The CCJ Blog

Paul was a prisoner on a ship sailing to Italy. When they docked at Sidon, a centurion named Julius, “courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself” . (Acts 27:1-3 )

As I was rejoicing in the wonderful day we had, I decided to find out what the Bible had to say about “friends”. The above story ministered to me. Paul found favor with Julius. So much that he let him go, while docked at Sidon, to be “refreshed” by his friends. I think that’s what we did today and we hope to do every day! Refresh our friends. The church is a place to find God …to find refuge. (Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. NIV).

Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. KJV

May we continue to reach out to others and help introduce them to that Friend.

I am very excited about Friend Day coming up Sunday. I truly anticipate a record day and more importantly maybe some friends who have never really committed their lives to Christ to start thinking. We never know how short time is running. Peter said the day of our salvation is closer today then it was yesterday. Lets pray really hard for this very special day!

This world is filled full of many pleasures but it also has many annoyances as well. So today I am going to borrow a page from Stephen King’s EW column and share some pet peeves of mine. In the real world know one cares but, hey, we have our own blog, so here goes.

Political Campaign ads. They attack, lie distort the truth and are just down right stupid. I would like to think they have no effect but I am wrong or people would not spend millions on them. Really though, anyone who votes based upon what they hear in a ad is a moron.

Ashlee Simpson - At least her sister has some talent. This girl can’t act, sing and just really annoys me with her attitude.

Silly, gullible people - I don’t understand how people think every politician on the opposite sides are stupid or evil.

The Donald - This guy may be rich but he has bad hair and a horrible personality.

People who nit-pick - I don’t care if it is work, sports or church there are always people who have to over-think and nit-pick everything and everyone. Chill out and understand God wanted us to enjoy life sometimes.

Car ads (Especially local) - They come up with the most ignorant ads I have ever seen.

Reality TV - Outside a few of the good and original these are horrible. I have seen soap operas more realistic then these so-called reality programs.

Those are a few of mine. I have more but I will save them for another addition. What are some of yours?

I started off this week in a down mode. Holli kept asking me if I was okay and what was the matter. I really could not answer her because nothing was wrong. Call it the nasty weather or just mood cycles (Something I mostly dodge because they make good excuses for bad behavior) but I just did not feel right. So what do I do when I am like that? I start thanking God for all my blessings. I have so many blessing!
I have the greatest wife a minister could have. She is so supportive and encouraging even though many times I don’t deserve it. I spend countless hours away from her and the baby every week because night is when most visits, meetings and activities take place. Yet she is always supportive and takes care of meso well. She is such a blessing to my personal life and the ministry.
I have a wonderful little girl. Anyone with children knows what joy they bring to your life at this age. Plus she has a wonderful personality (Not that I am partial). Whenever I am down she makes me smile and I thank God for her everyday.
I have a wonderful family. My parents, brothers and sisters are all Christian people and we are very close. My parents are truly as good as it gets. I wish you al could know them like we do.
I also have a wonderful church family. I feel like I have known you all for my entire life. I have never been a part of a church where the people are so active, caring and supportive. God is blessing the church more and more all the time.
I could go on and on but I will stop and just say that when I think how God has blessed me so much I have nothing but joy in my heart. Count your many blessings.
What about you?

One of the things Leon noticed assessing the needs of our congregation was the great number of young people. He specifically stressed the singles. He felt our next paid minister should possibly be someone whose specialty would be singles and discipleship. He mentioned this as a possible need. While I am not sure that will be our next staff member the point is still good. We have a lot of 1)young adults and there are more young adults still unchurched then any other group. 2) We have a lot of singles. Some because they have never found someone or have chosen to stay that way and some because they are divorced.
These people and people of the 18 to 40 plus generation are very much seeking connections. The church is in my opinion the best place to provide this. Many churches have coffee bars and long fellowship times built right into the service schedule each week. My point is we sure need a lot of suggestions and ideas. Help us out and share some. There is no bad ideas because this is brainstorming.

I subscribe to RELEVANT magazine. It is a magazine and wweb site geared toward people interested in “God. Life. Progressive Culture.” (according to their slogan). Reading it has often made me think back on my days as a young, unmarried college student. I was attending a church where they had a “college & career” small group and Sunday School class (Sunday School was later dropped at this particular church, then re-formed a year or so later). This group proved invaluable to me during this time. It gave me a sense of some sort of connection with others in a time where I was away from everything I had known.

I see more and more young (many post-college) people coming to CCJ. We are a church still trying to get things going, so to speak, but I wonder what we can do to a.) attract more of the 18-30ish age group and b.) get them plugged in using their gifts for God’s work at CCJ. Any ideas? Throw them out here. No idea is too crazy.

CCJ is getting more free publicity. Check out Friday’s Herald in the “Life: Religion” section for coverage of Pastor Leon’s visit to Jasper. It is a well-written story and the photo of the laying on of hands is well-done (fear not all ye worry-warts out there)
UPDATE: I also added a link (look to your right) to Haiti Outreach Ministries in the “Links” sidebar.

I thought this was all to true, Sorry. I couldn’t help but laugh….and I’m sure some of you husbands (or dads) out there are laughing too. But then I remembered the lessons we learned last week from Pastor Leon.

How often do we come to church, set on His couch…prop up our feet and say “feed me”? Use His phone for “one way messaging” and partake of His blessings? And He’s saying Child, I set you free! Free to what? Enjoy His comforts?

Pastor Leon reminded us…we’ve received a wonderful gift….to GO and SHARE it with the world (I’m looking forward to going to Haiti more now than ever). How easy it is to stay in our comfort zone and “get fat” spiritually! But God set us free to send us out, maybe you’re not called to GO to Haiti but you can go to your neighborhood, your school, your work place. Witness to the check-out person who’s having a bad day. You’ll be surprised at how just a smile or a kind word can encourage someone. Let’s all show God appreciation for our salvation by doing our part to make Jesus “Famous” (as we live the words to Daniel’s song ).

Leon Dorleans at CCJ: 10-09-04

2 Peter 1:10 KJV

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Do we, like Pastor Leon, want to be “obedient”? He shared with us Saturday evening the importance of being obedient to God, like Moses, Abraham, Peter and Paul. All of these men had short comings but were used by God in a mighty way. They did what God ask them to do.

Notice the “if you do these things”. We have to read the scriptures before verse 10 to see what “these things” are. If we’re serious about our calling and want to claim the promise: “ye shall never fall”, let’s ( 2 Tim 2:15 ) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Thanks to Pastor Leon for reminding us of the importance of sharing our faith with others. Let’s get excited about the “gift of salvation” we have received.

Many times in my life I have been accused of never meeting a person I did not like. It was usually by someone who was complaining about someone else and I would defend them. The truth is I used to be a lot more like that then I am today. Age and years of working with people have made me a little more critical and or cynical. I still very rarely however find anyone that I just can’t stand. I like to look for the good in people. Does that make me doctrinally wrong? After all scripture tells us that there is no one righteous. No not one. Many people take that to mean that people are by nature bad. I still don’t believe that. I believe we are created in the image of God and loved by God. Him loving us is a redeeming quality in and of itself. Don’t get me wrong, we are very sinful. But that is compared to a perfect righteous God. We can never be righteous outside of His grace but I do believe in the good of people. That does not minimize our sinful nature or even if you belief in original sin. It just means that a great percentage of people are good by the standards of this world.
There are plenty of evil people in the world and I can be pretty bad in my own right on any given day, but I believe with God’s help we can become good people. So I choose to see that potential in people. I also realize that given the prince of this world that there is a potential for anyone to be bad as well. I think we should use our influence to try to bring out the good instead of always condemning the bad. Some days people will disappoint you and be really bad, but then there are some days when they will surprise you with how good they can be. God bless!

Ps 122:1 KJV
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

It’s SUNDAY. Praise the Lord! I woke up this morning, knowing today is different than the rest. I get to put aside the stress of deciding what I have to do today. What needs my attention? Today I have the privilege to rest in the Lord, to set in his presence. To worship Him with friends.

I like taking pictures with my digital camera but when the batteries run down, it doesn’t work. It’s useless until I put the batteries in the charger and let them refresh. Today…I’m in the charger. I’m going to “recharge”. Oh, I read my Bible, pray and listen to Christian music throughout the week but it’s not the same as being with friends in the “house of the Lord”!

October is Pastor Appreciation month. Let’s all remember to let our Pastor know how glad we are that he choose to answer the call to become Pastor of CCJ.