam and Eve” have all been born enemies of God “Eph 2:1-10” and this provides a big problem because God must punish evil to remain just. God's wrath leans against all of humanity and the only way wrath is satisfied is on the Cross by Jesus “Isaiah 53” or in eternal torment in Hell. We must have our hope set on Jesus. “Me” focused Christianity leads one of two ways: 1 Despair “I cant be good enough” 2 Pride “Why cant others be as good as me”.

Jesus is the Hero. Your sins “Past, Present, Future” are paid for. Future Grace (Security) gives us the only fuel for genuine obedience to Jesus. Our status with God is based of Christ perfect consistency and not our inconsistency.
2 Cor. 5:21
Titus 2:11

Some Texts to Review

1.John 5
2.Exodus 20
3.Ephesians 2:11-10
4.Isaiah 53
5.2 Corinthians 5:21
6.Titus 2:11

by Jared

Blog Updates

2009-03-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last couple days updating my blogs. I hope the updates can be somewhat beneficial for anyone who actually checks this out. We live in such an awesome time that so much information is just a few clicks away. I have listed out, over there on the right side of my page, a bunch of sites and blogs that have been very helpful for me. There is tons of free information from podcast , to downloadable books, and videos. The Resurgence has a bunch of conference videos and enough information to keep anyone reading for a long long time. Desiring God is very similar with endless amounts of free material.
A few years ago I went through the (I'm Mad at Church) stage. I have always been kinda cynical about what I thought was really stupid (Some of Which was) and was quick to throw stones. It seems to be easy to point out everything that is going wrong. However things have seemed to shift in my brain from being frustrated to being very excited about “church”. Check out these sites and blogs and it will not take very long to see that God really is doing some awesome things. The future looks very bright!
And the best thing. Just to help “the Church” these sites give this stuff all out for free! Awesome!

Oh and "MidWeek Thoughts" will be up Wed!

Hope you all are having a great week!

The Last Year to Now

2009-02-28T18:09:00.001-08:00

This last year of my life has been both great and crazy. When i moved to back to Southern Illinois to be a part of starting the Journey i had no clue what i was getting into. I knew that i loved to preach the bible and i also knew all the things that "we" would do different.
Learning to pastor has not been just a learning curve it have been more like a learning mountain. The first six months seemed to be so great and i was strolling along really good. At that point i had read a ton on church planting and on pastoring. I have come to find out that reading and experiencing can sometimes can be a little different. For the last few months i have come to feel and know the tremendous responsibility, joy, and burden of pastoring. On top of feeling this great responsibility i have also been praying about the direction of our church. There has been a battle in me as to what the best things would be for our people and our area. I was thinking and praying through many things. Thoughts of "Is doing the Journey the best thing for our area" have been prevalent in my brain. These are weird thoughts i know because any church planter would love to be in the spot we are in right now. We are growing tremendously, we have money in our budget, i am full-time, and we have the support of other churches. Still there has been a war in my head about what is best. I know have come to "Know" for sure that pastoring the Journey and moving forward as a body is what this area needs. I look forward to our many years together (Lord Willing)living out the Great Commission together.

My prayer for us as we move forward is that we would simply be obedient.

Been a While

2008-09-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hello to all three people that might read this. Hope your day is going well today and may this blog give you food for thought. It is 7:08p.m. and i am sitting at McDonald's in Carterville just thinking about the book of John and the text from last night out of John 3 and John 4. John the evangelist makes a great quote in chapter three that declares his deep desire that Christ would increase and he would decrease. What does that mean?
Sometimes we want to make the bible harder than it really is. Not only do we make the bible harder that it is but we make following Jesus harder than it really is. I believe that Johns quote is so simple yet so transforming and it addressees a common problem that has forever existed. That problem is the deep matrix of self. Following Jesus becomes difficult when we believe that salvation is birthed and sustained by the power of self. I hope that we can truly know that simple truth of propitiation and adoption, that Christ took the wrath that we deserve and adopted helpless people for Himself. Sometimes i wonder if we really know that we who are called by God get the righteousness of Jesus credited to us. We get the credit for Christ perfect life!
Do we not know our own insurgencies? Some of us might be Nic from chapter three and some might find ourselves more like the woman in chapter 4, but may we know that both of those people stood condemned and in need of help outside of themselves. Boast and proclaim the work of Jesus and by all means let us not glorify self. So may all of you that might read this sit back and say "Christ increase, self decrease"

Grace for Obediance

2008-07-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
Lets go. The bible is clear that graces gives a frame of reference for obedience. At first glance people can come to the conclusion that Future Grace for sins not yet committed just gives fuel to the fire for a life of sin. How radical a God that He would save and that pre-approval would draw those approved right in His footsteps. Grace and security for tomorrow has so saturated peoples soul that there is nearly an unquenchable desire for obedience. Without sustaining future grace can we actually be obedient in a healthy way? Some would say that humanity's standing with God is all based on us asking for forgiveness and wondering if we have forgotten any sin that we might have done today. Obedience then becomes vain repetition and dirty legalism based on self rather than Christ. The stamp of forgiveness of Christ finished work, securing those that are found in Him is simply the only healthy fuel for obedience. So then what does obedience look like? Live the great commission and throw your live into Gods hands. Do we trust Him or not? Trust God, be obedient. Your soul longs for that! Does it not?

Right now take a moment and ask; "What does obedience look like in my life right now?" We know our areas of disobedience. Trust Him! Trust Him! Trust Him!

One Life One Chance!

2008-07-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hello to all who love Jesus and the few that might read this that have not yet experienced, or who may never experience, this hope and purpose that Christ has formed in the souls of those whose hearts He has renewed. We are closing out on our study of Ecclesiastes and are only a few more weeks away from moving into the Gospel of John. It has been such a joy to be with you all on Sunday nights and an honor to know that we are on mission together through the week. This Sunday we are going to be talking about the one life that we have to live. Solomon is going to tell us that after we die it is to late to make right what we have messed up while we were alive. John Piper has a book that is called "Don't Waste Your Life", in that book he talks about a quote that he remembers being in his home when he was a kid. This quote read "Only one Life, twill soon will be pass, only whats done for Christ will last". It is the cry of my heart for the people of the journey and the church as a whole that we would be so ravaged by the love and joy of Christ that we would live and breath every moment for the purposes of Christ. Read 2 Cor. 3 the first part of that chapter and plead with God that this be burned in our souls. To my generation and to all generations i pray that you would hear the screams of Christ, looking deep into your hearts and handing over to you purpose and meaning. Read Ecc chapter 9 and we will talk Sunday night.

Hello

2008-06-19T17:22:00.001-07:00

Everywhere i have gone over the last couple of years there seems to be a common theme with everyone that i have talked and meet with. The acts 2 church model and dream has been around forever i guess, but in the last ten or so years with the lack of real community anywhere, there seems to have been much more emphasis on acts 2. So thats is all our age talks about. "Lets get back to what the early church was all about!" Everyone wants to be just like acts 2, with the exception of living together in close quarters. Remember the great word "Balance" that everyone throws around for any conversation that seems to not be going the way we want. Anyways, this blog can be a good way to be acts 2 like. Be encouraged that right know wherever you are, whatever you are doing, be a part of Gods will (2 Cor. 5:18-21). I might not see all of you today or break bread with you but with can still encourage daily this being one avenue to do that. Encouage another believer today. Pray for an unbeliever today. See you all Sunday. J Sparks! Holla

Mexico/Del Rio Last Day

2008-06-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well i am hanging in Super 8 in Hope Arkansas on the way back home from our Mexico trip. This was such an eye opening experiance that i hope many more can have. Roger is planning another trip down here in October. I hope that we can bring a team down here. I knew that this would be an incredible experiance and it definitely was. There is so much need here, and the people are awesome. Everyone who comes with fall in love with these people and this place. Come Sunday evening i will be sharing a little bit more.

p.s. Missed everyone tonight.

Mexico Day 2

2008-06-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Incredible day. I saw a lot of things that shook me up a lot. One quick highlight challenge from the day. We visited an orphanage today that has an empty fridge. They told us that 60 dollars a week would provide them with food for the 17 kids that are staying there. They are getting only 20 dollars of food a week and simply trusting God to provide for what they need. I will have spent almost 100 dollars on food on this trip alone! We can help!

Del Rio/Mexico Day 1

2008-06-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Del Rio/Mexico Day 1

Well we finally rolled into Del Rio today after about a 19 hour drive. Already in just a day and a half I have been blown away. We went into a city on the state side today that has an average family income of 7 thousand dollars a year. These are the types of places that the present day heroes of the faith live and work. The people investing there lives here will never get asked to speak at the conferences or retreats, but are fully invested in the great commission.

Payer for the day
The Staff at Cornerstone Children's Home need help and have no one to help. They are tired and need a break. Pray for strength and that God would send people here to help. There are many many forgotten children and people in this area.

Jesus, Community, Demand of the call, Rest

2008-05-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday night our Ecclesiastes study lead us to Mark chapter 6. Mark 6 tells us of how Jesus gives authority to the 12 and sends them out without all the things that would typically be needed for a trip. Jesus sends them off but with no resources. If I was one of the 12 the first thing that would have gone through my head after Jesus told us we were being sent, was that I need to go pack my north face as tight as possible with plenty of underwear, socks and money, with maybe a power bar in the front zipper pocket. But Jesus does not tell them to do what I would think would be obvious. He tells them to take no bag, no money and take no extra tunic. What a call, and what a promise that Jesus would send them with nothing but a staff. Well as the chapter unfolds we fine that they were provided for on the journey and returned safely. I can only imagine how tired they must have been after such a long grueling trip. I know that when I get back from vacation all I want to do is hug my pillow for about 16 straight hours. The crazy thing is that the 12 get no relief upon return. They come back to large needy crowds that were so demanding that they could not even eat. They were surrounded like dead meat by vultures. Can you put yourself there. The frustration that they must of felt when Jesus brings up the thought that the 5 thousand deep crowd had grumbling stomachs. The 12 just wanted rest so they suggested that Jesus would send them home to get some food then they could finally wind down from there long trip. Jesus however tells the 12 “You give them something to eat.” The 12 must have been at a loss of words, just wanting some rest. This is when Jesus steps up and provides. Jesus works a miracle with five fish and two loaves and uses the 12 to help distribute.

This has so many implications of the source of true rest. True rest can be experienced in the midst of the needy sucking the life out of us or the busyness of a job and family. The 12 had each other and they had Jesus as there provider. With our faith tuned deeply into the saving grace of God through Jesus we can find rest in Jesus and the community of 12. The twelve saw something incredible that day. We to must see that Jesus is providing.

Purpose

2008-04-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was talking to my mom the other about sound doctrine, and its importance. We talked about how 40 years ago the church was very much about rules and how Christians are not supposed to go to movies or play cards. When that generations kids got tired of the stupid rules they began to move away from that, and step into more "feeling God/personal relationship" style of worship meetings. So in the late 60s through the early 80s there mere massive amounts of church plants that moved away from the legalism and out of denominations into non-denominational charismatic s and philosophies. This had some positive and negative results that we are now seeing today. The product of this move was that there was a huge emphasis on worship and personal relationship through prayer and worship, but in most cases the sound doctrine of the bible was tossed aside. The result is our generation that wants to experience God and feel God but we don't really "Know" God. We grew up wanting good songs and couldnt wait to get hearing the bible so we can get back to the important stuff (Singing songs for 5 hours) We want to "Feel" God but since that is not sustaining we try to find ultimate purpose and meaning in the joy of a new cell phone or hanging more popular friends. My prayer for our generation and all generations is that we would "Know" the God of the bible and that we would find our purpose and meaning in Jesus. Feeling God without knowing the bible is not sustaining because we will devise our own understanding of who we think this god we "feel" is, but when the weight life kicks us in the chest we are left wanting.
So study the Word and join us in our study of Ecclesiastes to see if there is anything apart from Christ that is of any lasting value or meaning. Is all life vanity? Is there purpose to be found? Is there more than just "feeling" God?

Quotes

2008-02-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

Our status with God is not based on our performance.

"Others" William Booth

Stop seeking Christianity! Start seeking Christ!

Missions is less about transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there. "Rob Bell"

Sometimes loneliness is the price you pay now for satisfaction later "Neil McClendon"

I hope i can get to a place where i see everyone better than myself.

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. Matthew 11:12

You can tell the effectiveness of a minister by the countenance of his wife.

How priceless is Your unfailing love. Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Psalms 36:7

Its hard to imagine the Jesus would endure the agony of the cross just to keep us in line."Erwin McManus"

I am tired of being good at things that dont matter. "Ray Maragni"

Jesus is being lost in a religion bearing His name. "Erwin McManus"

The call of Christ is a simple one. Jesus told all who would listen "follow me". He didn't say what to bring or where the destination was, just "Follow Me"

AH Jesus!

2007-10-31T18:48:00.001-07:00

I have been over the last few months studying who Jesus really is. I have nothing new to add to the understanding that Jesus so often assosiated, chilled, ate, drank beer with, and called to follow him, the lowliest of the low poeple. Jesus seems to despise the moral pharasies attitudes that just cant figure out why the sinners would do the things they do. Jesus comes along and screws everything up by seeing deep in to people souls past what was on the outside. Jesus screams purpose into souls and the lowly come alive. We have as Chrsitians have been the very poeple that Jesus called vipers and hipocrits. Forgive my spelling. I am learning to look past speach, beer, , poverty, lazieness and starting to see the very people that Jesus came to recline with. Let us give purpose for starving souls rather than offering a list of rules to help people look more like us.