Finally, here it is:
http://preacherjosh.blogspot.com/
Friday, February 6, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Happy 28th
Today, my best friend, and the love of my life, turns 28-years-old.
I can't believe that this will be the 9th birthday I have celebrated with her; the 7th as a married couple.
Each year gets better.
I have been blessed with some amazing friends, but there is no one that I would rather spend time with than my own wife.
I can still remember the doors opening in the back of the Greenlawn Church auditorium, and in walked the prettiest thing I've ever seen. She was absolutely stunning. The dress was perfect. The flowers were beautiful. Her smile was melting my heart. And I knew that I was entering into a deep relationship with a woman that I loved, and that I liked.
I made a promise to her on that stage that I would hit my knees every day in prayer for her. I have tried my very best to honor that commitment. It is such an honor praying over her, whether it be in the morning while she is still sleeping or throughout my day. She continues to blossom as a woman of God whose passion in life is to love and honor her Lord and Savior, Jesus.
I've worn a lot of titles in my life. I've been a son, brother, grandson, great-grandson, cousin, nephew, uncle, friend, captain of the football team, Mr. PHS, Cici's Cutter, Preacher, and dad. But other than being a sold-out-disciple, the greatest honor in my life is to be Kayci's husband.
Kayci, I love you for so many reasons. To count them all would take up all the room on this blog. You, Truitt, and the little one in your belly are my 1st Church and my 1st Ministry. You make me want to be a better dad, husband, minister, and follower of Jesus.
Happy Birthday!
I can't believe that this will be the 9th birthday I have celebrated with her; the 7th as a married couple.
Each year gets better.
I have been blessed with some amazing friends, but there is no one that I would rather spend time with than my own wife.
I can still remember the doors opening in the back of the Greenlawn Church auditorium, and in walked the prettiest thing I've ever seen. She was absolutely stunning. The dress was perfect. The flowers were beautiful. Her smile was melting my heart. And I knew that I was entering into a deep relationship with a woman that I loved, and that I liked.
I made a promise to her on that stage that I would hit my knees every day in prayer for her. I have tried my very best to honor that commitment. It is such an honor praying over her, whether it be in the morning while she is still sleeping or throughout my day. She continues to blossom as a woman of God whose passion in life is to love and honor her Lord and Savior, Jesus.
I've worn a lot of titles in my life. I've been a son, brother, grandson, great-grandson, cousin, nephew, uncle, friend, captain of the football team, Mr. PHS, Cici's Cutter, Preacher, and dad. But other than being a sold-out-disciple, the greatest honor in my life is to be Kayci's husband.
Kayci, I love you for so many reasons. To count them all would take up all the room on this blog. You, Truitt, and the little one in your belly are my 1st Church and my 1st Ministry. You make me want to be a better dad, husband, minister, and follower of Jesus.
Happy Birthday!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Historical Day
It was inspiring to watch millions of people gather in the frigid air to watch an historical moment in our nations history. (Yes, for a skinny white dude from Texas, 30 degrees is frigid!)
Whether you like Obama or not...whether you voted for him or not...whether you are a Republican or Democrat...to watch the inauguration was something that will be sketched into our memories forever.
Today, Obama was sitting a few feet away from Bush. They don't have much in common. If you were to put them in a room with ESPN, they could hang out for hours. They both loves sports. Put them in a political conversation and they aren't going to see eye-to-eye.
But today they both presented themselves in ways that showed respect to the other. For that, I applaud them.
To have Rick Warren lead our nation in prayer was a moving experience. When he ended with the Lord's Prayer chills went up my spine, and I didn't know if I wanted to drop on my knees and cry, or jump up and shout! Since I was in a room with my staff, I just clapped.
Let us persevere in prayer that God's kingdom will come.
Whether you like Obama or not...whether you voted for him or not...whether you are a Republican or Democrat...to watch the inauguration was something that will be sketched into our memories forever.
Today, Obama was sitting a few feet away from Bush. They don't have much in common. If you were to put them in a room with ESPN, they could hang out for hours. They both loves sports. Put them in a political conversation and they aren't going to see eye-to-eye.
But today they both presented themselves in ways that showed respect to the other. For that, I applaud them.
To have Rick Warren lead our nation in prayer was a moving experience. When he ended with the Lord's Prayer chills went up my spine, and I didn't know if I wanted to drop on my knees and cry, or jump up and shout! Since I was in a room with my staff, I just clapped.
Let us persevere in prayer that God's kingdom will come.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Having Trouble Paying for a Degree?
Here is an article that suggests an alternative to acquiring student loans. This young woman has attempted to raise money for her Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Natalie Dylan, 22, claims her offer of a one-night stand has persuaded 10,000 men to bid for sex with her.
Last September, when her auction came to light, she had received bids up to £162,000 ($243,000) but since then interest in her has rocketed.
The student who has a degree in Women's Studies insisted she was not demeaning herself.
Miss Dylan, from San Diego, California, USA, said she was persuaded to offer herself to the highest bidder after her sister Avia, 23, paid for her own degree after working as a prostitute for three weeks.
She said she had had a lot of attention from a wide range of men, including "weirdos", "those who get really graphically sexual about what they want to do to me" and "lots of polite requests from rich businessmen".
Miss Dylan said she did not think it was particularly significant to be willing to sell your virginity and insisted that she was happy to undergo medical tests for any doubters.
She said: "I get some men who are obviously looking for a girlfriend but I try and make it clear that this is a one-night-only offer.
"I know that a lot of people will condemn me for this because it's so taboo but I really don't have a problem with that.
"My study is completely authentic in that I truly am auctioning my virginity but I am not being sold into this. I'm not being taken advantage of in any way.
"I think me and the person I do it with will both profit greatly from the deal."
She added: "It's shocking that men will pay so much for someone's virginity, which isn't even prized so highly anymore."
This proves a couple of things:
1) Sex is no longer considered sacred. And Hollywood can't receive all the blame. We need more "sacred-sex-talk" in public arenas. We need more "sex-talk" from parents to kids.
2) So many men are hungry for cheap thrills. $3 million for a one-night-stand? Seriously!
Natalie Dylan, 22, claims her offer of a one-night stand has persuaded 10,000 men to bid for sex with her.
Last September, when her auction came to light, she had received bids up to £162,000 ($243,000) but since then interest in her has rocketed.
The student who has a degree in Women's Studies insisted she was not demeaning herself.
Miss Dylan, from San Diego, California, USA, said she was persuaded to offer herself to the highest bidder after her sister Avia, 23, paid for her own degree after working as a prostitute for three weeks.
She said she had had a lot of attention from a wide range of men, including "weirdos", "those who get really graphically sexual about what they want to do to me" and "lots of polite requests from rich businessmen".
Miss Dylan said she did not think it was particularly significant to be willing to sell your virginity and insisted that she was happy to undergo medical tests for any doubters.
She said: "I get some men who are obviously looking for a girlfriend but I try and make it clear that this is a one-night-only offer.
"I know that a lot of people will condemn me for this because it's so taboo but I really don't have a problem with that.
"My study is completely authentic in that I truly am auctioning my virginity but I am not being sold into this. I'm not being taken advantage of in any way.
"I think me and the person I do it with will both profit greatly from the deal."
She added: "It's shocking that men will pay so much for someone's virginity, which isn't even prized so highly anymore."
This proves a couple of things:
1) Sex is no longer considered sacred. And Hollywood can't receive all the blame. We need more "sacred-sex-talk" in public arenas. We need more "sex-talk" from parents to kids.
2) So many men are hungry for cheap thrills. $3 million for a one-night-stand? Seriously!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jesus Will Mess You Up
Luke 14 is full of unrest for any disciple or church who wants to take Jesus seriously.
Check it out:
Luke 14 begins with a story about Jesus at a Pharisee's home for a meal on the Sabbath.
The four words "Jesus" "Pharisee" "meal" and "Sabbath" are never a good combination. This is a sure recipe for a theological and social explosion.
To make things worse, 14:2 tells us that a man with dropsy appears at the table. Add an "unclean" person to an-already-prescription for disaster, and now we can hear the bell ring for Round 1.
To understand chapter 14 of Luke, one must understand 14:1-6, which means we must understand "dropsy."
Contrary to belief, dropsy is not a disease of dropping things. (Preacher humor)
Dropsy is an abnormal accumulation of fluid underneath the skin. It is an anomalous swelling of fluid in the body’s tissues.
With dropsy, there is an irregular “puffing up” that noticeably takes place on one’s body.
Understand what is happening here: all of the sudden, in front of Jesus, there is a man who is abnormally “puffed up,” and the Pharisees are focused on Jesus to see if he is willing to break the Sabbath in order to “un-puff” this guy.
Jesus heals the man who is abnormally "puffed" up, and now he is going to tell 3 stories to "unpuff" the people sitting with him at the table.
14:7-11--Jesus "unpuffs" their desire for recognition and honor.
14:12-14--Jesus "unpuffs" their desire to throw parties with strings attached. (What would it look like if a group of Christians, or even better--a church, threw a party like the one Jesus talks about here?)
14:15-24--Jesus "unpuffs" the unwillingness to RSVP to the invite to Kingdom-banquets
Check it out:
Luke 14 begins with a story about Jesus at a Pharisee's home for a meal on the Sabbath.
The four words "Jesus" "Pharisee" "meal" and "Sabbath" are never a good combination. This is a sure recipe for a theological and social explosion.
To make things worse, 14:2 tells us that a man with dropsy appears at the table. Add an "unclean" person to an-already-prescription for disaster, and now we can hear the bell ring for Round 1.
To understand chapter 14 of Luke, one must understand 14:1-6, which means we must understand "dropsy."
Contrary to belief, dropsy is not a disease of dropping things. (Preacher humor)
Dropsy is an abnormal accumulation of fluid underneath the skin. It is an anomalous swelling of fluid in the body’s tissues.
With dropsy, there is an irregular “puffing up” that noticeably takes place on one’s body.
Understand what is happening here: all of the sudden, in front of Jesus, there is a man who is abnormally “puffed up,” and the Pharisees are focused on Jesus to see if he is willing to break the Sabbath in order to “un-puff” this guy.
*****
Get your mind around that before going on.*****
Jesus "unpuffs" the man, but the question that drives this story is this, "Who are really the people in the story who are puffed up?*****
The man with dropsy is showing physical signs of swelling, but the other people at the table:
1. The people who have outwardly cleaned their hands before eating but are carefully watching Jesus to see if he will break the Sabbath law
1. The people who have outwardly cleaned their hands before eating but are carefully watching Jesus to see if he will break the Sabbath law
2. The people who have chosen to be religious with their heads only; not with their hearts
3. The people who refuse to do good on the Sabbath, but are determined to become Sabbath-judges and rule-watchers
…THESE are the people in the story who are puffed up.
3. The people who refuse to do good on the Sabbath, but are determined to become Sabbath-judges and rule-watchers
…THESE are the people in the story who are puffed up.
Jesus heals the man who is abnormally "puffed" up, and now he is going to tell 3 stories to "unpuff" the people sitting with him at the table.
14:7-11--Jesus "unpuffs" their desire for recognition and honor.
14:12-14--Jesus "unpuffs" their desire to throw parties with strings attached. (What would it look like if a group of Christians, or even better--a church, threw a party like the one Jesus talks about here?)
14:15-24--Jesus "unpuffs" the unwillingness to RSVP to the invite to Kingdom-banquets
*****
Jesus left the house having done serious damage.
From healing a man with dropsy, to telling stories to “un-puff” the religious leaders with egos, Jesus left the people in a place where they could not remain the same.
1. Either they would spit on Jesus words and use his stories to fuel their anger.
2. They would allow his words to transform their lives…in essence…making them followers of Jesus himself
From healing a man with dropsy, to telling stories to “un-puff” the religious leaders with egos, Jesus left the people in a place where they could not remain the same.
1. Either they would spit on Jesus words and use his stories to fuel their anger.
2. They would allow his words to transform their lives…in essence…making them followers of Jesus himself
If you want to take Jesus seriously, I'm warning you, Luke 14 will mess you up!
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