The CCJ Blog

There is so much to be said about the Alpha & Omega Outreach For Haiti . The vision, planning, hard work, dedication, prayer and team work. It all began with a vision…Jim Pickett’s vision to be a blessing to Pastor Leon and the people of Haiti. Little did he know what a blessing we all would receive by helping. It is another example of what a great church the Christian Church of Jasper is!

Matt 25:40
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

There is so much to be said about the Alpha & Omega Outreach For Haiti . The vision, planning, hard work, dedication, prayer and team work. It all began with a vision…Jim Pickett’s vision to be a blessing to Pastor Leon and the people of Haiti. Little did he know what a blessing we all would receive by helping. It is another example of what a great church the Christian Church of Jasper is!

Matt 25:40
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

There is so much to be said about the Alpha & Omega Outreach For Haiti . The vision, planning, hard work, dedication, prayer and team work. It all began with a vision…Jim Pickett’s vision to be a blessing to Pastor Leon and the people of Haiti. Little did he know what a blessing we all would receive by helping. It is another example of what a great church the Christian Church of Jasper is!

Matt 25:40
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

There is so much to be said about the Alpha & Omega Outreach For Haiti . The vision, planning, hard work, dedication, prayer and team work. It all began with a vision…Jim Pickett’s vision to be a blessing to Pastor Leon and the people of Haiti. Little did he know what a blessing we all would receive by helping. It is another example of what a great church the Christian Church of Jasper is!

Matt 25:40
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

There is so much to be said about the Alpha & Omega Outreach For Haiti . The vision, planning, hard work, dedication, prayer and team work. It all began with a vision…Jim Pickett’s vision to be a blessing to Pastor Leon and the people of Haiti. Little did he know what a blessing we all would receive by helping. It is another example of what a great church the Christian Church of Jasper is!

Matt 25:40
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

There is so much to be said about the Alpha & Omega Outreach For Haiti . The vision, planning, hard work, dedication, prayer and team work. It all began with a vision…Jim Pickett’s vision to be a blessing to Pastor Leon and the people of Haiti. Little did he know what a blessing we all would receive by helping. It is another example of what a great church the Christian Church of Jasper is!

Matt 25:40
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ NIV

One of my favorite entertainers of all time passed away Sunday. Johnny Carson. I am not one to always eulogize fallen entertainers as great people, when truly we didn’t know them at all. However in this case we are talking about one of those one of a kind people. No one could make me laugh more. No one seemed so huge yet so small and real at the same time. He was great without even mentioning what an impact he made on entertainment by his introduction and development of so many stars. He is the man behind even my modern day favorites David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld. Carson just had a unique gift that I really wish the younger generation could appreciate. I know I sound old now but speaking to teenagers about how great Johnny Carson is like trying to tell them how great Larry Bird and Magic Johnson is and what a impact they had on their professions. All they can say is but what about Kobe or Mr. James.
The neat thing about him was not only how great he was on TV but also how he left it. I am not claiming Johnny was this super guy. As far as I know Carson was not a Christian. From what I understand he smoked and drank too much in his day. He certainly had trouble with marriages. Yet there was something real and genuine about a guy who did not like the limelight and left on top never to return (and return and return). When he said goodbye he meant it. He left me wanting more.
Steve Martin said it best in his piece for the New York Post. “We, the millions whom you affected, will weep inside when we see the reruns, the clips of you walking out from behind the curtain, the moment in the monologue when a joke bombed; we’ll recall your deep appreciation of both genuine and struggling talent. Because you retreated into retirement so completely, let me thank you, in death, for the things I couldn’t quite say to you in life. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me and others, and thank you - despite divisive wars and undulating political strife - for the one hour a night across 30 years of American life when we were entertained purely, delightfully and wisely.”
In all of that even though he was not a Christian there is a Christian quality I think we can all learn form him. Johnny Carson had the perfect blend of modesty and confidence. That coupled with a quick whit, self-deprecating humor and a great ability to laugh at others and himself made him great. I would say Johnny we will miss you but I already have for the last 12 years.
Good day!

Check out this commentary I found over at Relevant’s Web site: All You Need Is Love.

It’s a good reminder to me that the main way people I know will come to Christ is not me preaching at them or condeming them for their actions, it is loving them. My actions matter, of course, but the way I treat others matters a whole bunch as well.

I think the modern church is starting to come back to this after years of condemnation for people’s actions (mostly ignoring their own faults in the process). I grew up in a church that talked a lot about end times, how homosexuality was the be-all, end-all of evils and espoused blatantly racist viewpoints as gospel. There is hope, however. I think many churches have seen the folly of that and are coming back to the beautiful, simple, message of the Gospel.

God loves you and me very much.

After a long absence in blogging I am finally back. It has been tough during the holidays to get anything much done. This Friday a new (old) series premiers on Sci-Fi channel called Battle Star Galatica. Many of you probably remember the original series even though it did not last that long. Last year Sci-Fi made a remake mini-series that was so well received they decided to make a new series taking off where the story left. The story is simple, these machines have declared war on mankind and destroyed the earth and many of its inhabitants. There are many left however who are in battle to defeat the machines and save mankind. It is the classic “them verses us” story.
You don’t have to be a science fiction fan to realize the parallel between this story and the true battle for all mankind. We are in a spiritual battle for the souls of all mankind. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” While each individual is responsible for their own salvation by accepting Jesus Christ, we as believers are responsible in big ways for how the individual battles turn out. We know we win the war but it is our job to lead as many people to victory as possible and to win the spiritual battles that go on individually within ourselves as well. One of the main weapons we have for this battle is prayer. I cannot state enough how important a powerful prayer life is to defeating the evil forces.
In the coming months at CCJ we are going to enter into a massive prayer campaign where we will pray together, study prayer and hopefully apply the lessons we learn to our own prayer life. This will be very important in our mission to have a heart for God, a heart for one another and a heart for the world. God bless and have a grace filled day!

Have each one of us prayed for our church’s leaders today?

Thanks to Cheryl’s reminder post. When I see that post, it prompts me to do what I committed to do just a few weeks ago.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I find encouragement in this verse. No matter what circumstances color my day, I know that if I trust God (which I equate as love or as an aspect of love) then I know that I’ll be a stronger witness for Him. Fear and discouragement are of Satan, and meant to separate me from all of life’s blessings — which are of God. If I trust God to direct me, then I know that I can somehow benefit from even the most difficult moments of my life. It does not mean I won’t experience anguish, even Jesus experienced anguish in Gethsemene, but I can experience it and not be crushed by it. I cannot even imagine His anguish suffered by His crucifiction. The physical torment I can grasp in part, but the anguish of being Holy and suffering the weight and pain of my sins is beyond my comprehension. And Christ rose from the grave. He was not destroyed by it, but transformed into Spirit. Miraculaous. I am grateful knowing that in all things, God works for my good, and that I will be transformed — at least in part.

In all things, God works for my good. That’s especially comforting right now. And that definitely encourages me to love God. Amazing Grace. He first loved me. Me!

Monty and Ken.

Monty, Nancy and Lindley look on as Shannon prepares new baby girl Ross for a banana pepper.

Aaron Hagen.

Livia Land is ONE!

Kyle Hagen.

The lovely and gracious Shannon.

(Feigning Shock) Cards at CHURCH!

Seriously, we had a good time tonight. I was telling Monty Hagen earlier in the evening that you folks at CCJ are our family here in Dubois County. And what better way to spend New Year’s than with family. May God continue to bless us in 2005 (and may we not get in the way of that blessing).